The mission of The Johns Hopkins University is to
improve the quality of human life. Hopkins people
accomplish this mission through research, teaching, public
service and the administrative support for these efforts.
In order to succeed in this mission, the university must
maintain the confidence of its constituencies, and, to do
this, it is essential that the employees of the university
maintain the highest standards of integrity and ethical
conduct, both in fact and in appearance.
Ethical conduct cannot be defined specifically in
advance of every situation, and the university relies on
the good judgment of its employees to maintain the high
standards required of a great university. Perhaps the best
assessment we can make is to ask ourselves if we would like
to have our involvement in the activity in question
discussed on the front page of the morning paper. If not,
then we probably shouldn't be doing it.
The following principles are the standards of ethical
behavior required of Johns Hopkins employees.
1. Hopkins employees are expected to obey all
federal, state and local laws including those pertaining to
equal opportunity, nondiscrimination and harassment.
2. Employees may have no financial interest in the
outcome of any business dealings in which they participate
on behalf of the university, except as permitted and
approved pursuant to the university's conflict of interest
policy.
3. Employees may not accept gifts, entertainment or
meals from any organization with which the university has a
current or potential business relationship if such
offerings could be construed as influencing or attempting
to influence business decisions. In no case should
employees accept gifts of more than nominal value, and then
only if it is a common business practice or if it is a
reciprocal arrangement.
4. People in a supervisory capacity should not
accept gifts from individuals under their supervision. This
prohibition does not include group gifts for special
occasions, such as religious holidays, weddings, births,
etc., or long-standing reciprocal arrangements based on
relationships outside the work environment.
5. The confidentiality of information, deemed so
under university policy and applicable laws, including
personnel, patient medical records and proprietary
information, must be maintained.
6. Employees may not use university resources,
including their own paid time, for any purposes other than
those that benefit the university.
7. Employees may not use their university positions
to gain rewards, favors or positions in outside
endeavors.
8. Employees may not use university letterhead in
the furtherance of their personal interests.
9. Only individuals designated by the board of
trustees are authorized to identify the university with any
particular organization or cause.
10. Individuals should report ethical standards
violations, as indicated in the university's policy on
reporting fraud located on the
Office of Internal
Audits Web site. The university's Hot-Line phone number
is 877-932-6675.
11. Retaliation or retribution against an
employee who has in good faith reported an alleged
unethical practice will not be tolerated.
Questions concerning ethical behavior should be directed to
one's supervisor, the Office of Internal Audits or the
Office of General Counsel.
Individuals found to be in violation of ethical
standards in university dealings will be subject to
disciplinary action, which may include dismissal.