a. Public Trust: We must act in a way to inspire public confidence in the honesty and integrity of our actions. Any violation of a law, rule, or regulation of the Federal Government, the State of Ohio, the City of Bowling Green, or any other political subdivision where the University transacts its business, violates the public trust and has the potential to discredit the University and impede the furtherance of its mission.

b. Political Activities: We must recognize and heed the responsibilities that we share as an instrumentality of the State of Ohio. University resources cannot be used in a way that demonstrates or reasonably implies an institutional favoritism for, or bias against, a particular political candidate or party.

c. Business Arrangements: We must not take an illegal interest in a public contract, including any contract awarded by the University. We shall not abuse the authority, trust, or responsibility of our position, or our status as a member of this community, or otherwise act in a way to unfairly benefit ourselves or others at the expense of the University.

d. Conflicts of Interest and Conflicts of Commitment: We may not take any action, participate in any decision, or approve any action or decision on behalf of the University that will directly result in a benefit to ourselves, or any person or interest affiliated or connected with us. We shall avoid circumstances that reasonably imply we acted for personal gain rather than for the best interest of the University. We shall not knowingly engage in any activity on or off campus that would prevent us from fulfilling those obligations we fairly owe to the University, whether those obligations arise from our status as a student, a faculty member, a staff member, or a Trustee.

e. External Constituencies: We shall treat all visitors to the University with civility and respect. We must also operate our facilities and conduct ourselves, on and off campus, in a way that does not unjustly deprive our community neighbors of enjoying the benefits of their rights as property owners. We must not act in a manner that causes any diminution in the quality of life in our surrounding neighborhoods, or that brings discredit to the University, or to any University constituent group. Our dealings with all levels of government must be direct, honest, and open. We must never misuse public funds.

f. Diversity and Respect for the Individual: As a member of the University community we shall treat each other with civility and respect. We shall be tolerant of all individuals regardless of race, culture, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, and disability. We consider the gathering and association of scholars and staff with diverse personal backgrounds, human experiences, and cultures to be highly valued in our learning community. Accordingly, we shall advance diversity and treat others with civility and respect in all that we do as a member of this community and we shall consider intolerance, disrespect, and incivility to be inimical to our fundamental interests as an institution of higher education.

We also value, as a compelling academic interest of the University, the promotion of ethnic and racial diversity in our academic programs and activities and in the composition of our student body, our faculty, and our staff. The failure to provide an education with cross cultural experiences and insights will inhibit our graduates from functioning to their fullest potential in a pluralistic society. To realize this academic interest, we must engage in positive efforts to promote racial and ethnic diversity in our classrooms, in our curricula, and in all other activities that are designed to further the educational experience of our students. We also believe these efforts are supported by, and are in furtherance of our interest as an instrumentality of the State of Ohio to affirm the equal protection of law for all Ohio citizens.

g. Community Engagement: We consider the investment of the University’s intellectual capital in public and private communities, by jointly working with others on problems of economic development, educational reform, and quality of life issues, to be a form of scholarship that benefits faculty, students, and our neighbors. We shall endeavor to expand the educational experiences of our students to include greater engagement with our external communities so that we may teach through the provision of needed services to others. When providing services to the community, we shall treat our neighbors with respect and dignity. We shall refrain from any action that would have the purpose or effect of disadvantaging or discouraging our students or colleagues who are, or who plan to be, engaged in such efforts as an approved element of academic instruction or scholarly research.

h. Research: It is imperative that our research be conducted in accord with the highest standards of honesty and integrity. We must avoid conduct that invites justifiable criticism dealing with improper financial interests or other influences extraneous to the merits of the effort. When conducting sponsored research, we shall adhere to all relevant legal requirements including the rules and regulations of the Office of Research Integrity of the Public Health Service, the common Federal Policies on Research Misconduct issued by the Office of Science and Technology, and/or such other rules, regulations and policies of the awarding agency or other sponsor that may be applicable.

i. Business Officers: Anyone who participates in the decision or approval process leading to the expenditure of University funds must act for and in the best interest of the University. Integrity, honesty, and a clearly auditable record of actions taken and decisions made are imperative. If we are involved in such a transaction we must not be influenced by extraneous matters; we must act in a manner consistent with all controlling laws and policies; and we must report to the Ethics Officer or other appropriate University office or legal authority those who would direct or solicit us to act otherwise. We must avoid personal conflicts of interest and always be alert to the potential for fraud, waste, or abuse. We must never accept or solicit anything of value for ourselves or anyone else in return for exercising our discretion in any particular way. Gratuities, except for minor gifts of nominal value, cannot be accepted if a reasonable person may conclude that the gift is of such a character that our actions could or would be influenced by that gratuity. While dealing with vendors and potential vendors to the University we must always act with professionalism and courtesy and honor the terms and conditions of the University’s contractual arrangements.

j. Record Keeping: We must keep all accounting, academic, and business records of the University in an accurate, timely, and complete manner. Financial records, in particular, must be maintained in conformity with all controlling generally accepted accounting principles and such other requirements as may, from time to time, be required by the State of Ohio. Records of material transactions must be capable of being audited so that our actions are “transparent” and readily justifiable when measured by relevant standards and requirements. The intentional or negligent making of a materially false or misleading statement in the records or books of account of the University will not be tolerated. Records that are designated by management, or understood by practice, to be considered confidential must be maintained in the strictest confidence and are not to be disclosed to any party, except as directed by the appropriate University manager or as otherwise required by law.

k. Duty to Report: The President and the members of the President’s Cabinet, and such other employees as may be designated by the President, are under an affirmative obligation to report to the Ethics Officer or other appropriate University office or legal authority any conduct that they reasonably believe may give rise to a violation of this Code of Ethics and Conduct.

l. Misuse of University Resources: All resources of the University must be used for the purposes for which they were intended. We may not improperly convert for our own personal use, or for the use of another, any property or property right of the University. We may not provide someone an advantage for obtaining, using, or accessing University property that is not based on merit and otherwise in accord with all controlling laws, rules, regulations, and policies.

m. Non-Retaliation: It is a violation of this Code for anyone to retaliate against a member of the University community who, in good faith, has alleged a violation of this Code. Similarly, it is also a violation of the Code for anyone to retaliate against an individual who has participated in an investigation conducted under the Code.