3.2.3 Board conflict of interest

The board has a policy addressing conflict of interest for its members.

Judgment of Compliance

Compliance

Narrative of Justification

The Board of Trustees (BOT) most recently considered a Conflict of Interest Policy in the October 2006 meeting.  At that time, a policy was developed and presented to the entire BOT for adoption and approval. The policy defines a conflict of interest as an occurrence when college members (employee, Board member) are in a position to influence a decision on policy or purchases and act in a way whereby they might directly or indirectly receive personal, organizational, or professional gain. Conflicts of commitment arise when college members’ involvements in outside activities substantially interfere with their primary commitments to the college: to teach, to conduct research and to meet related obligations to students, colleagues and the college.

Although a specific policy regarding conflict of interest governs the BOT and all employees of the College, the Board of Trustees By-laws 2005 address the matter in Article XII (Conflict of Interest):

“A Trustee shall be considered to have a conflict of interest if (a) such Trustee has existing or potential financial or other interests which impair or might reasonably appear to impair such member's independent, unbiased judgment in the discharge of his/her responsibilities to the College, or (b) such Trustee is aware that a member of his/her family, (for which purposes of this paragraph shall be a spouse or child) or any organization in which such Trustee (or member of his/her family) is an officer, director, employee, member, partner, trustee, or controlling stockholder, has such existing potential or other interests. All Trustees shall disclose to the Board any possible conflict of interest at the earliest practicable time. No Trustees shall vote on any matter, under consideration at the Board or Committee meeting, in which such Trustee has a conflict of interest. The minutes of such meeting shall reflect that a disclosure was made and that the Trustees having a conflict of interest abstained from voting. Any Trustee, who is uncertain whether he/she has a conflict of interest in any matter may request the Board or Committee to determine whether a conflict of interest exists, and the Board or Committee shall resolve the question by majority vote.”

Supporting Documents

SOURCE	LOCATION/Special Instructions
Board of Trustees By-Laws 2005	Office of the President
Conflict of Interest Policy	Office of the President
Board of Trustees Minutes dated October 28, 2006	Office of the President