ARTICLE V: HUMAN RESOURCES/GENERAL
SECTION B: CONDUCT

Policy 010: Conflict of Interest

V.B.010

All employees of Rogue Community College are subject to the laws of Oregon relating to ethics, to actual and potential conflicts of interest, and to the regulation of the conduct of public employees and public officials.  These laws establish specific standards of conduct and an employee cannot rely upon personal or community standards of behavior, but must refer to these laws (and authorized interpretations of these laws), in answering questions regarding what is and is not prohibited conduct.

The Oregon Revised Statutes (“ORS”) dealing with conflicts of interest include but are not limited to:

  1. ORS 244.040 – The Code of Ethics.  This provides “No public official (which includes RCC employees by definition in ORS 244.020[15]) shall use or attempt to use official position or office to obtain financial gain or to avoid financial detriment.”  The statute goes into detail regarding what this means, and matters pertaining to gifts, use of confidential information and the like (emphasis added).

  2. ORS 244.020(1) – Actual Conflict of Interest.  This “means any action or any decision or recommendation by a person acting in a capacity as a public official, the effect of which would be to the private pecuniary benefit or detriment of the person or the person’s relative or any business with which the person or a relative of the person is associated (subject to exceptions set out in the law)...” (emphasis added). 

  3. ORS 244.020(7) – Potential Conflict of Interest.  This “means any action or any decision or recommendation by a person acting in a capacity as a public official, the effect of which could be to the private pecuniary benefit or detriment of the person or the person’s relative or any business with which the person or a relative of the person is associated (subject to exceptions set out in the law)…” (emphasis added). 
  4. ORS 244.120(2) – Methods of Handling Conflicts.  “(W)hen met with an actual or potential conflict of interest, a public official shall….notify in writing the person who appointed the public official to office of the nature of the conflict, and request that the appointing authority dispose of the matter giving rise to the conflict.  Upon receipt of the request, the appointing authority shall designate within a reasonable time an alternate to dispose of the matter or shall direct the official to dispose of the matter in a manner specified by the appointing authority.”  (This requires a written referral of the conflict to the employee’s immediate or other supervisor.)  (Emphasis added.)

These laws are in Chapter 244 of the Oregon Revised Statutes and are generally known as “Government Standards and Practices.”  The laws are enforced and interpreted by the Oregon Government Standards and Practices Commission.  The Commission is in Salem, Oregon, telephone No.:  503-378-5105, and has staff available to answer questions and also has issued a manual, which public officials can refer to for guidance in this legal area.

Employees of Rogue Community College are prohibited from taking any action to fraudulently influence, coerce, manipulate or mislead an auditor engaged in the performance of an audit for the purpose of rendering the financial statements materially misleading. 

The President, Chief Financial Officer/Executive Dean of College Services, Associate Deans of College Services and Director of Budget and Financial Services shall adhere to the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) Code of Ethics (attached).  The NACUBO Code of Ethics will be incorporated into the employment contracts of the listed or equivalent positions. 

Authority: ORS 244
Previous Policy Nos.: 4101 and 4138
Adopted: October 18, 1978
Amended: March 16, 1983
Amended: June 14, 1997
Amended/Approved:  September 17, 2002
Amended/Approved:  December 14, 2004

 

ARTICLE V: HUMAN RESOURCES/GENERAL
SECTION B: CONDUCT

Policy 020: Drug-Free Workplace

V.B.020 The Rogue Community College Board of Education prohibits the unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession, and/or use of controlled substances at the college.

Previous Policy No.: 4116.52
Amended: October 18, 1978
Amended: March 16, 1983
Adopted: June 21, 1989
Approved: June 14, 1997

ARTICLE V: HUMAN RESOURCES/GENERAL
SECTION B: CONDUCT

Policy 030: Accepting Gifts

V.B.030 Individual students, classes or vendors of Rogue Community College should be discouraged from giving gifts to staff members. Staff members, particularly those in positions where the making of decisions is of primary importance, should not accept personal gifts. Gifts that are tokens of appreciation for services by instructors may only be accepted if they are offered by groups of students and cannot influence grades.

Previous Policy No. 4137
Amended: October 18,1978
Amended: March 16, 1983
Approved: June 14, 1997

ARTICLE V: HUMAN RESOURCES/GENERAL
SECTION B: CONDUCT

Policy 040: Soliciting Funds or Business on Campus

V.B.040 Prior approval must be obtained from the president before an individual or group may solicit funds or business with students or staff or obtain faculty or student lists. This is not to be interpreted as restricting normal business transactions with Rogue Community College or bookstore employees such as salesmen of school supplies, books, etc., or approved solicitation by campus organizations.

Previous Policy No.: 4125.1
Amended: October 18, 1978
Approved: June 14, 1997

ARTICLE V: HUMAN RESOURCES/GENERAL
SECTION B: CONDUCT

Policy 050: Outside Employment

V.B.050 No full-time staff member of Rogue Community College shall engage in outside employment, which interferes with regular college duties. Prior to acceptance of such employment involving substantial time or an honorarium, the individual concerned shall obtain the approval of the president.

Part-time faculty are encouraged to have other employment in their field of expertise as a means of keeping abreast of their field and be actively involved in their professions.

Part-time classified employees and student workers are also encouraged to seek outside employment provided such does not detract from the performance of their duties at Rogue Community College.

Previous Policy No.: 4126.1
Confirmed: October 18, 1978
Amended: March 16, 1983
Approved: June 14, 1997