Statement of Purpose
The Virginia Community College System/Mountain Gateway Community College is committed to providing comprehensive higher education and workforce training programs and services that are financially and geographically accessible and that meet individual, business, and community needs of the Commonwealth.
These values serve as a guide for the members of the VCCS/MGCC community when ethical issues arise.
- We are committed to learning environments that foster academic integrity.
- We will foster in all disciplines a mutual respect and openness for the freedom of responsible thought, research, and discussion on all sides of academic issues to facilitate balanced and thorough academic analysis for all participants.
- We will be good stewards of our resources and make effective and efficient use of them, thereby ensuring accountability to the Commonwealth and to the communities we serve.
- We will maintain the confidentiality and security of information entrusted to us and share information only when authorized or required by law to do so.
- We will not accept any gift, favor, loan, service, business or professional opportunity from anyone knowing (or when it should be known) that it is offered in order to improperly influence the performance of our public duties. We will avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest.
- We will offer good faith and fair dealings to all those we serve and with each other. Our communications will be civil and professional.
- We will offer employment opportunities in accordance with State, Federal, and System policies supporting the rights and recognizing the needs of all citizens regardless of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.
- We encourage and expect all members of the community to act in good faith and bring to the attention of the appropriate official any violation or potential violation these principles.
Standards of Conduct
Employees covered by this policy are employed to fulfill certain duties and expectations that support the mission and values of their agencies and are expected to conduct themselves in a manner deserving of public trust. The following list is not all-inclusive but is intended to illustrate the minimum expectations for acceptable workplace conduct and performance.
- Employees who contribute to the success of an agency’s mission:
- Report to work as scheduled and seek approval from their supervisors in advance for any changes to the established work schedule, including the use of leave and late or early arrivals and departures.
- Perform assigned duties and responsibilities with the highest degree of public trust.
- Devote full effort to job responsibilities during work hours.
- Maintain the qualifications, certification, licensure, and/or training requirements identified for their positions.
- Demonstrate respect for the agency and toward agency coworkers, supervisors, managers, subordinates, residential clients, students, and customers.
- Use state equipment, time, and resources judiciously and as authorized.
- Support efforts that ensure a safe and healthy work environment.
- Utilize leave and related employee benefits in the manner for which they were intended.
- Resolve work-related issues and disputes in a professional manner and through established business processes.
- Meet or exceed established job performance expectations.
- Make work-related decisions and/or take actions that are in the best interest of the agency.
- Comply with the letter and spirit of all state and agency policies an procedures the
- Conflict of Interest Act, and Commonwealth laws and regulations.
- Report circumstances or concerns that may affect satisfactory work performance to management, including any inappropriate (fraudulent, illegal, unethical) activities of other employees.
- Obtain approval from supervisor prior to accepting outside employment.
- Obtain approval from supervisor prior to working overtime, if non-exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
- Work cooperatively to achieve work unit and agency goals and objectives.
- Conduct themselves at all times in a manner that supports the mission of their agency and the performance of their duties.