Board Code of Conduct 

• Policy Name: Board Code of Conduct
• Policy Types: Governance Process
• Number: GP-08
• Date Approved: October 20, 2025
• Date Amended: 
• Date Last Reviewed: 

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The Oakland Community College Board of Trustees expects of itself and its members ethical, business-like and lawful conduct. This includes proper use of authority and appropriate decorum when acting as Trustees. It expects Trustees as first ambassadors of the College to treat one another, the CEO, College employees, citizens of the Oakland College District, students and their parents, with respect, co-operation and a willingness to deal openly on all matters.

1. Trustees must have loyalty to the Ownership that supersedes any loyalties to the CEO, College employees, constituents of the District who elected them, other organizations or any personal interest as a consumer.
   
   
2. Trustees are accountable to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of their office honestly and in good faith. Trustees shall exercise the degree of care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances.
   
   
3. Trustees must avoid a conflict of interest with respect to their fiduciary responsibility. 
   
   3.1 There must be no self-dealing or any conduct of private business or personal services between any Trustee and the College, except as procedurally controlled to assure openness, competitive opportunity, and equal access to otherwise “inside” information. Trustees will annually sign and submit a statement that discloses conflicts of interest and confirms that they have read the board’s conflict of interest policy.
   
   3.1.1. Trustees will disclose at the start of regular meetings any new involvement with other organizations, vendors, or any associations that might be or might reasonably be seen as being a conflict.
   
   3.2. When the Board is to decide upon an issue about which a Trustee has an unavoidable conflict of interest, that Trustee shall recuse herself or himself without comment, from not only the vote, but also from the deliberation. This absence shall be recorded in the minutes. 
   
   3.3. Trustees will not use their Board position to obtain employment with or furnish services or goods to the College for themselves, family members, associates or organizations upon which a Trustee serves as a Board member.
   
   3.4. Should a Trustee assume a position in any capacity in the College for which the Trustee will be compensated by the College, the Trustee must resign from the Board before the first day of said position.
   
   
4. Trustees shall not attempt to exercise individual authority over the organization or the CEO.
   
   4.1. When interacting with College employees, Trustees must recognize that individual Trustees have no authority to instruct or evaluate employees, and no authority to insert themselves into employee operations.
   
   4.2. The Board Chair or designee is the only person authorized to speak to the public, the media or other entities on behalf of the Board. Trustees shall not presume to speak for the Board when interacting with the press or the public. Media inquiries should be directed to the Board Chair.
   
   
5. Trustees shall be familiar with the incorporating documents, relevant legislation and regulations, by-laws, governing policies of the organization, issues pertaining to higher education, as well as the rules of procedure and proper conduct of a meeting so that any decision of the Board may be made in an efficient, knowledgeable and expeditious fashion.
   
   
6. Trustees will be properly prepared for Board deliberation through the review of all Board meeting materials in advance of Board meetings.
   
   
7. Trustees will collaborate with other Trustees and share information on matters of substance related to their governance role so that no one Trustee possesses information that all other Trustees should have. Such collaboration must adhere to the legal requirements of board assemblage.
   
   
8. Trustees will support the legitimacy and authority of Board decisions, regardless of the member’s personal position on the issue. 
   
   
9. Trustees shall review college publications and regularly take part in educational activities including state, regional and national meetings and events that will assist them in their ability to serve effectively as a member of the College’s governing Board.
   
   
10. Trustees shall hold themselves and other Trustees accountable for complying with this Code of Conduct.
    
    
11. Trustees who are found to have violated the Board’s Code of Conduct are subject to a Board review of their actions and a possible formal Board rebuke in the form of a direct criticism noted in the Board minutes. Remediation or continuing behavior which is in violation of the Board’s Code of Conduct could lead to motion of censure. 
    
    
12. Trustees shall attend meetings on a regular and punctual basis. Each Board member shall notify the Chair or Recording Secretary of an absence from a Board meeting as far in advance of the meeting as possible. Failure to notify the Board Chair/CGO or Recording Secretary of their absence shall be unexcused. All absences shall be indicated in the meeting’s roll call section and noted whether the absence is excused or unexcused. 
    
    
13. Trustees shall hold themselves and other Trustees accountable for complying with this Code of Conduct.