Conduct and Compliance Procedure - Acceptance of Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality

Parent policy

Conduct and Compliance Policy

Preamble

In the course of their University work, staff may be offered gifts, benefits or hospitality. The purpose of these rules for the Acceptance of Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality is to protect staff and the University from real or perceived influence and possible criticism.

Acceptance of gifts, benefits and hospitality

Staff must:

• exercise judgment in determining whether the acceptance of any gift, benefit or hospitality could reasonably be interpreted by others as an inducement which might place them or the University under an obligation to the donor;
• not accept any gift, benefit or hospitality which they believe to have been intended as an inducement to place them or the University under an obligation to the donor;
• report to their supervisor any instance of being offered a gift, benefit or hospitality which they believe to have been intended as an inducement to place them or the University under an obligation to the donor;
• record all accepted gifts, benefits or hospitality, judged to exceed $200 in value, on the University’s gifts register; and
• not seek for themselves or others any gift, benefit or hospitality that could be reasonably interpreted by others as an inducement which might place them or the University under an obligation to the donor.

To register gifts, benefits and hospitality staff must:

• complete a Notification of the Acceptance of Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality Form; and
• fax it to Executive Services within two weeks of being accepted.

Staff must not:

• accept cash gifts; or
• seek or solicit gifts, benefits or hospitality in connection with their University work.

Responsibility

These rules apply to all staff, including those working in the University’s controlled entities.

Related Procedure

Conduct and Compliance Procedure – Conflict of Interest (including Conflict of Interest in Research)

Related Forms

• Notification of the Acceptance of Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality [Word] [PDF]