Adopted: 5/1990
Last Revised: 5/1990
In order to ensure public confidence in the College, Board members and employees must perform their duties in a proper and ethical manner and avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Thus, in the best interests of the College, the Board and College employees shall subscribe to the following Code of Ethics:
General Provisions:
Definitions
The following terms shall be given the definitions as set forth in 5 ILCS 430/1-5:
For the purposes of this policy, "officer" shall mean any member of the Board of Trustees and “employee” shall mean any person employed by the Board, whether on a full-time or part-time basis, or pursuant to a contract, whose duties are subject to the direction and control of the Board and/or its administrative employees with regard to the material details of the work performed. The term “employee” does not include a volunteer or an independent contractor. “Employer” shall mean the Board of Trustees (sometimes referred to herein as the “Board”).
Prohibited political activities
No officer or employee shall intentionally perform any prohibited political activity during any compensated time. No officer or employee shall intentionally use any property or resources of the Board in connection with any prohibited political activity.
At no time shall any officer or employee intentionally require any other officer or employee to perform any prohibited political activity as part of that officer’s or employee’s duties, as a condition of employment, or during any compensated time off (including holidays, vacations, and personal time off.
No officer or employee shall be required at any time to participate in any prohibited political activity in consideration of that officer or employee being awarded additional compensation or any benefit, whether in the form of a salary adjustment, bonus, compensatory time off, continued employment, or otherwise, nor shall any officer or employee be awarded additional compensation or any benefit in consideration of the employee’s participation in any prohibited political activity.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit activities that are permissible for an officer or employee to engage in as part of such employee’s official duties or activities.
Gift Ban
Subject to the exceptions set forth herein, no officer or employee and no spouse or immediate family member living with any officer or employee (collectively referred to herein as “Recipient”) shall intentionally solicit or accept any gift from any prohibited source or which is otherwise prohibited by law. No prohibited source shall intentionally offer or make a gift that violates this provision. The following exceptions shall apply to this section:
Ethics Advisor
The President may appoint an Ethics Advisor for the College and in such event shall advise the Board of such appointment. In the absence of such appointment, the attorney serving as general counsel to the College shall serve as Ethics Advisor. The Ethics Advisor shall provide interpretation and guidance to officers and employees of the College concerning compliance with this policy and the Act, and shall perform such other investigative and reporting requirements as the President and/or Board shall authorize from time to time.
Ethics Commission
The Board may from time to time appoint and constitute no less than three of its members to serve as an Ethics Commission to investigate any complaints arising under this policy. Such Commission shall discharge its duties in accordance with this policy and shall make recommendations to the full Board as it shall deem appropriate.
Board members and employees shall keep in confidence information that has been obtained in the course of professional service, unless disclosure is required by law or is otherwise authorized by the Board.
Board members and employees shall not use College facilities, equipment, or property for personal financial gain.
Board members and employees shall not seek to unduly influence personnel decisions.
Board members and employees shall not seek to influence the purchase of products or services by the College when such influence may result in personal gain.
Board members shall not be interested directly or indirectly in any contract, work, or business of the College except as provided by law.
Employees owe their first responsibility to fulfilling the terms of their contracts or employment obligations to the College. Employees may not obligate themselves for additional services inside or outside the College if such obligations would interfere with fulfilling their primary responsibilities to the College.
In the deliberation of any matter to come before it, the Board encourages Trustees to express individual and differing points of view. Once a decision is reached, however, Trustees shall accept such decision as the official Board position on the matter.