DBC. Conflict of Interest Policy (Employees)

Conflict of Interest: Employees of South Plains College are expected to conduct the business of the College with total objectivity. A conflict of interest may exist where an individual stands to gain or lose personally from a College business decision; or where an employee or member of his or her immediate family has an interest, direct or indirect, in an entity dealing with the College, and the interest is of such an extent or nature that his or her decision might be affected or determined by it; or an employee serves in an advisory, consulting, technical, or management capacity for any non-affiliated business organization which does significant business with, or is a competitor of the College.

The appearance of a conflict of interest may be just as damaging to the College's reputation as a real conflict. All employees are expected to take an objective look at their actions from time to time to determine whether a reasonable observer would have no grounds to believe a conflict of interest exists.

Disclosure of Interest: If a conflict of interest or appearance of conflict is unavoidable, an employee is required to disclose the interest to his or her supervisor immediately. An employee shall disclose to his or her immediate supervisor a personal financial interest, a business interest, or any other obligation or relationship that is any way creates a potential conflict of interest with the proper discharge of assigned duties and responsibilities or in the best interest of the College District.

Any employee who is in a position to affect a financial decision involving any business entity or real property in which the employee has a substantial interest as defined by Local Government Code 171.002 shall file an affidavit with the College President; however, the employee shall not be required to file an affidavit for the substantial interest of a relative.

Disclosure Form CIS approved by the State of Texas can be found in Section DBCA.

Gifts: An employee shall not accept or solicit any gift, favor, service or other benefit that could reasonably be construed to influence the employee’s discharge of assigned duties and responsibilities.

Endorsements: An employee shall not recommend, endorse, or require students to purchase any product, material, or service in which the employee has a financial interest or that is sold by a company that employees or retains the employee during non-school hours, unless the product, material or service is recommended, endorsed or required for a course the employee teaches and is reasonably related to the subject matter of the course and the course syllabus.

No employee shall require students to purchase a specific brand of supplies if other brands are equal and suitable for the intended instructional purpose.

Sales: An employee shall not use his or her position with the College District to attempt to sell products or services, unless the product or service is recommended, endorsed or required for a course the employee teaches and is reasonably related to the subject matter of the course and the course syllabus.

Date Issued: February 11, 2013

Approval: Executive Council