B-150 Conflict of Interest

District Board members are encouraged to seek counsel from the College’s legal advisor in every case where any question arises.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

• District Board members owe a duty of loyalty to the College and the community. District Board members must avoid conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest concerning their duties and fiduciary responsibilities.

• A conflict of interest exists when the District Board member can influence, directly or indirectly, college business or college-related decisions that do or could result in personal financial gain for the District Board member or that of a family member, subject to Sec. 946.13, Wis. Stat.

• A District Board member shall timely disclose a conflict of interest to the District Board or, for reasons of confidentiality, to the District Board Chairperson. When the District Board will consider a matter in which a member has an unavoidable conflict of interest, the member shall abstain from that portion of the meeting at which the matter is considered and voted upon. The member shall not participate in the discussion or vote on the matter.

• District Board members shall not use their positions to obtain employment at the College for themselves or family members. Family members are defined in the Wisconsin Statutes Sec. 946.13. The family members will include “step” family members.

• No District Board member shall apply for an existing position at the College except under the following circumstances:

  • A District Board member who intends to apply for college employment shall resign their District Board position when applying for employment.

• An application for employment by a former District Board member shall also be assessed for potential conflict of interest, including, but not limited to, the relationship of the position to new initiatives created or funded by the District Board during the tenure of the former District Board member.

• The College recognizes extenuating circumstances that may support such employment, including, but not limited to, an Employee shortage, the availability of adjunct or part-time positions, or a District Board member’s term occurred after the position was created or available.

• Contracts Supported by Federal Funds (2 Code of Federal Regulations Part 200.318(c)(1).

• No one from the College Community may participate in the selection, award, or administration of a contract supported by a federal award if they have a natural or apparent conflict of interest. Such a conflict of interest would arise when the Employee, District Board member, or agent, any member of their immediate family, their partner, or an organization that employs or is about to employ any of the parties indicated herein, has a financial or other interest in or a tangible persona benefit from a firm considered for a contract. The District Board members ma neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors or parties to subcontracts. Disciplinary action will be taken for violations of such standards by District Board members.