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Administrative Services Human Resource Service Center Employee and Management Services Staffing and Career Management Services Organization Development Work/Life Services
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Ethics Statement: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I acknowledge the UT Ethics Statement? Acknowledgement of the Ethics Statement can be done in one of three ways:
Do faculty need to acknowledge receipt of the Ethics Statement or just classified staff? All employees need to acknowledge receipt of the Ethics Statement, including faculty, staff, full-time, part-time, and temporary employees. A good "rule of thumb" is if a person is required to complete the PO-8 Payroll Information Form and the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form, they should acknowledge receipt of the Ethics Statement. [to top]Why do we have to acknowledge this law when we are not required to acknowledge other laws? The University of Texas at Austin has an obligation under the law passed by the Legislature to provide these provisions and obtain a receipt from each employee. The University is subject to review by the State Auditor's Office to ensure compliance. [to top]Is there a deadline for an employee to acknowledge receipt of the Ethics Statement? There is no set deadline for current employees or new hires to acknowledge the Ethics Statement. Human Resource Services (HRS) will work with departments to follow-up with those employees who have not provided a receipt. [to top]I have been contacted by a State Advisory Commission to provide testimony in a public hearing. If I testify, would I be violating the Ethics Statement? No, you would not violate the Ethics Statement. If you receive a request from a member of the Legislature or committee, or from any other state official or employee or citizen, you may provide information to which you have access, as long as the information is not considered under law to be confidential. [to top]Am I allowed to contact my State Representative or my State Senator? Yes, of course. The Ethics Statement does not impair your rights as a citizen of the state of Texas to consult with any government agency if you are requesting information from them or providing information to them. [to top]Can I contribute to a state or federal campaign? The Ethics Statement does not prohibit you—as a citizen—from giving your own contributions to a state or federal campaign. It says that no funds appropriated by the Legislature to run an agency or institution shall be used to fund any political campaign. [to top]Can I run for an office while being a University of Texas employee? You can do so as long as you do not campaign during office hours or use the campus as a public forum to campaign. As this could result in a conflict of interest, it is required that you disclose your intent to run for public office so that any problems or areas of conflict could be identified and dealt with prior to your making the commitment. Further questions about this particular issue should be addressed to the Associate Vice President for Human Resources. [to top]I own stocks. Do I now have to get rid of all my stock holdings? If an employee is in a decision making position at the University and holds stock in a company, the employee cannot make any decisions that result in the University doing business with that company. Best practice is for the employee to step out of the decision making role that affects the University and the business it conducts with that company. [to top]Are University employees prohibited from writing letters to a State of Texas board, state legislators or any elected official in support of measures as part of their duties as a University employee? It would be considered a conflict of interest if the individual was volunteering their support on any legislative measure using their official University role. As a private citizen of the State of Texas, you would be allowed to offer this kind of voluntary support. [to top]I work in a department that hires casual employees to teach short courses. Some of these employees work outside of the University as lobbyists. Is this a violation of the Ethics Statement? No, it is not a violation as long as their lobbying is not in conflict with the interests of the University or the interests of any business that UT works with. Also, these persons cannot represent themselves as University employees when they lobby. [to top]My department pays for individual and institutional memberships in organizations outside of the University. If these organizations hire lobbyists is my department in violation of the Ethics Statement? The department would be in violation if State of Texas appropriated funds
were used to pay for the memberships in these organizations. Only non-appropriated
funds can be used to pay for the memberships. |
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