B-3. CODE OF ETHICS - BOARD OF
TRUSTEES
Value Statements
• The Board of Trustees supports the highest ethical standards in
performing its duties.
• The Board of Trustees will model the recognized best practices
associated with policy governance models.
• The governing board will be conscientious in following all Board
policies and in maintaining a distinction between issues of governance and
college operations.
A. Standards of
Conduct
The Austin Community
College Board of Trustees endorses the following standards of conduct for
individual ACC trustees:
[1] To identify and disclose any actual or potential
conflicts of interest, and to act at all times for the general public
good, regardless of personal friendships, relations, or interests.
Although Texas law allows the election of a trustee who has a spousal or other
familial relation with an employee of the college, neither such a trustee nor
the employee related to the trustee may take advantage of the relationship to
obtain favorable consideration, to influence operational matters, or to gain
access to information not available under the Texas Open Records Act.
[2] To keep well-informed on board-related issues, and to attend and
participate actively in meetings of the board and its committees.
[3] To encourage and engage in open and honest discussion in making board
decisions, to respect differences of opinion, and to keep an open mind until
everyone has been heard from.
[4] To respect the board's collective decision process, and to accurately
report and explain board votes and policies.
[5] To carefully avoid the assertion of board authority or preference as an
individual trustee or in concert with other trustees, other than at official
board meetings or as a result of official board actions.
[6] To
respect the Board’s community linkages processes, and to avoid perceptions of
conflicts of
[7] To
respect the authority and responsibilities of other people within the college
or external contractors, empowering them to work without interference within
the limits of board policy.
[8] To maintain the confidentiality of privileged information, as outlined in
the Texas Open Records and Meetings Act.
[9] To refrain from any attempt to influence any operational decision,
including but not limited to individual admissions, personnel, or purchasing
decisions, except when the decision is an agenda topic at an official board
meeting. Specifically, Board members may not have any communications
about a grievance with any person who has a grievance pending.
[10] To be scrupulous in requesting only authorized, legitimate reimbursement
of college-related expenses, following the same rules and guidelines required
of
[11] To interact with
each other as well as employees, students, and other citizens in a manner that
creates and sustains mutual respect.
B. Code of Ethics
The mechanisms for
enforcement of the Code of Ethics will be:
[1] Any person, with supporting information, may
allege noncompliance with the Code to the Board Chair (or the Vice-Chair if the
Chair is the target of the allegation). The Board will be advised when
any allegation has been raised.
[2] The Chair or Vice-Chair will undertake a
process to resolve the complaint.
[3] If either the complainant or the Board
member requests, the Chair will name an independent third party to investigate
the complaint and report to the Board.
[4] If the Board finds a violation of the Code,
it will reprimand or censure the Board member, which is the only sanction
available to it under
Comments, suggestions? Policy Home Page Board of Trustees Home Page