University of Alaska
Regents' Policy 04.10 - Ethics and Conduct

Regents' Policy

PART IV - HUMAN RESOURCES
CHAPTER X

Ethics and Conduct

Outside Activities P04.10.010

A.
Scope: Outside activities will mean work or activities which are not within the scope of the regular employment duties of the university employee.

B.
Conduct of Outside Activities: Outside activities which will increase the effectiveness and broaden the experience of employees in relation to their functions at the university or which will be of service to the community or the state, are encouraged, provided outside activities do not interfere with the performance of the employee's regular university duties; and provided the outside activities do not involve the appropriation of university property facilities, equipment, or services.

(06-20-97)

Abuse of Office for Political Purposes P04.10.020

No university employee may assert or imply that he or she is officially representing the university or its policies, unless expressly authorized to do so by the president of the university. Any employee who, in a political forum, uses his or her university rank or position as a means of identification, must clearly state that the opinions being expressed are private and imply no university endorsement.

An employee who acquires a state, federal, or local public office which may not legally be simultaneously held by a University employee will resign from university employment. Where there is no legal prohibition on simultaneous office holding, the employee need not resign, but will remain subject to the regulations which apply to outside activities.

Any employee who wishes to campaign for or hold any political office or to serve as a registered state or federal lobbyist will come under the regulations of the university which apply to outside activities.

University funds or resources may not be used to support partisan political activity. Letters constituting partisan political activity may not be written on university stationery unless expressly authorized by the president of the university.

(06-20-97)

Conflicts of Interest P04.10.030

A.
Any action, without actual authority to do so granted specifically by the Board of Regents or the university president by an officer or employee of the university which either:

1.
has allowed any person, firm, or company to derive an advantage or benefit which has not been made available to all persons, firms, or companies on the same or equal basis; or

2.
which exposes the university to contractual obligation or public liability will be considered improper and in conflict with the proper discharge of official duties in behalf of the university.

B.
No officer or employee of the university will directly or indirectly do any of the following:

1.
Engage in or accept employment from or render services for any public or private interest when such employment or service may reasonably be expected to give rise to conflict with the proper discharge of official duties on behalf of the university.

2.
In behalf of him/herself or other, solicit, negotiate for, or agree to accept employment or anything of substantial value from, any person, firm or company with which he/she or his/her budget request unit is engaged in the transaction of business on behalf of the university, or which may be affected by his/her official action.

3.
Hold any investment or engage in any financial, business, commercial, or private transaction, which creates a conflict with the proper discharge of official duties.

4.
Use information peculiarly within his/her knowledge or purview concerning the students, employees, property, government, or affairs of the university to advance the financial or other private interest of him/herself or others.

5.
Accept any form of gift, loan, consideration, or any gratuity for the performance of his/her duties other than that afforded by the university, unless such gift, loan, consideration or gratuity is received for the exclusive benefit of the university.

6.
Receive payment or other consideration for activities, or the products of activities, created or performed while acting as a university employee, other than that provided by the university.

7.
Be a party to the purchase or sale of, or influence the purchase or sale of, goods of services for the use of the university by any person, firm, company or business in which he/she has substantial financial interest unless approved in advance by the president of the university. The transaction shall be approved only if the president finds it to be in the best interests of the university. Such approval shall be in written form and be open to inspection by the public at the Office of the President.

8.
Engage in any business or transaction, or own a financial or other private interest, which is in conflict with the proper discharge of official duties.

C.
A university officer or employee will be considered to have done "indirectly" the things prohibited by subsection 04.10.04(B) whenever any part of the prohibited acts are accomplished by or through the spouse, child, or parent of the university officer or employee, or by an association, trust, or corporation in which he/she or the spouse, child, or parent has a substantial interest; or through any device or artifice intended to evade the effect of the policy.

D.
In cases in which a faculty member produces a published work or an invention as a part of his/her paid research or public service assignment for the university, and such published work or invention is not a "commissioned work" as defined in Policy 10.07.05(A) the fact that the faculty member may receive payment for royalties or similar remuneration will not alone constitute a violation of this policy.

E.
If an officer or employee is uncertain whether a conflict of interest exists in an actual situation, he/she may:

1.
Through appropriate channels, fully and fairly inform the president of the university in writing of the specific facts surrounding the possible conflict of interest; and

2.
Request a determination of whether the situation as presented constitutes a conflict of interest.

In such instances, the president of the university may rule on the question of whether the situation as presented constitutes a conflict of interest. If the president decides whether the situation as presented constitutes a conflict of interest, the decision will be conclusive as to the situation as presented. The officer or employee who requests the decision will have a continuing duty to inform the president of the university in writing fully, fairly, and in good faith, in advance of changes in circumstances which might alter the situation so as to cause the president of the university to change his decision. The president may reconsider his decision at any time.
F.

Official Spokesperson for the University

The president of the university is designated as the representative of the university in all official university discussions and communications with officials of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state and federal governments in their official capacities. All official communications sent to such officials must be sent through the president, except in the following cases:

1.
Routine development and administration of grants or contracts.

2.
Supplying of routine facts and information which are supplied to the general public.

3.
Communications by a chancellor, or under the direction of a chancellor, the substance of which is promptly reported to the Office of the President.

4.
Communications made at the request of the president or authorized by the president.

5.
Testimony at the request of the Alaska Legislature.

This policy should not be construed as limiting direct communication of university personnel with government officials concerning matters of private interest.

G

Additional restrictions and exceptions may be provided by regulation.

(06-20-97)

Nepotism P04.10.040

Candidates will not be prohibited from appointment on the basis of their relationship with current employees of the University of Alaska. However, no employee of the University may supervise or participate in employment, grievance, retention, promotion, salary, leave or other personnel decisions concerning members of his or her immediate family.

Immediate family will include an employee's spouse, child or stepchild, parent, sibling or immediate in-laws.

It is not a violation of this policy for a faculty member to have an immediate family member as a student enrolled in his/her class, provided that the chancellor has approved an alternative means of evaluating the student's academic performance. This precludes the faculty member from direct involvement in such evaluation.

Any exception to this policy requires the prior written approval of the president of the university. The president will advise the Board of Regents of all granted exceptions.

(08-15-97)

PART IV TABLE OF CONTENTS