With respect to gifts and gratuities, all employees and department heads are expected to comply with federal and state regulations regarding acceptance of gifts. No employee or department head may solicit for themselves or a third party anything of value from anyone in return for any business, service or confidential information or accept or retain anything of value from anyone in connection with the business of College either before or after a transaction is discussed or completed or before or after a student is enrolled in the College.
Exceptions to this policy are:
a. Acceptance of anything of value that is unsolicited and based on obvious family or personal relationships when it is clear that it is those relationships that are the motivating factor;
b. Acceptance of unsolicited meals, refreshments, travel arrangements or accommodation or entertainment of reasonable value in the course of bona fide business transactions or discussions;
c. Acceptance of discounts or rebates on merchandise or services or advertising and promotional materials that do not exceed those available to other customers;
d. Acceptance of unsolicited gifts of modest value in conjunction with commonly recognized events or occasions, such as anniversaries, promotions, retirement, birthdays and gift giving holidays, but no gift from a single source should exceed a value of $100 per calendar year. Acceptance of unsolicited occasional tickets to sporting events, concerts or similar events of a reasonable value are permitted. This exception does not extend to season tickets, unreasonably numerous events, extravagant events such as super bowls, major golf tournaments or conventions and seminars where the business purpose is merely incidental to the entertainment purpose;
e. Acceptance of civic, charitable, educational or religious awards for recognition of service or accomplishment;
f. Acceptance of an honorarium, travel, lodging or meal expenses for presentations at an events sponsored by a professional organization or customer, vendor, supplier or consultant of the College, provided that the employee received prior approval of the engagement.
In the event that any employee or department head is offered, receives or anticipates receiving anything of value from a customer, vendor, supplier or consultant of the College beyond what is permitted under the Ethics Policy, written disclosure of such shall be made to management or the Board of Directors. |
