SP 3-70a
APPROVED: November 11, 2009
EFFECTIVE: November 11, 2009
REVISED: March 17, 2014
REVISED: May 19, 2017
APPENDICES REVISED:
August 8, 2023
REFERENCE: Board Policy 3-70, Colorado Community College System Code of Ethics
APPROVED:
/ Nancy J. McCallin /
Nancy J. McCallin, Ph.D.
System President
This procedure applies to all State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education Board (Board or SBCCOE) members and all employees of the Colorado Community College System office and the Community Colleges.
It is Board policy that none of its employees or its Board members shall engage in any activity or relationship that places them in a conflict of interest between their official activities and any other interest or obligation. All activities of SBCCOE are to be conducted in a manner that is free of real or perceived conflict of interest or favoritism. A conflict of interest requires all employees and Board members to disqualify themselves from participating in a decision when a personal interest is present. In addition, employees and Board members shall avoid any relationship, influence or activity that may adversely affect or give the appearance of adversely affecting an employee’s independent judgment in making decisions related to their job. Certain activities create a conflict of interest or appearance of favoritism unless they are properly disclosed, approved or managed. These activities can be undertaken only after appropriate disclosures, approvals or management in accordance with this procedure.
Board standards for employment decisions such as hiring, promoting, reappointing, evaluating, awarding salary and terminating employees are based on qualifications for the position, ability and performance. Educational decisions are based on academic performance and conduct. This procedure is intended to reinforce the Board’s commitment to employment and educational practices that create and maintain constructive working and educational relationships and which reflect the Board’s commitment to employment and educational practices that are fairly, efficiently and consistently applied.
Employee: Any person hired or contracted by the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education, the Colorado Community College System office, or a community college. This includes all full time and part time employees whether permanent or temporary, but not independent contractors.
Immediate family member: A Board member’s or employee’s spouse; children, step-children, and their spouses; brothers and brothers-in-law; sisters and sisters-in-law; parents and parents-in-law; grandparents and grandparents-in-law; aunts and uncles; nieces and nephews; grandchildren and their spouses; and members of the immediate household which shall include, but are not limited to domestic and civil union partners.
Related party: An immediate family member; an estate or trust in which a Board member or employee or his or her immediate family member has a beneficial interest; or an entity in which a Board member or employee, or his or her immediate family member is a director, officer, or has a financial interest.
Line of supervision: The immediate supervisor or any person in the ascending order of supervision up to and including the College and System President.
De minimis financial benefit: A financial benefit that has an aggregate value of $50.00 (see footnote 1) or less in a calendar year.
The employment of qualified immediate family members of Board members or employees is permissible as long as such employment does not create actual or perceived conflict of interest.
The employment of immediate family members is subject to the following:
Immediate family members are permitted to work in the same department, provided no direct reporting or direct supervisor to subordinate relationship exists. In addition, employees may not act in an evaluative capacity in relation to members of the employee’s immediate family who are in the employee’s line of supervision but are not direct reports. The employee in the evaluative position must recuse himself or herself from evaluative actions concerning the immediate family member.
Employment anywhere within the System of a Board Member’s or the System President’s immediate family member must be approved by the Board prior to the appointment. Approval is requested using Appendix A-1.
Employment anywhere within the System of a College President’s or a System Vice-President’s immediate family member must be approved by the System President prior to the appointment and disclosed to the Board. Approval is requested using Appendix A-2.
Employment of an immediate family member in the line of supervision of a System staff employee must be approved by the System President prior to the appointment and disclosed to the Board. Approval is requested using Appendix A-3.
Employment of an immediate family member in the line of supervision of a College employee must be approved by the College President prior to the appointment and disclosed to the System President by the College President. Approval is requested using Appendix A-4.
An employee shall not evaluate the academic work of a student who is a member of the employee’s immediate family, except in circumstances described within and in accordance with this procedure.
A College employee shall disclose to the employee’s supervisor the enrollment of his or her immediate family member in a class taught by the employee or any other circumstance where the employee is in a position to deliver academic services to an immediate family member. Disclosure is required prior to enrollment in the class or delivery of other academic services.
The supervisor shall reasonably attempt to find an alternative arrangement that removes the employee from delivering the academic service or evaluating the student’s academic work while preserving the student’s educational opportunity. For instruction, the supervisor shall identify another suitable class within the College or through CCCOnline. If the supervisor determines that another class is not available, the supervisor shall reasonably attempt to identify another qualified person to evaluate the student’s academic performance in the class in which the student is enrolled.
Prior to implementing any alternative arrangement, the supervisor shall submit the proposed alternative arrangement to the College President for review. The College President has the discretion to approve, modify or reject the proposal. The College President is not required to approve an alternative arrangement that involves an additional cost to the College. If no alternative class or evaluator is available and the class is required for the student’s course of study, the President shall direct the supervisor to review the employee’s evaluation of that particular student in a manner that assures an unbiased evaluation.
Disclosure and approval of alternative arrangement for evaluating the student’s academic performance is requested using Appendix B.
The Board is committed to fostering an employment and educational climate characterized by professional and ethical behavior free of discrimination and conflict of interest. Amorous relationships between an employee and another person within the System or College community may impair or undermine the learning and work environments when one person in the relationship has authority over the other or an unequal level of power exists.
Amorous relationships, whether romantic or sexual, create a conflict with the requirements of BP 3-70, Colorado Community College System Code of Ethics (“an amorous relationship conflict”) that must be disclosed when an employee exercises evaluative, supervisory, educational or professional responsibility, in the workplace or academically, over the other party to the relationship, whether that party is an employee or a student.
For System staff, the System President will determine actions necessary to resolve the conflict. For College employees, the College President will determine actions necessary to resolve the conflict. These determinations will take the form of directives issued in accordance with this procedure. The System President or College President, as applicable, must issue a Directive for each disclosure that adequately addresses the conflict in a manner that removes the family member from exercising evaluative, supervisory, educational or professional responsibility over the other party to the relationship.
Relationship conflicts arising as a result of an employee exercising evaluative or supervisory authority, or educational or professional responsibility over a spouse, domestic partner or civil union partner are deemed Conflicts Involving Immediate Family, not amorous relationship conflicts and are managed in accordance with Section I of this procedure.
College employees involved in an amorous relationship conflict must disclose the relationship to the College President at the earliest opportunity. System staff involved in an amorous relationship conflict must disclose the relationship to the System President at the earliest opportunity. Disclosures shall be accomplished using Appendix C-1.
For College employees, the College President will determine actions for resolving an amorous relationship conflict appropriate to the circumstances and consistent with the interests of CCCS. For System staff, the System President will make this determination. Upon determination of actions for resolving the conflict, Directives will be issued using Appendix C-2 and the appropriate Human Resources office will provide a copy of the Directives to the parties to the relationship and affected supervisors.
There will be no sanctions for violation of this procedure imposed on employees who disclose the relationship in accordance with this procedure at the earliest opportunity and comply with any Directives to resolve the conflict. An employee who fails to report such relationship in accordance with this procedure at the earliest opportunity or fails to comply with any Directives to resolve the conflict may be subject to discipline, up to and including dismissal, in accordance with Board policies and State Personnel Board Rules. Failure to issue effective Directives is also breach of this procedure, which may result in sanctions.
Even if an amorous relationship does not create a conflict of interest requiring disclosure (i.e. the employee does not exercises evaluative or supervisory authority, or educational or professional responsibility over the other party to the relationship), relationships between employees with unequal power or between an employee and a student can become problematic because of the complex and subtle effects of the power differential in these relationships. The employee in the position of power may misapprehend the existence or level of consent of the other party. The possibility exists that, if the relationship sours, the employee may be subject to claims of sexual harassment. In addition, an employee’s amorous relationship with a student or with an employee at an unequal level of power may have an effect on others. Others may perceive that the student or employee is favored by the employee in the more powerful position and be afforded undue access and advantage above others. An employee who engages in this type of relationship is on notice that these types of relationships are discouraged and the employee assumes the risk of internal complaints of discrimination and attendant discipline and/or legal action and responsibility for damages.
The Board is committed to financial practices that avoid the appearance of favoritism and conflict of interest.
No Board member or employee may participate in a Board, College or System decision to undertake a financial transaction that:
In addition, no Board member or employee may engage in a substantial business transaction for private business purposes with an employee under his/her direct supervision.
Any Board member or employee who believes that a transaction with the System may create the appearance of a conflict of interest or favoritism should request Board approval before such a transaction is undertaken.
College or System financial transactions require prior Board approval if the transaction:
A financial benefit does not include holding a minority interest in a corporation.
If a Board member or employee discovers after the conclusion of a transaction that he/she, has received a financial benefit from a transaction with the College or System, or a related party has received a financial benefit from a transaction with the College or System, Board ratification may be requested using Appendix D if the receipt of such financial benefit was not a result of willful disregard of the requirements of this procedure. If the Board does not ratify the receipt of such financial benefit, the Board member, employee or related party must divest himself/herself of the financial benefit.
Board approval for financial transactions governed by this procedure is requested using Appendix D. The Board member or employee is responsible for submitting the request to the procurement staff of the System or Colleges that would procure the goods, services or benefits offered by the Board member, employee or related party for a description of the process used to select the requesting party and information regarding other parties offering the same of similar good, services or benefits. The System/College(s) procurement staff will forward the request to their President for approval. The System President or College President(s) will forward approved requests to the System Legal office with a draft agenda item for presentation to the Board. The System or College President(s) will approve a transaction only if the System President or College President(s) determines that it provides a benefit to the System or College(s) that cannot be readily obtained elsewhere and that the benefit to the Board member or employee is incidental when compared with the benefit to the System or College(s).
A request for Board approval will be brought forward only if it includes sufficient information for the Board to determine that the benefit to the Board member or employee is incidental when compared with the benefit to the System or College(s).
If the Board approves the transaction, the Board member or employee must disclose the transaction to the Secretary of State 72 hours prior to completion of the transaction. Disclosure to the Secretary of State should not be undertaken unless and until Board approval occurs.
FOOTNOTE #1: Pursuant to Article XXIX section 3(6), the fifty-dollar ($50) limit . . . shall be adjusted by an amount based upon the percentage over a four-year period in the United States bureau of labor statistics consumer price index for Denver-Boulder-Greeley, all items, all consumers, or its successor index, rounded to the nearest lowest dollar. The first adjustment was done in the first quarter of 2011 which increased the limit to fifty three ($53.00) dollars. Adjustments shall be made every four years thereafter.
Disclosure and Request for Approval of Employment of Immediate Family Members, Alternative Supervision, Evaluation Arrangements, Academic Instruction Arrangements, Amorous Relationship Directives, and Interest in Financial Transactions
Appendices A – Employment of Immediate Family Members[1]:
Appendix A-1 must be completed prior to employment with CCCS of an immediate family member of a Board Member or Chancellor and upon a change in position or line of supervision affecting an immediate family member so employed.
Appendix A-2 must be completed prior to employment with CCCS of an immediate family member of a Vice-Chancellor or College President and upon a change in position or line of supervision affecting an immediate family member so employed.
Appendix A-3 must be completed prior to employment in the line of supervision[2] of an immediate family member of any CCCS employee and upon a change in position or line of supervision affecting an immediate family member so employed.
Appendix B – Academic Instruction and Evaluation by Immediate Family Member:
Disclosure and Request for Approval of Alternative Arrangements
Appendix C – Amorous Relationship Between Employees or Between an Employee and a Student:
Disclosure and Directives for Resolving Conflicts
Appendix D – Interest in Financial Transaction:
Requesting Board Approval
[1] Immediate family member means a Board member’s or employee’s spouse and members of the immediate household which shall include, but are not limited to, civil union partners; children, step-children, and their spouses; siblings and siblings-in-law; parents and parents-in-law; grandparents and grandparents-in-law; grandchildren and their spouses; aunts and uncles; nieces and nephews.
[2] Line of supervision means the immediate supervisor or any person in the ascending order of supervision up to and including the College President and Chancellor.
Click to Download Appendices Explanation page
Click to Download Appendix A-1
Click to Download Appendix A-2
Click to Download Appendix A-3
Click to Download Appendix B
Click to Download Appendix C
Click to Download Appendix D
Employment anywhere within CCCS of an immediate family member of a Board member or the Chancellor requires prior approval of the Board.
It is the obligation of the Board Member or Chancellor, as applicable, to seek Board approval, obtain the initials of the Board Chair indicating such approval, and submit the completed form to Legal Affairs and System Office Human Resources for filing.
Name of Board member or Chancellor:
Name of Immediate Family Member:
CCCS location of immediate family member:
Immediate family member’s title/position, line of supervision, and alternative reporting and evaluation arrangements, if necessary:
Name of Board Chair
Approved by Board: [Date]
Chair’s Initials (or electronic signature)
For Board Members, this form is maintained in the Board member’s BP 3-70 Code of Ethics file with Legal Affairs and a copy is maintained in the personnel file of their immediate family member. For the Chancellor, this form is maintained in the Chancellor’s BP 3-70 Code of Ethics file with Legal Affairs and a copy is maintained in their personnel file and the personnel file of their immediate family member.
When completing the annual Code of Ethics Appendices, Conflicts Disclosure Statement, required by BP 3-70, this form must be referenced each year until the Board member’s or Chancellor’s immediate family member is no longer employed.
This form must be updated when there is a change in position or line of supervision.
Employment anywhere within CCCS of an immediate family member of a Vice-Chancellor or College President requires prior approval of the Chancellor and disclosure to the Board by the Chancellor.
It is the obligation of the Vice-Chancellor or College President to seek Chancellor approval, obtain the initials of the Chancellor indicating such approval, and submit the completed form to System Office Human Resources for making the required disclosure to the Board on the Chancellor’s behalf.
Name of Vice-Chancellor or College President:
Name of Immediate Family Member:
CCCS Site or College of President and (family member): __________and (__________)
Job titles of current and contemplated employees, explanation of any direct or line of supervisory authority, and alternative reporting and evaluation arrangements, if necessary:
Name of Chancellor:
Approved by Chancellor: [Date]
Initials (or electronic signature)
Disclosure to Board (email to Board attached): [Date]
(by System Office HR): Initials (or electronic signature)
This form shall be maintained in the BP 3-70 Code of Ethics file of the Vice-Chancellor or College President, with a copy maintained in the affected employees’ personnel files. When completing the annual Code of Ethics Appendices, Conflicts Disclosure Statement, required by BP 3-70, this form must be referenced each year until the Vice-Chancellor’s or College President’s immediate family member is no longer employed.
The BP 3-70 requirement that a Vice-Chancellor’s or College President’s Conflicts Disclosure Statement is to be updated within 30 days after a conflict arises is satisfied by placing this approved form in their Code of Ethics file with Legal Affairs and the College (as applicable).
This form must be updated when there is a change in position or line of supervision.
Employment of an immediate family member of an employee who is in the line of supervision of that employee requires prior approval and disclosure as follows:
It is the obligation of the CCCS employee to seek Chancellor or President approval, and obtain the initials of the Chancellor or President indicating such approval.
Upon approval, a system office employee will submit the completed form to System Office Human Resources for making the required disclosure to the Board on the Chancellor’s behalf. A college employee will submit the completed form to the President who will disclose the employment by submitting a copy of the completed form to the Chancellor and System Office Human Resources.
Name of Employee:
Name of Immediate Family Member:
CCCS locations of current and contemplated employees: __________and __________
Job titles of current and contemplated employees, explanation of direct or line of supervisory authority, and alternative reporting and evaluation arrangements, if necessary:
Name of Chancellor or College President:
Approved by Chancellor (for system office employees) or
College President (for college employees): [Date]
Initials (or electronic signature)
Disclosure to Chancellor and System Office HR: [Date]
Disclosure to Board (if applicable): [Date]
(by System Office HR) (email to Board attached)
Initials (or electronic signature)
This form shall be maintained in the affected employees’ personnel files. If an affected employee is required to file a BP 3—70 Code of Ethics Appendices, Conflicts Disclosure Statement, a copy of this form will be maintained in the employee’s BP 3-70 Code of Ethics file with the College and/or Legal Affairs, and this form must be referenced on such employee’s Conflicts Disclosure Statement each year until the immediate family member is no longer employed.
This form must be updated when there is a change in position or line of supervision.
The supervisor shall reasonably attempt to find an alternative arrangement that removes the employee from delivering the academic service or evaluating the student’s academic work while preserving the student’s educational opportunity. If the supervisor determines that another class is not available, the supervisor shall reasonably attempt to identify another person to evaluate the student’s academic performance in the class in which the student is enrolled.
In consultation between and with approval from the President and supervisor, the following alternative arrangements have been made.
Name of College:
Name of College Employee:
Name of Student (Immediate Family Member) whom employee is in a position to deliver academic services:
Relationship between Employee and Student:
Class or academic services involved:
Alternative class, alternative instructor, designation of qualified person to evaluate academic performance of the immediate family member, or designation of qualified person to review the employee’s evaluation of the particular student in a manner that assures an unbiased evaluation:
Name of Supervisor:
Name of President:
Approved by President: [Date]
Initials (or electronic signature)
This form shall be maintained in the affected employee’s personnel file. If an affected employee is required to file a BP 3—70 Code of Ethics Appendices, Conflicts Disclosure Statement, a copy of this form will be maintained in the employee’s BP 3-70 Code of Ethics file with the College and/or Legal Affairs, and this form must be referenced on such employee’s Conflicts Disclosure Statement each year until the immediate family member is no longer a student.
It is the obligation of parties to an amorous relationship conflict within CCCS to disclose the relationship at the earliest opportunity to the College President or Chancellor by completing this form and forwarding an electronic copy to the College or System Office Human Resources for disclosure to the President or Chancellor.
Both parties to the relationship must sign this statement.
I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS PROCEDURE AND VOLUNTARILY SIGN THIS STATEMENT.
Name of Party #1 (Employee):
Position:
Date:
College/System:
Supervisor:
Employee Signature:
I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS PROCEDURE AND VOLUNTARILY SIGN THIS STATEMENT.
Name of Party #2 (Employee or Student):
Position:
Date:
College/System:
Supervisor:
Employee or Student Signature:
Briefly describe the current employment or academic reporting or evaluative structure between the two individuals. Does either one directly or secondarily supervise the other’s job or academic performance? Does either one have any impact on the other’s job or academic evaluation, or professional or academic advancement or development?
For conflicts involving employees in the line of supervision, include directives for alternative reporting and evaluative structures, reassignments, or other actions appropriate to the circumstances to resolve the amorous relationship conflict.
For conflicts involving an employee and a student, include directives for alternative class assignment, alternative instructor, designation of qualified person to evaluate academic performance, or other actions appropriate to resolve the amorous relationship conflict.
Name of President or Chancellor:
Approved: [President or Chancellor Signature and Date]
This form shall be maintained in the affected employees’ personnel files. If an affected employee is required to file a BP 3—70 Code of Ethics Appendices, Conflicts Disclosure Statement, a copy of this form will be maintained in the employee’s BP 3-70 Code of Ethics file with the College and/or Legal Affairs, and this form must be referenced on such employee’s Conflicts Disclosure Statement each year until the amorous relationship no longer exists.
The BP 3-70 requirement that a Conflicts Disclosure Statement is to be updated within 30 days after a conflict arises, is satisfied by placing this approved form in their Code of Ethics file.
This form must be updated when there is a change in position or line of supervision that affects current Disclosure or Directives.
Transactions with CCCS that may create the appearance of a conflict of interest or favoritism require Board approval before such a transaction is undertaken.
The requesting Board member or employee (“Requester”) is responsible for submitting an electronic copy of this form, with Section 1 completed, to the procurement staff for the System or College(s) that would procure the goods, services, or benefits offered by the Board member, employee, or related party.
The System/College(s) procurement staff is responsible for submitting an electronic copy of this form, with Section 1 and Section 2 completed, to the Chancellor or President.
If the Chancellor or President(s) determines that the transaction provides a benefit to CCCS, that cannot be readily obtained elsewhere, and that the benefit to the Board member or employee is incidental when compared with the benefit to CCCS, the Chancellor or President will indicate approval and forward an electronic copy of this form, with Sections 1, 2, and 3 completed, and a draft agenda item to Legal Affairs, for Board approval.
If the Board approves the transaction, Legal Affairs will complete Section 4 and return an electronic copy of the form to the requester for completion of Section 5.
After disclosure to the Secretary of State, the requester will complete Section 5 and return an electronic copy of the form to Legal Affairs.
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Section 1. To be completed by Requester and an electronic copy forwarded to procurement
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Type of transaction:
_____Instructional goods purchase (textbook, video, CD, software)
_____Non-instructional goods/service purchase
_____Facilities or equipment rental or lease
_____Other
Description of the transaction: (Include whether the transaction provides goods or services to one College, multiple Colleges, the System, or a combination. Attach sheets if necessary.)
Requester’s relationship to the transaction:
____I am the sole proprietor of the entity providing goods, services, or benefit
____I am a director, president, general manager, or similar executive officer of the entity providing goods, services, or benefit
____I own or control a substantial interest in the entity providing goods, services, or benefit
____Other (describe)
Related Party’s relationship to the transaction: (complete if a party related to the requestor will benefit from the transaction.)
____A related party is the sole proprietor of the entity providing goods, services, or benefit
____A related party is an executive officer of the entity providing goods, services, or benefit
____A related party owns or controls a substantial interest in the entity providing goods, services, or benefit
Related party means an immediate family member; an estate or trust in which a Board member or employee or their immediate family member has a beneficial interest; or an entity in which a Board member or employee, or their immediate family member, is a director, officer, or has a financial interest.
Duration of the business relationship:
Anticipated financial benefit to Requester or related party:
Anticipated Benefit to CCCS:
I have fully disclosed my interest in the transaction.
Employee Name:
Employee Signature:
Date:
_____I am requesting prior approval of the transaction.
_____I am requesting ratification of a completed transaction. I certify that the financial benefit received was not a result of willful disregard of the requirements of this procedure. Explain why prior approval was not requested:
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Section 2. To be completed by procurement and an electronic copy forwarded to the Chancellor or President(s).
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Description of System/College process for selecting Requester for the transaction: (e.g., documented quote, competitive bid, RFP, etc. For instructional materials, describe or attach the College’s independent selection process for determining that the instructional materials are appropriate in terms or price and content for required or supplemental course work.)
Other party(ies), if any, offering the same or similar goods, service, or benefits:
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Section 3. To be completed by Chancellor or President and an electronic copy forwarded to Legal Affairs, if approved. (Return to Requester if not approved.)
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_____Approved
Chancellor’s / President’s Signature and Date:
_____Not Approved (do not sign)
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Section 4. To be submitted for Board approval by Legal Affairs.
If approved by the Board, Legal Affairs will return an electronic copy of this form to Requester for completion of Section 5.
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Board approved: (Date)
General Counsel or Associate General Counsel Initials:
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Section 5. To be completed by Requestor and an electronic copy returned to Legal Affairs, after disclosure to the Secretary of State.
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I have disclosed my interest in this transaction to the Secretary of State. (To be completed only after Board approval) http://www.sos.state.co.us/Conflict/conflictEntry.do
Requester must submit disclosure to the Secretary of State 72 hours prior to completion of the transaction.
Employee Name:
Employee Signature:
Date:
Legal Affairs will provide a copy of the completed and signed form to Procurement and Human Resources.
Approved forms will be maintained in the employee’s personnel file and the business records of the transaction. If a Requester is required to file a BP 3—70 Code of Ethics Appendices, Conflicts Disclosure Statement, a copy of this form will be maintained in the Requester’s BP 3-70 Code of Ethics file with the College and/or Legal Affairs, and this form must be referenced on the Requester’s Conflicts Disclosure Statement each year until the financial transaction is completed.
The BP 3-70 requirement that the Conflicts Disclosure Statement is to be updated within 30 days after a conflict arises is satisfied by placing this approved form in their Code of Ethics file.