Butler Community College Ethics Training

Spring 2014Presented by

Butler Ethics Review Board

A code of values which guides our choices and actions and determines the conduct by which we live

Butler employees play a critical role in assuring high standards of ethical practice

The employees’ personal and professional conduct reflects on Butler and higher education at large

Ethics

Employee conduct should be characterized by the timeless institutional values of quality, integrity, service, and care.

Specifically employees shall:◦ Obey local, state and federal laws and regulations◦ Comply with the Employee Handbook◦ Provide accurate and complete time and expense reports and

financial records or statements◦ Exercise professional judgment when offered gifts or favors◦ Decline to engage in circumstances that create a conflict of

interest◦ Safeguard confidential college information◦ Use college assets (supplies, buildings, etc.) for college purposes

Butler Standards for Best Ethical Practices

Ryan, a carpenter for the college, has a small project he is working on at home. He plans to take a few tools from the college to use at home over the weekend and figures it is permissible since he knows how to use the tools and they will be returned before work on Monday morning. Ryan assumes this is ok, because his supervisor frequently takes home a college issued laptop computer.

Is this ethical?

Ethical Scenario One

No, it would be inappropriate and a misuse of college resources for an employee to take college property home or off the premises for personal use.

Only those property items permitted to be taken off campus (e.g., laptops with appropriate approval, etc.) may be used outside of the workplace. All college resources should be restricted to use for college business.

Solution One

Joe requested sick leave for the death of a family member. While he was on leave, his supervisor was informed by another staff member that Joe was actually on vacation and did not have a death in the family. Per further review and analysis, the supervisor discovered the family member listed on the leave form had actually passed away several years earlier. Joe did not have sufficient benefit time remaining to take vacation, so he had reported a death in the family to obtain additional time off.

Ethical Scenario Two

This is an example of a misuse of college time (a college resource) and is an offense for which discipline would be appropriate. Additionally, the employee was not truthful in his communications and falsified time records by providing fraudulent leave justification. College employees are required to be truthful in all communications, whether they are oral or written.

Solution Two

Jane works in accounting on campus. On weekends, outside of her regular college work hours, she is employed by an outside agency, to do bookkeeping. Her co-workers are concerned her work is a conflict of interest.

Ethical Scenario Three

Provided Jane is not conducting duties for her secondary job while she is working for the college, it is permissible for her to work for the outside agency.

Solution Three

There are five members, two permanent and three rotating. The current members are:◦ Vicki Long, Human Resources Director (permanent)◦ Rebecca Lick, Assistant Director of

Accounting(permanent)◦ Christian Ramsey, Institutional Technology

Specialist (rotating Institutional Staff)◦ Susan Pfeifer, Math Professor (rotating Professional

Employee)◦ Yolanda Hackler, Assistant Director of Purchasing &

Accounts Payable (rotating Operational Support Staff)

Butler Ethics Review Board (ERB)

The ERB investigates all alleged violations reported through the Ethics Point Line and other channels

To date, the ERB has investigated 25 allegations

Ethics Reports

Accounting and Auditing Matters; 1

Confidentiality; 2

Conflict of Interest; 2

Discrimination or Ha-rassment; 2

Employee Misconduct; 7

Fraud; 1

Improper Giving or Receiv-ing of Gifts; 1

Offensive or Inappropriate Communication; 2

Theft / Embezzlement; 2

Threat or Inappropriate Supervisor Directive; 2

Time Abuse; 1Nepotism; 1

Violence or Threat; 1

Suspected or alleged violations should be reported by using the Ethics Report Line.

The Ethics Report Line can be accessed in three different ways

1. Calling 1-888-329-6447• An Ethics Point employee will answer and take

your report.• At the end they will give you a Report Key and

Passcode. Please write these down.

Ethics Report Line

2. Filing a report online through the third party Ethics Point servers by going to www.ethicspoint.com

Type in “Butler Community College” in the “file a new report” section

Confirm that the correct institution has been selected

3. Selecting “Butler Ethics Report Line” on the Employee quick clicks drop down menu on the Pipeline home page.

Chose the category you think best fits the situation

Accounting and Financial Human Resources Athletics Risk and Safety Matters Information Technology

Filing an Ethics Report Online

Then chose the specific issue, if one does not fit exactly, pick the one closest.

Don’t worry about getting it exactly right. The categories can be changed by the ERB later.

Fill out the report to the best of your ability making sure to complete the required information marked with an *

Reports can be anonymous◦ If you anonymously file a report please use the

Report Key provided and Password you chose to regularly check back for any questions and/or follow up

◦ If the questions are not answered we may not be able to investigate your report due to lack of information.

If you are uncertain whether or not the situation is unethical you can◦ Contact a member of the ERB◦ File a report with Ethics Point

Once you file a report you will be contacted for further information.

If you filed anonymously, it is critical you check Ethics Point regularly. The ERB may not be able to investigate without further information.

At the conclusion of the investigation you will be informed of the results of the investigation, but you may not be informed of the actions taken due to privacy concerns.

Butler’s Standards for Best Ethical Practices prohibits retaliation for filing an ethics report.

If you experience any retaliation, it is a separate ethics violation that will be dealt with whether or not the original report is an ethics violation.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact a member of the Ethics Review Board◦ Vicki Long, Human Resources Director (316)322-3152◦ Rebecca Lick, Assistant Director of Accounting

(316)323-6942◦ Christian Ramsey, Instructional Technology

Specialist (316)323-6973◦ Susan Pfeifer, Math Professor (316)218-6216◦ Yolanda Hackler, Assistant Director of Purchasing

& Accounts Payable (316)322-3219

Thank you for your time

Please sign and date the Butler Standards for Best Ethical Practices and take the post-test.