Encouraging
Private Sector Support for Extension, Research and Academic
Program Activities:
Extreme
caution and professional judgment must be exercised by
each employee when using any brand name in any service,
work product, or program. It is the policy of WSU Extension
that Extension faculty and staff will not endorse a product
or service in their capacity as WSU Extension employees.
Faculty and staff should not respond to questionnaires
asking such questions as "Which farm (or other type
of) publication has the greatest influence?" as the
results are often used by publications to claim endorsement.
Extension faculty, staff and
volunteers will not knowingly allow the use of the
university name, logo, or WSU Extension program names
or emblems,
such as 4-H, in the advertisement of commercial products.
Employees
are sometimes offered products and equipment (or its
use) from commercial
companies. This equipment can be accepted by WSU
with
the
understanding that WSU Extension does not endorse any brand or
product. The donor should be recognized/acknowledged
publicly, thanked and provided
a document to be used for tax purposes. Employees should contact
the CAHNRS Office of Alumni and Development for
guidance in such situations.
The product or equipment becomes the property of WSU Extension
and not the personal property of the Extension employee.
Outside monies from the private sector
should support the major programs and objectives of Extension.
In recognizing the organizations' contributions, it should
be clear that acceptance of support is not an endorsement
of contributors' products or services by the university.
Development accounts should be used to receive such private
funds.
Ownership or Operation of a
Farm or Other Outside Business:
Extension faculty and staff will
not become involved in the purchase or sale of goods for
outside groups. This includes pooling orders, negotiating
with dealers, handling money, making purchases, delivering,
or collecting products.
See
section 60.44.1- 60.44.6
of the WSU Business Policies and Procedures
Manual and Faculty Manual,
Section IV.
Buying,
Selling, and/or Trading Livestock, Crops or Other Commodity
Transactions:
As
a side interest, Extension
employees are sometimes involved personally in trading
agricultural or other commodities or futures contracts
that are closely interrelated to their job. No employee
may use confidential information gained by reason of
the employee's official
position for his or
her personal gain
or benefit, or the or benefit of another unless authorized
by law or WSU. RCW 42.52.050(2).
Holding
Elected or Appointed Public Office:
Refer
to Section 60.90.1 of the WSU
Business Policies and Procedures Manual and the section
on Political Activities in the Extension Policies and
Procedures Handbook.
Assisting
in the Development Of Organizations: Extension
faculty may assist in organizing groups for the purpose
of promoting agriculture, youth,
family and community. Once the organization is operating
on its own, the faculty member should serve only in an
educational and advisory capacity.
Extension personnel should not become
involved in bookkeeping or management functions for organized
boards of directors or executive boards of clientele organizations.
These are the responsibility of the organization.
Depositions
and Court Appearances:
WSU
Extension employees are known to be highly qualified and credible
sources of
information; therefore, they are frequently asked to
provide facts and opinions in legal actions in which WSU is not
a party. It is difficult, if not impossible, to separate
the testimony of any witness from the outcome of litigation.
Hence, the Extension employee's testimony is usually
perceived to have benefited one party and damaged another. This
places the Extension employee in an adversarial position.
While unintentional, the adversarial position impacts
negatively not only upon the individual employee but also the university
and the Cooperative
Extension System. In recognition of this, the following policies have
been developed.
Director's Office and Attorney General's Office Must be Notified
Extension employees who are requested to provide testimony
through deposition or appearance in court will immediately notify
the Director of Budget and Resource Planning or the office
of the director
to receive specific instructions. The employee will also notify
his or her unit head and the attorney general's office at Washington
State University,
telephone 509-335-2636.
Voluntary Expert Opinion Testimony.
The provision of voluntary expert opinion testimony does not meet
the university criteria for consulting in that it is outside the
mission
of WSU Extension, and it does not enhance the faculty
member's professional development. Extension employees
shall make
no agreements to provide voluntary expert opinion testimony on
university time using state resources.
Voluntary
expert
opinion
testimony
within
the
faculty
member's
subject
matter area is highly discouraged, even on the employee's own time
and
using his or her own resources, because of the probability of adversarial
situations involving constituents and possible detriment to the
university's
image. However, voluntary expert opinion testimony that is not
within
the Extension employee's subject matter and geographic
area
of employment may be given on their own time and without the use
of
state
resources.
Subpoena for Expect Testimony within Subject Matter of Employment.
When a valid subpoena is served, compliance is required. Employees
will take reasonable and legitimate steps to avoid and discourage
their involvement
in the legal claims, cases and suits of others. However, employees
may receive a subpoena to provide testimony on factors that the
employees
have personal knowledge of and that concern their subject matter
of employment. When a valid subpoena is served, compliance is required.
All costs associated
with preparation and participation will be billed by the University
to the attorney at the established rate of pay and benefits plus
any out-of-pocket
expenditures.
If
a
valid
subpoena
is
served,
the
summoned
individual
is
required
to
comply under the laws of the state of Washington. Employees will
consult
with the WSU Attorney General's Office upon receipt of the subpoena
and
before giving a deposition or providing testimony. It is usually
preferable
to provide a deposition rather than appearing to testify. When
providing
testimony, it is important that the statements are factual and
neutral.
Time and Expense Records Must be Maintained.
Employees who are required by subpoena to provide a deposition
or appear to testify are expected to keep accurate records of time
spent (dates,
hours, and activity) and expenses incurred. As soon as possible
following the court-required actions, the employee will provide:
- Complete name, address,
and telephone number of the attorney to be billed.
- Names of the defendant and
plaintiff of the case and the case number.
- Complete record of time
and expenses incurred.
This information is to be sent to
the Director of Budget and Resource Planning, Business
and Finance Office, 405 Hulbert Hall, Washington State
University, Pullman, WA 99164-6241.
Subpoena for Expert Testimony Unrelated to Employee's
Subject Matter of Employment.
Expert
testimony
under
a
subpoena
that
is received by employees for cases that do
not relate to their field of employment as
a WSU
Extension employee shall be handled under the Faculty Manual, Section
III.E.9 (b). http://www.wsu.edu/Faculty_Senate/
Subpoena for Non-Expert Testimony.
Refer to Faculty Manual, Section III.E.9 (c).
http://facsen.wsu.edu/
