Page created June 23, 2021
Expectations
Employees at Mississippi University for Women (The W) are expected to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct. This policy outlines some sources of information concerning ethical standards on campus.
Ethics and Conduct
While integrity includes compliance with laws and regulations, employees of The W are expected to go beyond mere compliance and to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct. Rules of fairness, honesty, accuracy, and respect for the rights of others should govern conduct when acting in the scope of one’s employment or when representing the University in the greater community. Employees are cautioned that even the appearance of misconduct or impropriety can damage the reputation of the University.
Standards of Conduct
The W’s vision, mission and guiding principles fosters an environment of excellence, leadership and personalized learning. It is important as a member of the University community to cultivate this tradition of excellence by:
- Treating all individuals and groups with fairness and dignity
- Celebrating and learning from our diversity
- Working together to promote and strengthen the value of higher education
- Acting with personal and professional integrity
- Respecting other’s rights, privacy and property
- Exercising good stewardship of University property and resources
Work Rules
Please also refer to the general work rules included in the employee handbook. Actions listed are examples of unacceptable behavior but do not include all actions that are unacceptable.
Reporting Misconduct
Employees who have a reasonable belief that misconduct may be occurring have a duty to report their concerns. Suspected misconduct may be reported to an employee’s immediate supervisor, the chair or dean of their department (or another individual in the employee’s chain of command), or the offices of Internal Audit, Human Resources, Provost, or University Counsel.
Employees who wish to report anonymously may do so at the EthicsPoint Hotline. Employees who report in good faith alleged improper action are protected from retaliation as outlined in the University’s Whistleblower Policy (PS # 6708).
State and Federal Law Compliance
Employees are expected to act in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations, the policies of The W and the policies of the Board of Trustees of the Institutions of Higher Education (IHL).
The requirements of these authorities are incorporated into this Code of Ethics and Conduct. Depending on the severity of the violation, employees who are thought to be in violation of these authorities may be placed on suspension during an investigation. Employees found to be in violation are subject to discipline, including termination.
Mississippi’s State Conflict of Interest Law for state officials and employees can be found at Mississippi Code Annotated, Sections 25-4-101 et seq. The Ethics Policy for IHL is policy number 1201 in the IHL Policies and Bylaws handbook. Additionally, refer to the University’s Conflict of Interest/Anti-Kickback and Procurement Ethics Policy (PS #7202).
Social Media Guidelines
Please see University Relations’ guidelines for posting as an institutional office or department and for requirements and guidance on university social media accounts. Social media usage at The W is governed by the same policies that govern all external communications.
- PS 7101 – Relations with External Entities
- PS 3301 – Allocation and Use of Information Technology Resources
- PS 3302 – Appropriate Use of Electronic and Information Network Resources
When Posting on Social Media as an Individual
Please see University Relations’ guidelines for posting on social media as an individual. The W recognizes that many employees make use of social media in a personal capacity. While they are not acting on behalf of the University, employees should be aware that they can appear to represent The W if they are recognized as an employee. Individuals are personally and legally responsible for everything they post online. The same policies, standards of behavior, professional expectations and laws relating to employees’ interactions with colleagues, students, parents, alumni, donors, or any other individual or group apply to online as in “real life”.