B-110 Code of Ethics

The District Board expects ethical conduct by itself and its members. This includes proper use of authority. District Board members shall carry out their duties with the highest ethical conduct and follow Policy B-100 – District Board Member Standards of Practice; Policy B-150 – Conflict of Interest and Sec. 19.45. Wis. Stat. entitled Standards of Conduct; State Public Officials and the Wisconsin Code of Ethics for Public Officials and Employees, Sec. 19.41-19.59, Wis. Stats. District Board members shall:

• Maintain unconflicted loyalty to the College's interests. This accountability supersedes any conflicting loyalty to advocacy or interest groups and membership on other Boards or Employees. It also supersedes the personal interest of any District Board member acting as an individual consumer of college services.

• Observe the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law, Secs. 19.81-19.98, Wis. Stats., adhere to agenda items for each meeting, and not knowingly participate in closed meetings except as permitted by the Open Meetings Law. District Board members shall observe the Wisconsin Public Records and Property Law, Secs. 19.21-39, Wis. Stats.

• Avoid any exercise of individual authority over the College except as explicitly outlined in college policies or with specific District Board authorization. A District Board member’s interaction with the President/District Director, Employees, public, press, and other entities must recognize the lack of authority in any individual District Board member or group of District Board members except as noted in college policies or by specific District Board authorization. No District Board member or District Board members may speak for the whole District Board unless designated by the District Board.

Please do not use the District Board member’s position to obtain financial gain or anything of value for their private benefit or that of a family member to influence a decision or action of discharging the District Board member’s official duties. A “family member” is defined in Chapter 19, Wis. Stat.

Each member of the District Board is an appointed representative of the citizens of the entire District and, therefore, embraces the public's trust. The District Board members' obligations as a group are both legal and ethical.

CONFIDENTIALITY

District Board members shall maintain the confidentiality of privileged information and shall not use confidential information for personal gain or benefit or the benefit of family or others. They shall also maintain the confidentiality of discussions at legally held closed meetings of the District Board. They shall not discuss personnel or performance matters in public except per college policies or as required by law.

SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

The College has a zero-tolerance policy for gender and sex-based discrimination and seeks to create and maintain a campus free from sexual misconduct. District Board members shall comply with Policy E-222 – Prohibition of Sexual Harassment under Title IX and Procedure E-222.1 – Prohibition of Sexual Harassment under Title IX and avoid all prohibited activities.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

District Board members shall comply with Policy E-221 – Prohibition of Harassment and Procedure E-221.1 – Prohibition of Harassment and avoid all prohibited activities.

HARASSMENT

District Board members shall comply with Policy E-221 – Prohibition of Harassment and Procedure E-221.1 – Prohibition of Harassment, and Employee Handbook Part II – Employee Guidelines: Section E – Professional Work Environment and Section F – Violence in the Workplace Prohibited in their conduct with Employees, Students, District Board members, vendors, and the public and shall avoid all prohibited activity.

ABUSE OF POWER

A District Board member shall not, by the position of District Board member, expect, demand, or coerce special favors, attention, or treatment from any other District Board member, Employee, or Student at the College or any other entity or individual.

CONSENSUAL RELATIONSHIPS

A District Board member is strongly discouraged from engaging in a consensual romantic or sexual relationship with another District Board member, Employee, or Student. Such a relationship may constitute or create a situation of alleged abuse of power, sexual or other harassment, conflict of interest, or other conduct prohibited by these policies.

• A District Board member in a consensual relationship shall disclose the nature of the relationship to the District Board Chairperson.

CONDUCT

• District Board members must ensure that all actions and decisions are to serve Students since this is the primary reason for the College's existence.

• District Board members must understand that the positive relationship between the Student and instructor is critical, but of equal value are all Student-centered activities that support instruction and the individual needs of Students.

• District Board members must be responsible for the balance of appropriate programs, services, College Premises, College Resources, and financial support necessary to meet the needs of current Students in a manner that ensures their success in meeting their educational and occupational goals. 

• District Board members must help create and sustain an atmosphere in which controversial issues or different philosophical stances can be presented fairly and in which the dignity of everyone is maintained.

• District Board members must avoid any conflict of interest (Policy B-150 –Conflict of Interest) to their fiduciary responsibility.

• District Board members must recognize that each member is only one (1) member of a team and that all District Board actions are taken as a group in such a manner that the best interests of the entire College Community are advanced.

• District Board members' interaction with the President/District Director or Employees must recognize the lack of authority in any individual District Board member or group of members except as noted previously in District Board policies.

• District Board members' interactions with the public, press, or other entities must recognize the same limitation and the similar inability of any District Board member to speak for the District Board.

• District Board members will express no judgments of the President/District Director's or Employee's performance except as that performance is assessed per explicit District Board policies.

• District Board members will submit an annual Statement of Economic Interests to the State of Wisconsin Ethics Commission.