Applicable Employee Classes:	Effective Date:                  Revised Date	Approved by:
All Florida Tech Employees	October 2021                    February 2022	Dr. T. Dwayne McCay, President

Policy Title

Standards of Conduct

Policy Owner: Human Resources

Policy Purpose

This policy has been developed to provide guidance to faculty and staff on best practices utilized in minimizing conflict and preventing negative behaviors. This is not an attempt to define specifically what one should and should not do, but to communicate the University’s expectations of proper conduct and what professional conduct the University values. It is an expectation that the Standards of Conduct serves as the basis, on which, faculty and staff should make decisions related to the best interests of themselves, their co-workers and the University.

Policy Scope:

All Florida Tech employees are expected to adhere to the standards identified within this policy and will additionally be responsible for gaining clarity on items not specifically mentioned.

Policy Statement

Florida Tech assumes the responsibility of providing a safe and inclusive workplace, where all employees are treated with fairness and respect. Overall, Florida Tech aims to provide a workplace that operates following a very high standard of morality, inclusivity and integrity. All employees are expected to maintain a professional environment for our students, customers, partners and each other. Employees are expected to demonstrate trustworthiness by acting in a reliable and dependable manner; foster a culture of honesty and accountability; act with integrity, to use good judgment and to act appropriately in any given situation. Actions involving theft, fraud, embezzlement, kickbacks, misappropriation of funds or assets, falsification of records, conflicts of interest, breach of confidentiality and other improprieties are in direct violation of this policy.

Procedures/Guidelines

The following is a list of unacceptable behaviors that would be considered direct violations of this policy and can be grounds for immediate dismissal. This list should not be considered exhaustive:

• Theft of physical or intellectual property.
• Destruction of University property or that of faculty, staff and students.
• Behavior that could result in injury, personal or to others.
• Drug or alcohol use and/or possession on Florida Tech property, with or without intent to sell or distribute.
• Working under the influence of drugs, where side effects pose a risk to one’s self and/or others. Prescription medications included.
• Fighting or verbally threatening violence on any Florida Tech property. 
• Harassment and/or bullying of any kind.
• Use of obscene or offensive language, gestures.
• Public disclosure of private/confidential information, such as private health information, personal identification and specific personal circumstances.
• Possession of dangerous objects or weapons, such as: explosives, firearms and specialized weapons.
• Disclosure of business trade secrets or confidential organizational information that would not otherwise be public knowledge.
• Falsification of documents or records.
• Discrimination of any kind.
• Fraud or misrepresentation of the University.
• Accepting monetary or other gifts in exchange for preferential treatment or privileges that may not have otherwise been offered.
• Viewing or sharing sexually explicit material in the workplace, on Florida Tech’s equipment or otherwise.
• Refusal to perform duties, as assigned, unless doing so is illegal or poses a health/safety concern.
• Use of the University’s time and/or resources for personal political activity.
• Failure to disclose a familial relationship with another member of the staff or faculty, specifically in the same department or when a supervisor/subordinate relationship exists. 

Review detailed HR policies for additional resources.

This policy is subject to amendment.

 Definitions

Not Applicable

Compliance Reference

Not Applicable

Enforcement

Not Applicable