Code of Ethics and Employee Standards of Conduct

Our Code of Ethics and Employee Standards of Conduct Handbook outlines and explains expected behaviors, standards, and shared values that guide all employees in making ethical decisions. At Montgomery College we put great emphasis on our shared values. We are aware that our actions impact the public’s view of Montgomery College. By empowering employees to do the right thing and act with integrity, we more assuredly meet the expectations of our colleagues, our students and our community.

The Board of Trustees adopted College Policy 31000-Code of Ethics and Employee Conduct to establish the Montgomery College Code of Ethics in June 2017: The purpose of the Montgomery College Code of Ethics is to set ethical standards for faculty, staff, and administrators, acknowledge employees whose decisions and actions meet standards, and hold accountable those employees who choose not to meet standards.

The Code of Ethics and Employee Standards of Conduct was created with the following objectives in mind:

• Create a culture that acknowledges problems that arise when there is a disconnect between our values and our behavior.
• Ensure that all employees understand their responsibility of adhering to the code of ethics and employee standards of conduct.
• Provide guidance for employees when there is no established policy or procedure in place.
• Help employees decide what is the “right” thing to do.
• Remind employees to treat each other with respect and professionalism.
• Reflect the nature of our institution including our mission, vision and values.
• Create a safe atmosphere for teaching, learning and working.
• Ensure the Code of Ethics and Employee Standards of Conduct is reasonable, ethical and attainable.
• Outline consequences for those employees who fail to adhere to the Code of Ethics and Employee Standards of Conduct
• Acknowledge employees whose decisions and actions meet ethical standards

In addition, the Code of Ethics and Employee Standards of Conduct supports and fosters an ethical work environment which contributes to student success.

Policy 41000-Student Success I. C. 1.: “Student success is enabled when faculty and staff are committed to: 1. Providing a positive, welcoming climate that reflects an ethical, caring college community.”

Our Code of Ethics and Employee Standards of Conduct applies to all employees of Montgomery College including faculty (full-time and part-time), staff, administrators, and temporary employees serving in those roles.

The Code of Ethics and Employee Standards of Conduct does not apply to students employed by the College. Also note that the Policy 42001-Student Code of Conduct, applies to students only.

In recent years there has been increasing interest in developing an employee code of conduct to clarify expected behavior and assure alignment with institutional values.

Some initial interest in an employee code of conduct came from the Common Employee Experience Committee, established in Spring 2013. The Common Employee Experience Committee recommendations were presented to College leadership; however, there was no evident movement forward on the recommendations. At the same time, the new governance structure was implemented and in 2014 a constituent concern was brought to the Employee Services Council (ESC) expressing a renewed interest in developing an employee code of conduct. The ESC created an ad-hoc committee charged with the development and implementation of an Employee Code of Conduct. The committee, comprised of a cross-section of employee groups, began meeting in late Fall 2014. After the committee began its work on the Employee Code of Conduct, the Ombuds made a recommendation (in both 2014 and again in 2015) stressing the importance of establishing an Employee Code of Conduct.

On September 27, 2016 the College Council unanimously approved the draft Employee Code of Conduct and moved it forward to the President. After some discussion with the President's Executive Council (PEC), a draft policy and procedure was written using the ethical standards set forth in the draft Employee Code of Conduct. The new College Policy 31000-Code of Ethics and Employee Conduct was adopted by the Board of Trustees on June 19, 2017. As established in the policy, the Employee Code of Conduct document developed through governance will now be referred to as the Employee Standards of Conduct Handbook and will serve as the basis for training and awareness of ethical standards for all employees.

“Collaboratively develop, adopt, and implement both a Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct for all Montgomery College employees.” - Montgomery College Office of the Ombuds Annual Report, September 10, 2014
For more information, please refer to the Ombuds office.

• Provide a learning-centered environment based on equality, respect and lack of bias.
• Provide accountable stewardship of resources and assets.
• Exhibit excellence in academic instruction.
• Serve as a value-added resource to our community.
• Be respectful in the manner in which we present ourselves to our students and community.

• Conduct business with honesty, integrity and accountability.
• Demonstrate fairness and just management.
• Ensure freedom from fear of retribution.
• Provide employees with options for a good work-life balance.
• Provide a safe and healthy work environment.
• Abide by the College’s Policies and Procedures (P&P) and Bargaining Agreements.
• Provide consistent and fair enforcement of the P&P across the College.
• Treat all team members with courtesy, respect, patience, helpfulness, a general spirit of goodwill and with an all-inclusive attitude.
• Maintain required recordkeeping and documentation in a timely manner as required.
• Treat employee concerns seriously and address them with honesty.
• Provide safety, health and environmental training and guidance as necessary.
• Provide equipment and personal protective devices as necessary.
• Support employees doing their duties, and following emergency and safety protocols.

• Comply with departmental and college expectations, policies and procedures and comply with regulatory requirements.
• Conduct and perform job duties diligently and promptly.
• Address and work to resolve any work-related issues and disputes in a prompt, professional manner using the assistance of conflict resolution avenues, if necessary.
• Be accountable for the appropriate use of time and resources and devote full effort to job responsibilities during work hours.
• Be open to others’ opinions.
• Be culturally aware and diversity sensitive.
• Treat others with impartiality and equity and avoid any conflict of interest in the performance of one’s duties.
• Be professional in the use of social media and electronic communication.
• Participate in open communication with the college community.
• Voice concerns about the health and safety of the workplace.

• Conduct yourself in an ethical, civil, professional, respectful, and collaborative manner at all times.
• Create an inclusive culture that acknowledges diversity and addresses differences in a respectful manner.
• Promote the value of collegiality among faculty, staff, administrators and students equally.
• Interact with courtesy, respect, patience, helpfulness, a general spirit of goodwill, and with a service-oriented attitude.
• Respect intellectual property by giving credit where credit is due.
• Maintain an unwavering accountability for the work we do and the actions we take.
• Create and contribute to a learning environment applicable to everyone and where all are treated with equality, respect and a lack of bias.
• Treat each other fairly and kindly as you would expect to be treated.
• Work as a team with consideration, respect and trust for each other.
• Act in good faith and do not make presumptions.
• Prevent misrepresentation of yourself, the College or others.