Code of Ethics

Adopted March 24, 2017

Article I: Governance Responsibilities

SECTION 1.

Public Trust

The General Assembly of the State of Tennessee constituted the Board of Trustees as an entity responsible for the governance of East Tennessee State University. Trustees hold a position of public trust and are expected to carry out their governance responsibilities in an honest, ethical, and diligent manner. Pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) § 49-8-204 this policy applies to and governs the conduct of all appointed members of the Board of Trustees of East Tennessee State University.

SECTION 2.

Welfare of the Entire UniversityTrustees bring diverse backgrounds and expertise valuable to the governance of East Tennessee State University. In carrying out their duties Trustees must keep the welfare of the entire University paramount. 

SECTION 3.

Duty of Care

Trustees must discharge their duties, including duties as a member of a committee, in good faith, with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances, and in a manner the Trustee reasonably believes to be in the best interest of the University.

SECTION 4.

Time Commitment

In undertaking the duties of the position, a Trustee shall make the commitment of time necessary to carry out the governance responsibilities. Failure of a Trustee to attend two regular meetings in succession of the Board or of a committee on which the Trustee serves shall be cause for the Board to consider the Trustee’s removal.

SECTION 5.

Due Diligence

Trustees shall undertake with due diligence a critical analysis of the risks and benefits of any matter coming before the Board for action. Trustees shall promote a culture of constructive debate about major initiatives and transactions and shall require management to provide information necessary to carry out the Trustees’ duty of care to act in the best interest of the University.

SECTION 6.

Legal Authority

Except as otherwise provided by law or bylaw, Trustees shall have no legal authority to act on behalf of the Board outside of Board meetings. Trustees shall avoid acting as a spokesperson for the entire Board unless specifically authorized to do so.

Article II: Conflict of Interest

SECTION 1.

Conflict of Interest Policy.

Board members shall abide by the Conflict of Interest Policy for Board members. Upon appointment and annually thereafter, Trustees shall file a financial disclosure form with the Board Secretary as required by the Bylaws and the Conflict of Interest Policy for Trustees. The Audit Committee of the Board shall monitor compliance with the Conflict of Interest Policy for Trustees.

SECTION 2.

Personal Benefit or Gain

Trustees shall not use the authority, title, prestige, or other attribute of the office for personal benefit or gain for themselves or for any relative. Trustees are specifically prohibited by law from procuring, or being a party in any way to procuring, the appointment of a relative to a position of trust or profit connected with the University (TCA § 49-9-207). In keeping with this statutory prohibition, Trustees may not write a letter of recommendation or take any other action in aid of a relative's effort to obtain employment with the University.  It is unlawful for any Trustee to be financially interested in any contract or transaction affecting the interests of any institution governed by the Board, to procure, or be a party in any way to procuring, the appointment of any relative to any position of financial trust or profit connected with the university governed.  A violation of this provision shall subject the member so offering to removal by a two thirds vote of the membership of the Board (TCA § 49-8-204).

SECTION 3.

Favored Treatment

Trustees shall not use the authority, title, prestige, or other attribute of the office to obtain consideration, treatment, or favor for any person beyond that which is generally available. This section applies, but is not limited to, efforts to influence administrative decisions with respect to an individual's admission, employment, discipline, and similar matters. However, except as expressly prohibited by Article II, Section 2, concerning a relative's effort to obtain employment with the University, this section does not prohibit routine letters of recommendation or requests for information about the status of an individual's admission, employment, discipline, and similar matters.

SECTION 4.

Gifts, Favors, and Gratuities

1. Trustees shall not knowingly accept any gift, favor, or gratuity from any person or entity under contract with the University or seeking a contract with the University (TCA § 12-4-106).
2. Trustees shall not knowingly accept any gift, favor, or gratuity from any person or entity, including another Trustee that might affect or have the appearance of affecting a Trustee’s judgment in the impartial performance of the duties of the office. However, this subsection shall not be construed to apply to a Trustee incidental benefit from another Trustee’s gift of money, property, or services to the University or to any benefit commonly available to Trustees by virtue of the office. Nor shall this subsection be construed to prohibit acceptance of benefits from the University in connection with donations to the University (TCA § 12-4-106).
3. It is a conflict of interest for any Trustee or any company with whom such Trustee is an officer, a director, or an equity owner having an ownership interest greater than one percent (1%) to bid on any public contract for goods or services for the University if such person or the immediate family member of such person is a member of a board or commission having responsibility for letting or approving such contract (TCA § 12-4-106)
   1. "Immediate family" means spouse, dependent children or stepchildren, or relatives related by blood or marriage.

ARTICLE III: Compliance 

SECTION 1.

Reporting of Violations

Anyone who believes that he or she has information indicating that an appointed Trustees has violated the Code of Ethics shall make a written disclosure of the facts and circumstances to the Chair of the Audit Committee. If the alleged violation involves the Chair or any member of the Audit Committee, the disclosure shall be made to the Vice Chair of the Board.  

SECTION 2.

Review of Allegations

The chair of the Audit Committee or other appropriately appointed committee (or the Vice Chair of the Board) shall review the alleged violation with the University Counsel to determine whether removal proceedings should be initiated against the Trustee for a material violation of the Code of Ethics. 

SECTION 3.

Hearing

An appointed Trustee accused of a material violation of the Code of Ethics shall be afforded a due process contested case hearing in accordance with the Tennessee Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 5 (TCA § 4-5-101, et seq.).

SECTION 4.

Removal

If a contested case hearing results in a finding that an appointed Trustee materially violated the Code of Ethics, the Board may remove the Trustee from the Board by a two-thirds vote of the Board at a regular or called meeting. Upon removal, the position shall be considered vacant, and the vacancy shall be filled as provided by law (TCA § 49-8-204).

SECTION 5.

Certification

Upon appointment and annually thereafter, Trustees shall be provided with the Code of Ethics and shall certify in writing that they have read the Code of Ethics and will comply with its provisions.