Rules

Preamble

 This Stanly Community College Code of Ethics has been developed with input from representatives of each constituent group at SCC. It is meant to be educational and inspirational to show all members of the College community the climate that we foster and to express the ethical principles and guidelines for the conduct of all Stanly Community College employees. It also informs the public of the standards of ethical conduct for Stanly Community College.

Employees of Stanly Community College have a responsibility to ensure that they are familiar with this Code of Ethics, understand its application to their conduct, and adhere to its principles. Employees should also be familiar with other sources of information that will assist them in making informed decisions. These include the laws, policies, and agreements that are relevant to their work. The Stanly Community College Code of Ethics includes examples of the applications of the ethical principles. While the examples are intended to provide further guidance and assistance, no part of this Code can substitute entirely for the active process of ethical decision-making. In instances of ethical demands or dilemmas where a simple or direct application of this Code is not possible, employees should seek clarification and assistance.

Employees should maintain Stanly Community College's Code of Ethics when engaged in any college-related activity. Personal standards and conduct are private matters; however, when employees act as representatives of the College, they should conduct themselves according to the Stanly Community College Code of Ethics.

The Stanly Community College Code of Ethics applies to representatives of the College in college-sponsored activities (e.g. United Way Campaign) and conferences or workshops when serving as a representative of the college.

1. Principle - Integrity:

a. Employees should act with integrity in their relationships. They should cooperate and treat others with respect, honesty, and fairness. They should accept the rights of others to hold values and beliefs that differ from their own.

• Visitors to the College should be treated courteously and provided with helpful and accurate information.
• Colleagues should maintain polite, professional relationships. Shunning, ostracizing, and gossiping constitute unprofessional behavior.

 

b. Employees should avoid creating the impression of speaking or acting on behalf of the College when they speak or act as private persons.

• Employees participating in a political or partisan demonstration should not promote themselves as representatives of the College.
• When promoting a private business, employees should not use the name of Stanly Community College to enhance credibility.
• Employees should not use resources of Stanly Community College for personal gain.
• Employees should not use Stanly Community College letterhead other than as part of their assigned college duty. Letterhead should be used only for SCC business.

 c. Employees should not condone or participate in breaches of Stanly Community College's Code of Ethics.

 2. Principle - Competence:

 a. Employees should provide services within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, professional experience, ongoing professional development, and licensure.

 Employees should remain current in their fields through continuing education and professional development opportunities or participation in college-sponsored training opportunities.

• Employees should refer students to appropriate College resources (e.g. Counseling Services, Financial Aid, Learning Centers, Security).

 b. Employees must accurately represent their qualifications, educational backgrounds, experience, and professional credentials.

 Job applications and resumes must be accurate and not contain misleading information.

 c. Employees must fulfill the requirements of their job descriptions.

 d. Employees should foster open communication between and within all levels of decision making and include where possible input by those who would be affected in the decision-making process.

• Involve employees, when feasible, from all areas in decision making (calendar, orientation, course scheduling, etc.).

3. Principles - Equality and Acceptance:

 a. Employees should respect the diversity of others, including fundamental beliefs and differing opinions.  Employees must protect fundamental human rights prescribed by law.

 

• Employees should respect that the opinions and ideas of students and other employees may differ from their own.
• Employees should not ignore discrimination in situations where a reasonable person would believe there is inequity.

 b. Employees should act to prevent intimidation, harassment, favoritism, and discrimination.

 Bullying in any form will not be tolerated.

• Employees should make a reasonable effort to include or welcome all students in college-related activities. An employee may engage in activities with a class, club, or college organizations, but must not restrict activities to an individual or select group of students.
• Employees should not conspire against other employees or against students.
• Employees should make a reasonable effort to create an inclusive environment for all colleagues and students.

 4. Principles - Honor and Trust:

 a. Employees should take into consideration the potential harm of social or non-professional contacts and relationships. Examples of these relationships might include students, other employees, vendors, or public officials.

• Employees who have personal relationships with students should inform their supervisors and discuss any potential conflicts of interest that may arise.

b. Employees should not engage in sexual activities with colleagues or students who are currently attending the College if it would lead a reasonable person to conclude that an abuse of power exists or might exist. Employees are sometimes in inherently unequal relationships with students or colleagues, creating the potential for abuse of power.

 Employees should not date or form intimate relationships with students with whom they have professional contact in the course of their duties.

• Should an intimate relationship develop between employees in a reporting situation, employees should inform their supervisors and discuss any potential conflict of interest.

 c. Employees should not allow their private interests, whether personal, financial, or of any other sort, to conflict or appear to conflict with their professional duties and responsibilities. Employees should avoid any conduct that would lead a reasonable person to conclude that the individual might be biased or motivated by personal gain or private interest in the performance of duties. All known or potential conflicts of interest should be disclosed, in accordance with College policy.

 

• Employees should not financially contract or recruit business for services outside the College with individuals who would normally be able to receive the same service free within Stanly Community College.
• Employees should not rent accommodations or equipment or charge any sort of fee to their current students.
• Employees should not use sick leave to engage in employment elsewhere.
• Employees should consider the impact on the College of selling to Stanly Community College competitors' curriculum and teaching materials for which the employee holds the copyright.

d. Employees may not take credit for others' ideas or work, even in cases where the work has not been explicitly protected by copyright or patent.

• When employees use or report innovations or ideas from fellow employees, they should give credit to the originator of the idea.

 5. Principle - Privacy:

 a. Employees should respect the privacy and confidentiality rights of others with whom they work. Confidential information should be used only for the purposes for which it was originally provided and shared only with authorized parties on a need-to-know basis unless consent is given or required by law.

• Employees should discuss the health or conduct of a student or colleague only with his/her permission, or on a need-to-know basis.
• Employees should not actively seek to obtain confidential information on other employees or students.

b. Other than policy-mandated supervisory use and access, employees should obtain authorization or permission before using or accessing another person's materials, belongings, or written/electronic information.

• Employees should not access another employee' space, desks or materials on other than work-related matters, without asking permission.
• Employees should not access a colleague's personal e-mail or computer files without his/her permission and knowledge and unless the need for access is for a legitimate college purpose.

 

Revised: 02/11/2013 (procedures)