All University employees and officials are subject to the Ethics Act. This site is designed to ensure employees have an understanding of their obligations under the Washington State Ethics in Public Service Act, located at Chapter 42.52 RCW. You will find links to policies, FAQ’s, guidance, training resources, and applicable laws and regulations.
Eastern Washington University expects its employees to provide the highest public service in compliance with the Ethics Act which is aimed at:
- Avoiding conflicts between the official duties of state employees and their individual financial and personal interests
- Preventing the misuse of state resources
- Prohibiting employees from engaging in activities that conflict with their official duties
- Prohibiting employees from participating in state transactions from which they or their family members might personally benefit
Use of Resources
Gifts & Honoraria
Additional or Outside Employment
Conflicts of Interest
Special Privileges
Confidentiality
Post State Employment
A former state employee may not accept employment or compensation from an employer within one year of leaving state employment, if all three of the following conditions are present:
- The employee, during the 2 years immediately preceding termination of state employment, negotiated or administered a contract with the new employer; and
- The contract(s) had a total value in excess of $10,000; and
- The former officer’s or employee’s duties with the new employer would include fulfilling or implementing that contract.
A former state employee may not, within two years following the termination of state employment, have a beneficial interest in a contract or grant which was expressly authorized or funded by executive action in which the employee participated. Several of the post-state employment restrictions are continuing. That is, there is no statutorily defined time limit that determines when these restrictions end. Additionally, employees may not participate, at any time subsequent to state employment, whether or not for compensation, in any transaction involving the state in which the former state employee at any time participated during state employment.
Ethics Policies
Proper stewardship of university resources, including funds, facilities, tools, property, employees and their time, is a responsibility that all university employees share.
Responsibility and accountability for the appropriate use of University resources ultimately rests with the individual employee who uses university resources as well as the employee who authorizes the use of University resources.
The use of University resources covered by the following EWU policies:
- EWU Policy 901-01: Ethical Standards
- EWU Policy 901-02: Appropriate Use of State Resources
- EWU Policy 401-02: Additional or Outside Employment
- EWU Policy 203-08 Ch. 3: University-Owned Mobile Devices
- EWU Policy 302-08: Conflicts of Interest – Research and Technology Transfer
For statewide policies on ethics please visit: Executive Ethics Board-Laws & Rules
Contact EWU’s Ethics Advisor, Annika Scharosch, at ascharosch@ewu.edu or 509-359-6724.
