Code of Conduct

Purpose

  1. The College is committed to ensuring that in all aspects of its affairs it maintains the highest standards of public trust and integrity.

Application

  1. This Code of Conduct applies to all Governors, and non-board members of board committees. Governors are also required to comply with the Board policy on Conflict of Interest.

Governors’ Duties

  1. All Governors stand in a fiduciary relationship to the College. As fiduciaries, Governors must act honestly, in good faith, and in the best interests of the College.
  2. Governors will be held to strict standards of honesty, integrity and loyalty. A Governor shall not put personal interests ahead of the best interests of the College.
  3. Governors must avoid situations where their personal interests will conflict with their duties to the College. Governors must also avoid situations where their duties to the College may conflict with duties owed elsewhere. Where conflicts of interest arise, Governors will comply with the requirements of the by-laws and applicable legislation, the Minister’s Binding Policy Directive: Conflict of Interest and the Board’s Conflict of Interest Policy.
  4. In addition, all Governors must respect the confidentiality of information about the College.

Best Interests of the College

  1. Governors must act solely in the best interests of the College. All Governors are held to the same duties and standard of care. Governors who are elected by a particular group must act in the best interests of the College, even if this conflicts with the interests of such group.

Employment

  1. External Governors must first resign from the Board of Governors, if they apply for employment with the College. External Governors must also resign from the Board of Governors, if their spouse, broadly defined, has obtained employment with the College, be it full-time, part-time or contract.

Confidentiality

  1. Governors and committee members owe a duty to the College to respect the confidentiality of information about the College, whether that information is received in a meeting of the board or of a committee, or is otherwise provided to or obtained by the Governor or committee member. Governors and committee members shall not disclose or use for their own purpose confidential information concerning the business and affairs of the College unless otherwise authorized by the board.
  2. It is recognized that the role of Governor may include representing the College to third parties. However, such representations must be respectful of and consistent with the Governor’s duty of confidentiality. In addition, the chair is the only official spokesperson for the board. Every
    Governor and committee member shall ensure that no statement not authorized by the board is made by him or her to the press or public.

Board Spokesperson

  1. The board has adopted a policy with respect to designating a spokesperson on behalf of the board. Only the chair or designate may speak on behalf of the board. The president or his or her designate may speak on behalf of the College.

MONITORING:

Upon appointment, each Governor shall sign a written declaration that they have read, understood and will comply with this policy. A Governor who has concerns  regarding compliance with this Code, by themselves or others, should raise those concerns with the Chair of the Board who will determine what action shall be taken.