3.17 – Nepotism
A. Purpose
To establish the college’s standards for relatives working for the college.
B. Policy
No employee shall participate, either directly or indirectly, in a decision to appoint or hire an employee of the college, including regular and part-time positions, who is related to such person within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity. Also, no employee shall supervise, either directly or indirectly, the work of another employee who is related within such fourth degree, unless the supervisory role is specifically approved by the chancellor. In addition, relatives of trustees or the chancellor within such fourth degree shall not be employed by the college.
C. Procedures
Any individual to include trustee, chancellor, vice chancellor, dean, director, department head, chairperson, supervisor or participant in peer or administrative review procedures who is a relative of an employee or job applicant must not participate either formally or informally in decisions (including rendering advice on decisions) on personnel matters affecting the relative, including, but not limited to, decisions to hire, retain, promote or determine salary.
In cases where an employee would have primary responsibility for supervision, evaluation of, or assignment of duties to a relative covered by this policy, an appropriate individual must be designated by a higher level administrator (e.g., chancellor, vice chancellor, dean, director, department head) to perform the functions of such employee in decisions to hire, retain, promote, assign duties or set the salary of the individual related to the employee. Supervision and evaluation procedures, even when altered as described above, should ensure comparable treatment of employees.
In circumstances which have the potential for conflicts of interest, individuals have the responsibility for disclosing that a conflict of interest may exist to the chancellor, appropriate vice chancellor, or other relevant administrator prior to making any employment decisions.
In cases where the application of these procedures is disputed, the administrator at the next level may be asked to assist in resolution. The Chancellor shall have final approval regarding application of the procedures to particular cases.
An individual who has a question pertaining to the relatives covered by the college’s nepotism policy should contact their supervisor or the Office of Human Resources.
D. Definitions
Fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity – Relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity include: parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents, spouse, children, siblings, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, aunts, uncles, great-aunts, great-uncles, and first cousins by virtue of a blood relationship or marriage. For college purposes, the relationships listed above include full-, half-, step-, foster-, adopted, domestic partnership, or other personal relationships including co-habitation, as applicable.
E. Authority
This policy is maintained under the authority of the College Director of Human Resources.
F. Related Policies
N/A
G. Implementation
Policy approved and adopted by the Board of Trustees on 5/19/08, 5/19/12 and 6/8/20.
Purpose, Procedures, Definitions, Authority and Related Policies sections approved and adopted by the chancellor’s cabinet on 5/19/08, and 05/05/20.
Set for review in fiscal year 2023-2024