ADM 140 – McPherson College Code of Ethics

To maintain the professional environment of an institution of higher education, any student, employee and guest, while on the college campus or while representing the college, shall maintain behavior that is becoming of a professional college environment.

In the pursuit of their professional activities, McPherson College Employees shall take into account not merely the scientific, technical, and economic considerations, but also the social, environmental and ethical implications of their work. The responsibility of McPherson College Employees for the sustainable welfare of the community is an integral part of our professional responsibility.

McPherson College Employees shall pursue the College’s objectives in ways that are consistent with the College’s mission.

McPherson College Employees shall be mindful of, and shall exercise reasonable care not to endanger, public health and safety.

McPherson College Employees shall respect and defend human rights, and shall actively take part in the working community. McPherson College Employees shall encourage fair and equitable treatment of all employees.

McPherson College Employees shall act in a manner that neither compromises nor impairs, nor is likely to compromise or impair, their professional integrity in the performance of their duties. In particular, they shall make all business agreements clear and fair. McPherson College Employees shall uphold equity and dignity and conduct their affairs faithfully.

McPherson College Employees shall maintain the confidentiality of all information in the College’s possession that is given to the College in confidence, or is of a private or sensitive nature, to the extent it is possible to do so consistently with the law and with the best interests of McPherson College.

Relationship by family or marriage shall constitute neither an advantage nor a disadvantage to employment by McPherson College, provided the individual meets and fulfills the appropriate College employment standards. Without approval of the President, no individual shall have compensation approved by, or be assigned to a department under the direct supervision of, a relative as defined herein.

The College recognizes that there may be existing relationships that run contrary to this policy adopted on July 1, 1999. This policy is intended to prevent any new situations where relatives are employed in supervisory-subordinate relationships.

Under the above policy the following definitions are applicable:

A. Relative includes father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half sister, grandparent, grandparent-in-law, or domestic partner.

B. Supervision is generally defined as the authority to oversee the performance of another person’s job duties. Supervision also includes the authority of an employee to schedule, assign, evaluate, commend, reward, promote, relieve, discipline, censure, demote, or remove another employee or substantially influence such actions for or against another employee.

There will be no video or audio recordings without the express permission of all involved parties except for the following:

1. Public events;
2. College sanctioned security cameras; or
3. By faculty and staff for educational or instructional purposes.

This prohibition includes student to student, employee to employee, employee to student and student to employee.

McPherson College Employees shall strive both to maintain and develop their professional competence and knowledge within their special fields, and to be aware of economic, scientific, technical, social, or other related disciplines relevant to their field of employment.

McPherson College Employees shall obey all valid laws and regulations relating to McPherson College’s activities.

Any College employee who reports to outside agencies regarding conduct on the part of the College, or any of its employees, that he or she reasonably believes to be unlawful shall not be terminated or disciplined by the College. McPherson College employees are however encouraged to exhaust the College’s internal remedies before involving outside agencies, insofar as this is reasonably possible.

The purpose of this Code of Ethics is to express high standards toward which McPherson College employees are expected to strive. It is not, however, to be interpreted as expressing or creating any legal duties owed by McPherson College or any McPherson College employee to any third parties. McPherson College understands that persons of good will may differ in their interpretation of the general standards expressed by this Code of Ethics.

This policy shall be reviewed periodically by the Administrative Team.