Board Members Code of Conduct Policy

Board Members’ Code of Conduct 

Policy Statement:  

The board expects of itself and its members ethical and businesslike conduct. This commitment includes proper use of authority and appropriate decorum in group and individual behavior when serving as board members. 

1. Board members must represent unconflicted loyalty to the interests of the ownership. This accountability supersedes any conflicting loyalty such as that to advocacy or interest groups and membership on other boards or staffs. This accountability supersedes the personal interest of any board member acting as an individual consumer of the organization’s services.
2. Board members must avoid any conflict of interest with respect to their fiduciary responsibility. 
3. There must be no self‑dealing or any conduct of private business or personal services between any board member and the organization except as procedurally controlled to assure openness, competitive opportunity and equal access to “inside” information.
4. Board members must not use their positions to obtain employment in the organization for themselves, family members, or close associates.
5. Should a board member be considered for employment, she/he must temporarily withdraw from board deliberation, voting, and access to applicable board information.
6. Should a member gain employment at the college, he/she must resign from the board.
7. Members' interaction with the public, the press, or other entities must recognize the same limitation and the inability of any board member to speak for the board except to repeat explicitly stated board decisions.
8. Board members may not attempt to exercise individual authority over the president or staff of the organization except as explicitly set forth in board policies.
9. An individual board member must recognize that his/her communication with the public, press, or other entities represents his/her personal views and not that of the board as a whole.
10. Board members will respect the confidentiality appropriate to issues of a sensitive nature.
11. Board members will make no judgments of the president or staff performance except as that performance is assessed against explicit board policies by the official process.
12. Board members should bring their individual opinions to the board for discussion before decisions are made because a majority vote of the board expresses its collective values.
13. Board members will acknowledge acceptance of their responsibility to adhere to this Code of Conduct indicated by annual signature. 

 

Higher Learning Commission Links:  

Criterion 2: Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct  

Core Component 2.C: Board Governance  

 

Policy History: This policy is reviewed annually. 

July 7, 2025: Revised for accessibility format.  

April 14, 2016: Reviewed  

March 15, 1995: Reviewed