APS #4016

Active

Fiscal Code of Ethics

Brief Description

Sets forth requirements for ethical behavior by employees and affiliate fiscal staff in the conduct of official university business.

Reason for Policy

To establish the university’s Fiscal Code of Ethics.

Policy Profile

APS Policy Title: 
Fiscal Code of Ethics
APS Number: 
4016
Effective Date: 
November 1, 2008
Approved By: 
President Bruce D. Benson
Responsible University Officer: 
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Responsible Office: 
Office of University Controller
Policy Contact: 
Office of University Controller
Supersedes: 
Fiscal Code of Ethics, June 30, 2005
Last Reviewed/Updated date: 
November 1, 2008
Applies to: 
All campuses

I. Introduction

The University has a fiduciaryFiduciaryThe obligation arising from a position of authority to act on behalf of another (as in managing the University's operations) where one assumes a duty to act in good faith and with care, candor, and loyalty. responsibility to fulfill its overall mission in compliance with applicable policies, laws, regulations and rules, and contracts, grants and donor restrictions. Under Regent Policy, all employeesEmployeesAn individual who currently holds a University employment appointment, whether full-time, part-time, temporary, seasonal or hourly. are entrusted with the responsibility of preserving university resourcesUniversity resourcesOfficial resources of the institution, including but not limited to: university funds, facilities, personnel/labor, equipment (e.g., telephones, photocopy machines, computers – including email), work products, results, materials, records, or other information developed or produced with university goods or services. and using those resources in a prudent manner for their designated purposes, as prescribed by policies, laws, regulations, and rules, and contracts, grants and donor restrictions [Regent Policy 13-R.III].

This policy statement sets forth the university's Fiscal Code of Ethics. This policy applies to all employees. In addition, if an affiliate'sAffiliateAn organization that has a contractual or other legal relationship with the University that closely aligns them operationally with the University to more effectively further both the University and the organization's missions. Affiliates are identified at https://www.cusys.edu/controller/policies/supporting%20listing.doc. Affiliates include Blended Organizations and Supporting Organizations. employee agrees to conduct fiscal transactionsFiscal transactionsFinancial transactions occur within numerous University functions including Accounting, Human Resources, Payroll and Benefits, Procurement and Student Services. EXAMPLES OF FISCAL TRANSACTIONS Function/Transaction • Accounting o Asset Transfers/Disposition o Cash Transfer o Journal Entry (JE) o Interdepartmental Invoice/Order • Human Resources, Payroll and Benefits o Create or Modify Position (Employment Management) o One Time Payment (Payroll) o Payroll Expense Transfer (PET) o Payroll Funding Distribution o Time Collection Entry • Procurement (Purchasing, Payables or Travel) o Cash Advance o Departmental Purchase Order o International Travel Meal Diary Form o Official Function Form o Petty Cash o Procurement Card Allocation o Procurement Card Purchase o Payment (Expense) Voucher o Purchase Requisition o Standing Purchase Order Renewal/Requisition o Travel Authorization/Advance o Travel Voucher o Unavailable Documentation • Student Services / Bursar o Cash Receipt o Financial Aid Award o Tuition and Fee Charge o Tuition Waiver on behalf of the University as a resulting condition of her or his duties, this policy applies to all affiliate fiscal staffAffiliate fiscal staffEmployee(s) of an Affiliate(s) that accepts a role as Fiscal Staff for the University through a written agreement. in conducting the university's fiscal transactions. Furthermore:

II.  Policy Statements

  1. Officers - as set forth in the Administrative Policy Statement (APS) Fiscal Roles and Responsibilities - are entrusted with fiscal responsibility for their functional area of responsibilityFunctional area of responsibilityA group of related business objectives, processes and entities for which an Officer has oversight by virtue of her/his position that have the following characteristics: organizational permanency and programmatic autonomy. and are responsible for setting a tone within their functional area of responsibility (and the University as a whole) for ethical conduct and integrity.
  2. Officers are required to adhere to the Officer's Fiscal Code of Ethics.
  3. EmployeesEmployeesAn individual who currently holds a University employment appointment, whether full-time, part-time, temporary, seasonal or hourly. are required to adhere to the Employee's Fiscal Code of Ethics.
  4. Officers, Finance System usersFinance system usersEmployees or affiliate fiscal staff who have access to the university's Finance System., HRMS usersHRMS usersEmployees or affiliate fiscal staff who have access to the university's HRM., and Procurement Card usersProcurement card usersEmployees or affiliate fiscal staff who are assigned a role as Cardholder, Approving Official, or Reallocator associated with a university Procurement Card. - whether employees or affiliate fiscal staffAffiliate fiscal staffEmployee(s) of an Affiliate(s) that accepts a role as Fiscal Staff for the University through a written agreement. - are required to demonstrate their awareness of and compliance with the appropriate Fiscal Code of Ethics through the process described in the Finance Procedural Statement (FPS) Fiscal Code of Ethics Acknowledgement.
  5. Officers must ensure that all employees working on a federal contract valued at or above $5 million demonstrate their awareness of and compliance with the appropriate Fiscal Code of Ethics through the process described in the Finance Procedural Statement (FPS) Fiscal Code of Ethics Acknowledgement.
  6. Each officer may require other employees to demonstrate their awareness of and compliance with the Employee's Fiscal Code of Ethics through the process described in the FPS.

III.  Procedures, Forms, Guidelines and Resources

A. Attachments

B. Procedures

  • Finance Procedural Statement (FPS) Fiscal Code of Ethics

C. Related Administrative Policy Statements

The Accountability Suite of Fiscal Policies sets forth a number of requirements whose ultimate aim is to assure ethical conduct in processing university fiscal transactionsFiscal transactionsFinancial transactions occur within numerous University functions including Accounting, Human Resources, Payroll and Benefits, Procurement and Student Services. EXAMPLES OF FISCAL TRANSACTIONS Function/Transaction • Accounting o Asset Transfers/Disposition o Cash Transfer o Journal Entry (JE) o Interdepartmental Invoice/Order • Human Resources, Payroll and Benefits o Create or Modify Position (Employment Management) o One Time Payment (Payroll) o Payroll Expense Transfer (PET) o Payroll Funding Distribution o Time Collection Entry • Procurement (Purchasing, Payables or Travel) o Cash Advance o Departmental Purchase Order o International Travel Meal Diary Form o Official Function Form o Petty Cash o Procurement Card Allocation o Procurement Card Purchase o Payment (Expense) Voucher o Purchase Requisition o Standing Purchase Order Renewal/Requisition o Travel Authorization/Advance o Travel Voucher o Unavailable Documentation • Student Services / Bursar o Cash Receipt o Financial Aid Award o Tuition and Fee Charge o Tuition Waiver and in the conduct of official university businessOfficial university businessAny activity that carries out the university's mission of instruction, research and service or that provides support to the university's instruction, research, and service activities.. The policies within this suite include this policy and the following:

In addition, this policy is interrelated with the following Administrative Policy Statements:

D. Related Policies

E. Educational Resources

Educational resources including guides, training announcements, and newsletters are announced and available on the Office of University Controller and related websites.

IV.  Definitions

Italicized terms used in this Administrative Policy Statement are defined in the Administrative Policy Statement Glossary.

V.  History

  • Revised - November 1, 2008
  • Initial Policy - June 30, 2005