Institutional Integrity Standard Nine Standard Nine Institutional Integrity Introduction High Ethical Standards Western Nevada College administrators, faculty, and staff are subject to numerous institutional and Nevada System of Higher Education policies requiring compliance with high ethical standards. Similarly, the college adheres to all federal laws and guidelines pertaining to ethical standards for institutions of higher education. WNC Policy 1-2-1 provides that institutional employees will abide by the Nevada Ethics in Government Law, Code of Ethical Standards (Nevada Revised Statutes 281.481). A consensual relationships policy (WNC Policy 1-5-1) prohibits romantic or sexual relationships between members of the college community when one of the individuals has direct professional power or direct authority over the other. (Exhibits: 9.1; 9.2) The Board of Regents has an Ethical Code of Conduct for Regents (Board of Regents Handbook, Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 2), as well as policies prohibiting conflicts of interest in the employment of relatives (Nepotism) (Title 4, Chapter 3, Section 7), compensated outside professional services (Title 4, Chapter 3, Section 8) (defining “conflict of interest” to mean “any outside activity or interest that may adversely affect, compromise, or be incompatible with the obligations of an employee to the institution), and purchasing (Title 4, Chapter 10, Section 1). (Exhibit: 9.3) WNC Policy 3-4-4 (Rationale) establishes standards for student conduct, the penalties Western Nevada College – www.wnc.edu that may be imposed for the violation of these standards, and the process that will be followed in determining whether a violation has occurred as well as the appropriate sanction. The policy explains that “[the] rules enforced by the College are designed to protect individual liberties and other values stated in the College’s Mission and Goals, especially the commitment to ‘personal growth and development, achieving their educational goals, advancing in their careers, and coping with the technical and social changes in our society.’” Section 2 of the policy provides that “[the] College expects its students to act with integrity. Dishonesty, fraud, and failure to respect the rights of others will not be tolerated in a community that is dedicated to the development of responsible individuals.” (Exhibit: 9.4) WNC Policy 3-4-5 establishes standards for academic integrity and defines “academic dishonesty,” including cheating, plagiarism, multiple submission, fabrication, grade tampering, and the failure to report a violation. The policy sets forth hearing procedures and possible sanctions. The policy explains that “[students] at Western Nevada College are expected to be honest and forthright in their academic endeavors because academic dishonesty disrupts the learning process and threatens the educational environment for all students.” (Exhibit: 9.5) (9.A.1) Policy Review and Evaluation WNC Policy 1-1-1 establishes the mechanism for the approval of new policies or the amendment or modification of 1 existing policies. All such proposals for new policies and revisions to existing policies are submitted by appropriate college committees, such as the Academic Affairs Council, the Academic Faculty Senate, the Administrative Faculty Senate, Classified Council, and the Associated Students of Western Nevada to the College Council. The College Council is comprised of campus stakeholders including the President, the vice presidents of Academic and Student Affairs, Finance and Administration, and Human Resources and General Counsel, the Academic Faculty Senate chairperson, the Administrative Faculty Senate chairperson, the Classified Council chairperson, the Associated Students of Western Nevada president or representative, a division chair representative, and a strategic planning representative. New and modified policies and procedures are recommended by a majority vote of the College Council and submitted for approval to the President. The College Council adopts new policies and revises existing policies on an ongoing basis. Although there is no formal review of existing policies on an annual basis, the various stakeholders are apt to bring proposals for adopting or revising policies that they deem significant to the College Council. During the 2008-09 academic year, new policies were adopted regarding the use of copyrighted materials, bias incident/hate crimes, merit procedure for administrative faculty at the top of their salary range, computer workstation/network resources use, and institutional student fees. A number of policies were revised during this period, including policies pertaining to professional leave, classified tuition reimbursement, facility use, and purchasing procedures. Thus far in the 2009-2010 academic year, the college’s intellectual property, contracts, vehicle usage procedures, and accidents involving motor pool vehicles policies were amended, and a new policy was adopted pertaining to intellectual property rights. (Exhibit: 9.6) (9.A.2) Accurate Representation to the Public Western Nevada College catalogs, publications, and official statements in writing and posted to its website reflect accurate information regarding educational opportunities, academic programs, specific classes, and student responsibilities. Additionally, information about admissions, registration, financial aid, scholarships, tuition and fees, FERPA, campus safety and security, the student code of conduct, and nondiscrimination policies is also available on the website and in print publications. Publications regarding other services available to students, such as Counseling Services, Disability Support Services, Veterans Services, and the Student Crisis Intervention Team are current and accurate. All WNC publications are reviewed and updated annually by Information and Marketing Services and the offices responsible for providing specific services. Class schedules are reviewed and printed more frequently. There is a greater likelihood of some inaccuracies in printed class schedules, as classes may be added to or deleted from the schedule depending upon enrollment. However, the online class schedule is kept current at all times. (Exhibits: 9.7; 9.8; 9.9; 9.10; 9.11; 9.12) (9.A.3) Avoiding Conflict of Interest Western Nevada College administrators, faculty, and staff are subject to numerous institutional and NSHE policies prohibiting conflicts of interest. As mentioned earlier (9.A.1), WNC employees must abide by the Nevada Ethics in Government Law, Code of Ethical Standards. These standards prohibit a public officer or employee from accepting “any salary, retainer, augmentation, expense allowance or other compensation from any private source for the performance of his duties as a public officer or employee.” Similarly, they prohibit a public officer or employee from using “governmental time, property, equipment or other facilities to benefit his or her personal or financial interest.” Finally, they prohibit a public officer or employee from seeking “other employment or contracts through the use of his official position.” WNC Policy 3-1-1 prohibits actual and potential conflicts of interest pertaining to sponsored projects and defines “conflict of interest” as “any situation in which an employee of WNC uses, or is in a position to use, his or her influence and authority within WNC to advance his or her own personal or financial interest, or the personal or financial interest of his or her immediate family.” WNC Policy 7-4-1 prohibits conflicts of interest in purchasing, such as where a regent or other employee of the Nevada System of Higher Education becomes a contractor or a vendor for the purchase of supplies, equipment, services, and construction. WNC Policy 4-1-3 prohibits college employees from hiring or causing to hire or supervising relatives within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity, except with the written approval of the appointing authority. WNC Policy 4-5-1-9 prohibits conflicts of interest in the performance of compensated outside professional services. (Exhibits: 9.13; 9.14; 9.15; 9.16) (9.A.4) Academic Freedom NSHE Code, Title 2, Chapter 2 sets forth the system policy regarding Academic Freedom and Responsibility. The policy explains that institutions of higher education are conducted for the common good and not to further the interests of individual members of the faculty or the institution and that the continued existence of the common good depends upon the free search for truth and knowledge and their free expression. The board’s policy clearly states that “[freedom] in teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the teacher in teaching and of the student in learning.” A member of the faculty “has freedom and an obligation, in the classroom or in research, to discuss and pursue the faculty member’s subject with candor and integrity, even when the subject requires consideration of topics which may be politically, socially or scientifically controversial.” A member of the faculty may not be subject to censorship or discipline for expressing opinions or views which are controversial, unpopular, or contrary to the attitudes of the NSHE community. Conversely, a member of the faculty is responsible for the maintenance of appropriate standards of scholarship and instruction. Academic freedom extends to all institutional faculty and to the invited guests of the system. The rights and responsibilities articulated in NSHE Code, Title 2, Chapter 2 are embodied in Western Nevada College’s mission and goals. (Exhibit: 9.3) (9.A.5) Strengths Challenges Recommendations Supporting Documentation Exhibits 9.1 9.10 WNC Policy 1-2-1: Nevada Ethics in Government Law http://www.wnc.edu/policymanual/1-2-1.php WNC Policy 1-5-1: Consensual Relationships http://www.wnc.edu/policymanual/1-5-1.php NSHE Board of Regents Handbook http://system.nevada.edu/Board-of-R/Handbook/ WNC Policy 3-4-4: Student Conduct http://www.wnc.edu/policymanual/3-4-4.php WNC Policy 3-4-5: Academic Integrity http://www.wnc.edu/policymanual/3-4-5.php WNC Policy 1-1-1: Policy and Procedure Development at WNC http://www.wnc.edu/policymanual/1-1-1.php Western Nevada College 2009-2010 Catalog http://www.wnc.edu/files/catalogs/2009-2010_catalog.pdf 2008-2009 Academic Program Guide http://www.wnc.edu/files/catalogs/2008-2009_apg.pdf WNC 2009 Fall Schedule (non-course information) http://www.wnc.edu/files/schedules/wnc_schedule_fall09.pdf Counseling Services publications 9.11 Veterans Services publications 9.12 Student Crisis Intervention Team publications 9.13 WNC Policy 3-1-1: Conflict of Interest Pertaining to Sponsored Projects http://www.wnc.edu/policymanual/3-1-1.php WNC Policy 7-4-1: Conflict of Interest http://www.wnc.edu/policymanual/7-4-1.php WNC Policy 4-1-3: Nepotism http://www.wnc.edu/policymanual/4-1-3.php WNC Policy 4-5-1-9: NSHE Board of Regents Policy For Compensated Outside Professional Services http://www.wnc.edu/policymanual/4-5-1-9.php 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 9.9 9.14 9.15 9.16