4125 Standards for Ethical Conduct Procedure

Policy Details 

Policy Name: Standards for Ethical Conduct  

Policy Number: 4125  

Applicable Code/Law: RCW 42.52  

Procedural Guidelines 

To protect public interest, the Board of Trustees and college employees are obligated to treat their positions as a public trust, using their official powers and duties and the resources of the college only to advance the public interest. This obligation requires that they: 

  1. Protect the integrity of the college by being independent and impartial in the exercise of their duties and avoid using their positions for personal/private gain, benefit, or advantage; 
  2. Do not influence or encourage others to perform inappropriate or illegal acts, or to violate laws, regulations, or College policies; 
  3. Promote an environment free from fraud, abuse of authority, and misuse of public property; steward resources in the most thoughtful and prudent manner; and ensure that all resources are used for the designated purpose; 
  4. Create a safe work environment that is free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment and treat others with respect regardless of differences or points of view where the free exchange of ideas is encouraged; 
  5. Treat members of the campus community and of the community at large with dignity, respect, concern, courtesy, and responsiveness; 
  6. Protect confidential information to which employees have access in the course of their duties; 
  7. Consider and disclose potential conflicts of interest or commitment to their immediate supervisor and/or Office of Human Resources and/or College Ethics Officer as soon as possible; and 
  8. Avoid any apparent or actual conflict between their professional responsibilities and personal interests in dealings or relationships with students. 

Employee Standards on Reporting Concerns or Violations:  

  • Each member of the College community is expected to report violations or concerns about possible violations to this Policy that come to his/her attention. 
  • Supervisors have a special duty to promote adherence to the ethical standards set forth in this document, recognize and report violations, and enforce the standards. 
  • Violations of applicable laws, College policies and procedures, and retaliation against anyone who reports possible violations may result in appropriate disciplinary action. 

Ways to Report Concerns or Violations: 

  • Ethics complaints may be filed directly with the Washington State Executive Ethics Board. Complaints must name a specific state officer or state employee and the alleged conduct that could violate the state’s ethics law if true. The Executive Ethics Board is required under law to investigate any complaint that alleges conduct in violation of RCW 42.52.  
  • Employees can report other employee’s violations of state laws or rules anonymously through the WA State Auditor’s Office (SAO) Whistleblower Program website. The SAO has sole authority to determine whether to investigate the allegation.  
  • Complaints also may be filed internally, within the College, following the relevant complaint procedure or investigative process applies to the state officer or state employee who is alleged to have violated the ethics law.    

 All trustees and employees of the College will be responsible for declaring any honoraria or identifying potential conflicts of interest for review before engaging in any activity that may pose an ethical conflict. The College President or designee will be charged with reviewing any requests for honoraria and for the review of business or personal relationships that may pose an ethical conflict in the completion of duties for recommendation to the President.   

Shoreline College employees offered an honorarium for an activity or service which is clearly linked to the employee’s work at the College must submit the request in writing to the College Ethics Officer for review and approval. The College Ethics Officer will consult with the Office of Human Resources to review and discuss any Collective Bargaining Agreement requirements or other concerns. If the date(s) and time(s) fall inside the employee’s regular work schedule, the employee must also discuss the potential schedule conflicts with their unit administrator prior to making the request.   

Approval by the Ethics Officer is required only for those honoraria which are clearly connected with the employee’s work at the College. No approval is required for unrelated outside employment.    

All employees will receive a copy of the Shoreline College Ethics Policy and Procedure 4125. New employees will receive a copy during their employee orientation. All supervisors are responsible for reviewing the Ethics Policy and Procedure with their office and departmental employees annually.   

Approvals 

Procedures Adopted: 1/15/99  

Reviewed and Approved by Executive Team: 07/07/2026