C-370 Employee Code of Ethics

It shall be the duty of all District Employees to comply with Wisconsin Statutes concerning the proper and appropriate conduct of their positions. In keeping with the District’s Mission, Vision, Values, and strategic plan, District Employees:

• Shall perform all mandatory, nondiscretionary, and ministerial duties of their positions within the time and in the manner required by law.

• Shall devote full attention to their duties, uphold the law; and conduct District business with fairness, integrity, and professionalism.

• Shall never act over lawful authority or college policy or commit an act forbidden by law within their official capacity.

• Shall not, by commission or omission, in their capacity as an Employee, exercise a discretionary power in a manner inconsistent with the duties of their position or the rights of others or with the intent to obtain a dishonest advantage for themselves or another.

• Shall not, in their capacity as an Employee, make an entry in an account or record book or return, certificate, report, or statement that, in a material respect, they intentionally falsify.

• Shall not in their capacity as an Employee intentionally solicit or accept for the performance of any service or duty anything of value including but not limited to any gift, loan, favor, or service given to influence them in the discharge of official duties.

• Shall not use District property, facilities, or resources for private or personal gain for themselves, family, or others.

• Shall not use their position to obtain personal or family financial gain or to benefit an organization with which they are associated.

• Shall not use confidential information for personal gain or benefit, or that of their family or others.

• Shall endeavor to meet all the requirements of state and federal laws and education regulations, including the Wisconsin Technical College System Board (WTCSB) regulations.

• Shall observe all policies of the District Board.

• Shall act in what is, in their opinion, conceived to be the best interest of the citizens of the entire District. Similarly, shall grant no special considerations or treatment to any citizen beyond that which is available to every other citizen.

•  Shall utilize all due diligence in carrying out the directives of the District Board.
• Shall not participate either directly or indirectly in purchases for personal use for less than full value or utilizing discounts allowed to the District for personal gain.

Nothing in this Policy shall deny an Employee the rights of a citizen under the Constitution of the United States of America, the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Statutes, or any other bona fide regulations of this State.

In the event an action is brought against any Employee for violation of this Policy, the District Board may consider all appropriate discipline, including discharge.

Annually, upon request of the Wisconsin Ethics Commission, the President/District Director shall identify those positions subject to the submission of a Statement of Economic Interests.

OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT

• Employees may have other employment, or a financial pursuit provided they do not interfere or conflict with the full and faithful discharge of duties to the College. Employees must notify the President/District Director, or designee, before accepting outside employment to ensure no conflict of interest exists.

• The College must, by necessity, specifically prohibit those activities that will cause a conflict of interest. Therefore, Employees may not accept employment with a business that is subject to direct or indirect control, review, audit, or enforcement by the College unless approved by the President/District Director, or designee.

POLITICAL ACTIVITIES

It is college policy to encourage Employees who wish to express their viewpoints on political issues, participate in political campaigns, offer themselves as candidates for non-partisan office, and hold such an office to do so as a personal activity. All college Employees should feel free to engage in political activities as much as possible, consistent with their full obligations to the College and per applicable laws.

The only limitations the College imposes are those reasonably necessary to protect its independence in academic and business matters, and to ensure its adherence to its Mission and its compliance with the laws under which it operates. More specifically, those limitations are:

• To preserve, in fact and appearance, the College’s non-partisan, independent, tax-exempt status.

• To preserve College Resources (including Employees' time, facilities, equipment, supplies, and services) for the College’s educational, research, and related functions.

• To protect against any conflicts of interest or time that may infringe on the ability of Employees to perform their official duties and meet their responsibilities with maximum effectiveness and objectivity.

RESTRICTIONS

College Employees may engage in lawful political activities. However, like any

other Employee's non-official undertaking, such activity must be done on the Employee’s own time and should not interfere with college duties. Accordingly, Employees may not: 

• Campaign during work hours.

• Use College Resources for campaign purposes.

• Represent their political views or the views of any candidate as being those of the College unless there has been specific authorization by the administration to do so.

• Distribute campaign materials using Employee mailing labels (either home or office addresses) produced by the college. A candidate may obtain addresses from the College Student and Employee directories or other published address lists.

• Distribute campaign material through campus mail unless it has been received by a federal post office and is properly postmarked.

• Run for partisan political office without first taking a leave of absence from the College.

Questions regarding political activity may be directed to the Office of the President/District Director.