This volume III describes policies pertaining to all employees. They have been adopted by the Board of Trustees to comply with legal requirements and/or to meet a community or social need. The policies are subject to change by the Board of Trustees. In the case of changes, the policies will, in all cases, be given for review to appropriate internal governing bodies prior to their promulgation and taking effect.
Employees at the college are hired either on a salaried or hourly-rate basis. Salaried employees include faculty members and administrators; hourly-rate employees include faculty assistants and other clerical and support services employees. It is to all these employees that this volume III is addressed.
Students are also employed by the college. Two student employment programs exist, called campus employment and work study. Work-study students are those identified by the financial aid office as eligible for payment under the Federal Work-Study Program. Campus employment students are not eligible for federal assistance; the college pays them out of its own funds. The campus employment program also covers temporary summer student workers including high school students who are at least 16 years of age. High school students will be paid on the regular hourly payroll. Benefits described in this volume III are not applicable to campus employment or work study workers.
It should be noted that hourly-paid employees and administrators are ineligible for institutional financial aid beyond the college course benefit described in the fringe benefits section. (See subsection 3.7.3.2.3.)
When persons transfer from one campus position to another or shift from one category of employment to another, they will be notified in writing prior to the transfer date whether conditions of employment and fringe benefits transfer with them or if they are considered new employees. Employees are expected to give their present supervisor notice of two weeks before the transfer date.
All employees, by virtue of their employment by the college, agree to accept the responsibilities of membership in the college community and adhere to the Codes of Conduct.
Preamble.
As members of the College community all employees are responsible for sustaining the highest ethical standards of this institution, and of the broader community in which we function. The College values integrity, honesty, and fairness and strives to integrate these values into its teaching, research, and business practices. It is the intent of the Employee Code of Conduct and Ethics to protect academic freedom, to help preserve the highest standard of teaching and scholarship, and to advance the mission of the College.
Definitions.
1.
The term College means
2. The term “student” includes all persons taking courses at the College either full-time or part-time, pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or professional studies. Persons who are not officially enrolled for a particular term but who have a continuing relationship with the College or who have been notified of their acceptance for admission are considered “students” as are persons who are living in the College residence halls, although not enrolled in this institution.
3. The term “employee” means any person hired by the College to conduct classroom or teaching activities or who is otherwise considered by the College to be a member of its faculty and includes any full-time and part-time employee of the College who holds managerial, administrative, clerical, technical, skilled craft, service, or other positions designated by the College to be subject to these rules, policies, procedures, and benefits.
4. The term “member of the College community” includes any person who is a student, faculty member, College official, or any other person employed or contracted by the College. A person’s status in a particular situation shall be determined by the office of human resources of the College.
5. The term “College premises” includes all land, buildings, facilities, and other property in the possession of or owned, used, or controlled by the College.
6. The term “organization” means any number of persons who have complied with the formal requirements for College recognition or registration.
7. The term “policy’ means the written regulations of the College as found in, but not limited to, the Employee Code of Conduct and Ethics, the College Policy Manual, the College website, Computer Use Policy, and Graduate/Undergraduate Catalogs.
Proscribed
Conduct.
A. Jurisdiction of the College Employee Code
of Conduct and Ethics
The Employee Code of Conduct and Ethics shall apply to conduct that occurs on College premises, at College sponsored activities, and to off-campus conduct that adversely affects the College Community and/or employee’s fitness to perform his/her professional responsibilities. Employees that have teaching responsibilities are also required to comply with the Faculty Duties, Obligations, Rights, Academic Freedom and Code of Ethics [Volume IV, 4.5] and Employee Code of Conduct. Each employee shall be responsible for his/her conduct throughout his/her employment relationship with the College.
B. Conduct—Rules and Regulations
Employees are required to comply with basic standards of conduct and professionalism as members of the College community. Failure to comply with the Employee Code may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination as outlined in [Volume IV, 4.11.6-4.11.8 and Volume V, 5.9.1.5 Discipline/Termination policy]. This list is non-exhaustive and the College reserves the right to discipline employees for conduct not listed below.
1. Neglect of duty and/or lack of due care and/or diligence in the performance of duties.
2. Unsatisfactory job performance or failure to maintain reasonable standards of performance.
3. Inappropriate appearance including failure to maintain personal appearance or dress, including uniform or style of dress, according to departmental standards.
4. Poor attitude and discourtesy toward others (for example, rudeness or lack of cooperation).
5. Excessive absenteeism or tardiness, or an unacceptable pattern of absences.
6. Insubordination, including refusal to comply with a supervisor’s instructions unless the instructions are illegal, endangering, or unethical.
7. Gambling while on duty.
8. Unauthorized use of the College’s name or letterhead for personal business.
9. Theft, misappropriation, and/or unauthorized possession or removal of property belonging to the College, members of the College community, or other persons with whom the College has a business relationship.
10. Concealing, falsifying, altering, misusing, or removing records, including electronic data records.
11. Direct or indirect misuse of College resources, including property leased to the College, for other than officially approved activities (including, but not limited to, employees, facilities, mail service, supplies, equipment, and college computing and communication resources, including computers, networks, electronic mail services, electronic information sources, voicemail, telephone services, and other communication resources).
12. Smoking in unauthorized areas.
13. Sleeping while on duty.
14. Failure or refusal to cooperate in or interference with College disciplinary proceedings.
15. Violation of the Conflict of Interest Policy.
16. Unauthorized use of alcohol or being under the influence of alcohol while on College premises or working for the College.
17. Providing alcoholic beverages to any student under twenty-one (21) years of age.
18. Violation of safety rules and policies.
19. Employees must comply with all federal laws, state laws, agreements with third parties, and College policies and principles pertaining to the use, protection, and disclosure of various types of confidential, proprietary, and private information. Such policies apply even after the employee relationship with the institution ends. Refer to the Confidentiality and Privacy Policy.
20. Discrimination, including harassment, against another community member, including but not limited to students, faculty, staff, administrators, and independent contractors on political grounds, or for reasons of race, religion, sex, age, disability, and any other basis prohibited by state, federal, and/or local law, or for other arbitrary or personal reasons. Where actions are found to have occurred that violate this standard, the College will take prompt action to cease the offending conduct, prevent its recurrence and discipline those responsible. Refer to the College’s Discrimination and Harassment Policy.
21. Harassment of any person, including, but not limited to, violation of the Sexual Harassment Policy.
22. Violation of the Sexual Misconduct Policy. [Volume II, 2.3]
23. Misuse or abuse of College resources, including funds, equipment or facilities. College resources must be reserved for business purposes on behalf of the College. They may not be used for personal gain, and may not be used for personal use except in a manner that is incidental and reasonable in light of the employee’s duties. College resources include, but are not limited to, the use of College systems, such as telephone systems, data communication and networking services, and the domain for electronic communication forums; and the use of College equipment; and the use of procurement tools such as purchasing cards and petty cash; and the time and effort of other employees, students, and others at the College.
24. Disruption or obstruction of lawful institutional activities and functions.
25. Threats, intimidation, physical contact, physical abuse harassment, coercion, and any other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.
26. Attempted or actual theft, unauthorized possession, and/or damage to property of the College, any person, or any other entity.
27. Possession or use on the College premises of any weapon (i.e. firearms and dangerous knives), dangerous instruments, explosive devices, fireworks, or dangerous chemicals.
28. Unauthorized use of institutional resources or facilities for personal, commercial, political, or other improper purposes.
29. Theft, abuse, and/or misuse of computer facilities and resources, including but not limited to:
a. Unauthorized entry into a file, to use, read, or change contents, or for any other purpose.
b. Unauthorized transfer of a file.
c. Use of another individual’s identification and/or password.
d. Use of computing facilities and resources to interfere with the work of a student, employee, or College official.
e. Use of computing facilities to and resources to send obscene or abusive messages.
f. Use of computing facilities and resources to interfere with normal operation of the College computing system.
g. Use of computing facilities and resources in violation of copyright laws.
h. Any violation of the College Computer Use Policy.
30. Violations of other published College policies in hard copy or available on the College website.
31. Intentionally misrepresenting personal views as the position of the institution.
32. Conviction of criminal acts which demonstrate unfitness as an employee, including but not limited to crimes of moral turpitude.
33. Possession, distribution, sale or use, or being under the influence of, illegal drugs while on College premises, participating in College-sponsored activities, representing the College, or performing job duties. Illegal drugs, as referred to in this policy, include drugs that are not legally obtainable, as well as drugs that are legally obtainable but used for illegal and unauthorized purposes.
34. Violation of policies as defined in the College Campus Community Policies. [Volume II] Employees must abide by all rules and laws governing the use of copyrighted materials, patented ideas, licenses, and proprietary information. Employees must refrain from any activity that constitutes infringement of individual or College intellectual property and properly attribute the ideas and work of others.
35. Interference with disciplinary procedures, including but not limited to destroying or concealing evidence, providing false or misleading information, intimidation of witnesses, or inducing a witness to provide withhold information or provide false information.
36. Improper documentation, destruction, or making false statements, alterations, deletions, or omissions on College forms, records, or reports including but not limited to production records, time records, employment applications, and medical records.
37. Violation of Whistleblower Policy.
38. Failure or refusal to cooperate in or interference with an investigation by the College.