(B) General standards of ethical conduct.
(1) The board of trustees and employees must,
at all times, abide by protections to the public embodied in Ohio's ethics
laws, as found in Chapters 102. and 2921. of the Revised Code, and as
interpreted by the Ohio ethics commission and Ohio courts. (A copy of these
laws is provided by the board of trustees, and receipt acknowledged, as
required in division (D) of section
102.09 of the Revised Code.)
Board members and employees must conduct themselves, at all times, in a manner
that avoids favoritism, bias, and the appearance of impropriety.
(2) A general summary of the restraints upon
the conduct of all board members and employees includes, but is not limited to,
those listed below. No board member or employee shall:
(a) Solicit or accept anything of value from
anyone doing business with the college;
(b) Solicit or accept employment from anyone
doing business with the college, unless the official or employee completely
withdraws from board activity regarding the party offering employment, and the
board approves the withdrawal;
(c)
Use his or her public position to obtain benefits for the official or employee,
a family member, or anyone with whom the official or employee has a business or
employment relationship;
(d) Be
paid or accept any form of compensation for personal services rendered on a
matter before, or sells goods or services to, the college;
(e) Be paid or accept any form of
compensation for personal services rendered on a matter before, or sell (except
by competitive bid) goods or services to, and state agency other than the
college, unless the board member or employee first discloses the services or
sales and withdraws from matters before the board of trustees of Owens
community college that directly affect officials and employees of the other
state agency, as directed in section
102.04 of the Revised
Code;
(f) Hold or benefit from a
contract with, authorized by, or approved by, the board of trustees of Owens
community college, (the ethics law does except some limited stockholdings, and
some contracts objectively shown as the lowest cost services, where all
criteria under section
2921.42 of the Revised Code are
met);
(g) Vote, authorize,
recommend, or in any other way use his or her position to secure approval of a
contract with the college (including employment or personal services) in which
the official or employee, a family member, or anyone with whom the official or
employee has a business or employment relationship, has an interest;
(h) Solicit or accept honoraria (see division
(H) of sections 102.01 and
102.03 of the Revised
Code);
(i) During public service,
and for one year after leaving public service, represent any person, in any
fashion, before any public agency, with respect to a matter in which the
official or employee personally participated while serving with the
college;
(j) Use or disclose
confidential information protected by law, unless appropriately authorized;
or
(k) Use, or authorize the use
of, his or her title, the name "Owens community college," or the college's logo
in a manner that suggests impropriety, favoritism, or bias by the college or
the official or employee;
(l)
Be provided with any commission, bonus or other
incentive payment based in any part, directly or indirectly, on securing
enrollment or federal financial aid to any person or entity engaged in any
student recruiting or admission activity, or in making a decision regarding the
award of student financial assistance;
(m)
Take part in
fraudulent or unduly aggressive recruiting techniques for student enrollment or
fail to meet state authorization requirements consistent with the regulations
issued by the United States department of education ( 34 C.F.R. 688.71-688.75 ;
668.14 and
600.9).
(3) For purposes of this rule:
(a) "Anything of value" includes anything of
monetary value, including, but not limited to, money, gifts, food or beverages,
social event tickets and expenses, travel expenses, golf outings, consulting
fees, compensation, or employment.
(b) "Value" means worth greater than de
minimis or nominal.
(c) "Anyone
doing business with the college" includes, but is not limited to, any person,
corporation, or other party that is doing or seeking to do business with,
regulated by, or has interests before the board of trustees of Owens community
college.
