Ethics Statement
BOR approved 9/19/13; rescinds Connecticut Community Colleges Ethical Conduct Policy
rev. 7/95”, “Connecticut State University System Ethics Statement June 2006”, and Charter
Oak “Board Ethics Policy” dated May 17, 2007, and any revisions made to those policies.
PURPOSE
It is important that members of the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Connecticut
State Colleges and Universities and Board of Regents employees conduct themselves with the
highest degree of honor and integrity and understand that public service is a public trust. Ethical
conduct in our relationships with each other, members of the public, our students, other state
agencies, and private entities is of critical importance. This Ethics Statement has been prepared
pursuant to Section 1-83(a)(2) of the Connecticut General Statutes, which mandates the
development and implementation of an Ethics Statement by each state agency. It applies to the
members and employees of the Board of Regents (BOR) and to all employees of the Connecticut
State Colleges and Universities (ConnSCU). This Statement is intended to serve as a general
guide to assist those individuals in identifying and avoiding prohibited conduct. It does not
contain a complete listing of prohibited conduct nor is it intended to replace or supersede the
Code of Ethics for Public Officials (set forth in Chapter 10 of the Connecticut General Statutes),
other applicable sections of the Connecticut General Statutes, or the regulations of the Office of
State Ethics. It is each person’s responsibility to become familiar with the provisions of this
Statement and comply with them. It is also each person’s responsibility to maintain high ethical
standards and alert his or her supervisor of any suspected violation of ethical standards, whether
or not specifically described in this Ethics Statement. Everyone should be aware that violations
may result in the imposition of sanctions by agencies or systems external to the BOR or
ConnSCU. Whether this occurs or not, the BOR retains the right to independently review and
respond administratively to violations.
DEFINITIONS
1. A “Business with which he is associated” means any sole proprietorship, partnership, firm,
corporation, trust or other entity through which business for profit or not for profit is
conducted in which the public official or state employee or member of his or her immediate
family is a director, officer, owner, limited or general partner, beneficiary of a trust or holder
of stock constituting five per cent or more of the total outstanding stock of any class,
provided, a public official or state employee, or member of his or her immediate family, shall
not be deemed to be associated with a not for profit entity solely by virtue of the fact that the
public official or state employee or member of his immediate family is an unpaid director or
officer of the not for profit entity. “Officer” refers only to the president, executive or senior
vice president or treasurer of such business.
2. A “Gift” means anything of value, which is directly and personally received, unless
consideration of equal or greater value is given in return. Among the nineteen (19)
exceptions to the definition of "gift" set forth in Section 1-79 of the Connecticut General
Statutes, a "gift" does not include:
