Gifts and Gratuities

Scope

All University employees, including faculty and staff.

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Policy Statement

Indiana University faculty and staff shall not engage in any activity paid for or provided by a supplier or potential supplier to the University, where the public perception of the activity may have the appearance of placing favor with the supplier, or where the employee sustains, or appears to sustain, personal gain by such participation.

When employee participation in activities provided by a supplier of the University provides a greater overall benefit to the University than to the employee, the University should pay for the employee’s participation.

Exceptions to this policy are general advertising tokens (small dollar items bearing the suppliers name or logo), as well as exceptions listed in the HR Conflict of Interest policy.  Additionally, from time to time, a circumstance may warrant that an activity or meal would be an exception to this policy as a part of a typical business meeting.

The NAEP Code of Ethics, articulated in  Policy 3.0 , states that personal gifts or gratuities should be declined.

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Reason for Policy

Gifts, paid invitations, entertainment, travel, room or housing, meals, transportation, and other such activity provided to an employee by a supplier may damage the reputation of the University. Activity of this nature may subvert the employee's judgment or create the perception that the employee, or the employee’s family, is receiving personal gain by virtue of his or her position at the University and the relationship with a supplier.

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Procedures

If an employee or an employee’s family member receives a gift or supplier invitation which is contrary to this policy, the employee's immediate supervisor should be informed and the gift refused or returned to the sender, or the invitation declined with a letter indicating that the acceptance of such is contrary to University policy and practice. Should a questionable situation arise, the University employee shall contact his or her immediate supervisor or the Associate Vice President, University Procurement Services.

Solicitation Process Procedures

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Definitions

Gratuity: Any gift, or invitation to entertainment venues, travel, room or housing, meals, transportation, and any other such action whereby the employee or family of the employee, sustain personal gain from its acceptance.

Personal Gain: Anything received and accepted, regardless of value, which is provided to an employee or family of the employee, by a supplier or potential supplier to Indiana University.

Supplier: any individual, company, corporation or other entity that provides goods or services to the University.

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Sanctions

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Additional Contacts

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History

Created on:  February 18, 1992

Revised on:  October 27, 2004; June 30, 2009; December 10, 2014

Last Reviewed: June, 2010

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