2.12 WORKING CONDITIONS

2.12.1 Closure

The Board of Trustees or the President of the College, or persons acting under their authority, may close the College due to circumstances beyond the College's control which impair its ability to continue normal operations. Such circumstances may include, but are not limited to, inclement weather, natural disaster, labor disputes, national emergencies, or other forces majeures or circumstances beyond the College's control. During such periods of closure, ranked faculty shall be considered to be on leave of absence with pay. Administrative supporting staff, and other employees shall be on leave of absence without pay.

Announcement of the closure of the College shall be disseminated by means of appropriate public media. During such occurrences, the employees are requested to monitor the radio stations for information. Indefinite term employees who report to work during periods of closure shall not be compensated for commuting time or for the performance of any compensable activities.

2.12.2 Sale of Employee Created Materials to College Students

Faculty and staff members often create materials in which they hold commercial interests and which might be used in courses or programs which the faculty or staff member is teaching or administering for the College. It is the policy of the College that faculty or staff members may require students to purchase materials in which the faculty or staff member holds a commercial interest for courses taught or programs administered by that faculty or staff member.

2.12.3 Hazardous Waste Disposal

Employees who handle toxic or hazardous substances on behalf of the College are required to maintain, use, and dispose of such substances in accordance with applicable state, federal and local laws and regulations as a condition of their employment. The employee may obtain assistance in ascertaining his or her obligations under these laws and regulations from the Brumbaugh Science Center Safety Officer, the Chemical Hygiene Officer, and the Radiation Safety Officer. Any employee who violates any such laws, unless such violation occurs despite reasonable reliance upon advice given by the College, shall be deemed to have acted outside the scope of his or her authority.

2.12.4 Fund-Raising Policy

While the College encourages employee fund-raising on its behalf, proper coordination and approval is necessary to avoid conflicts and confusion.

Therefore, all fund-raising activities conducted on behalf of or in the name of the College by any employee shall be subject to the coordination of the Vice President for College Advancement. Grants or gifts may not be accepted on behalf of the College unless approved by the Vice President for College Advancement and the Vice President for Financial Affairs.

Employees may not solicit funds on behalf of any organization, other than an approved College organization, on College property unless prior approval is received from the Vice President for Student Services' Office. Employees may not sell, or solicit the sale of, products on College property or on work time other than College approved products, the sale of which is part of the employee's job duties or responsibilities.

It is unlawful for anyone to appropriate to his or her own use or the use of the College name, seal, emblem, or any other trademarks or service marks of the College without the written permission of the President.

2.12.5 Government-Sponsored Research

The following situations describe possible conflict of interest situations where a faculty member undertaking or engaging in government-sponsored work has a significant financial interest in, or a consulting arrangement with, a private business concern:

  1. Undertaking or orientation of the faculty member's College research to serve the research or other needs of the private firm without disclosure of such undertaking or orientation to the College and to the sponsoring agency.
  2. Purchase of major equipment, instruments, materials, or other items for College research for the private firm in which the staff member has the interest without disclosure of such interest.
  3. Transmission to the private firm or other use for personal gain of government-sponsored work products, results, materials, records, or information that are not made generally available. (This would not necessarily preclude appropriate licensing arrangements for inventions, or consulting on the basis of government-sponsored research results where there is significant additional work by the staff member independent of his or her government-sponsored research.)
  4. Use for personal gain or other unauthorized use of privileged information acquired in connection with the faculty member's government-sponsored activities. (The term "privileged information" includes, but is not limited to, medical, personnel, or security records of individuals; anticipated material requirements or price actions; possible new sites for government operations; and knowledge of forthcoming programs or of selection of contractors or subcontractors in advance of official announcements.)
  5. Negotiation or influence upon the negotiation of contracts relating to the faculty member's government-sponsored research between the College and private organizations with which he has consulting or other significant relationships.
  6. Acceptance of gratuities or special favors from private organizations with which the College does or may conduct business in connection with a government-sponsored research project, or extension of gratuities or special favors to employees of the sponsoring government agency, under circumstances which might reasonably be interpreted as an attempt to influence the recipients in the conduct of their duties.
  7. Consultations by a faculty member with one or more government contractors, or prospective contractors, in the same technical field as the faculty member's government sponsored research project.