It is the policy of Western Nevada Community College that no employee may hire or cause to hire, nor supervise, any relative within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity, except with written approval of the appointing authority. Employees or officers shall keep in mind that any appearance of impropriety or conflict of interest must be avoided.

Definitions

Procedures

Exceptions

Section 1.  Definitions

A.  WNCC seeks to employ on a competitive basis the best possible applicant for any position.

B.   There is no prohibition to the appointment or hiring of a relative of an employee in the same or in another department, college or division. However, the Nevada Revised Statutes 281.210, Nevada Administrative Code 284.375 and 285.377 and Title 4, Chapter 3, Section 5 in the Board of Regents Handbook, prohibits the employment of relatives under certain circumstances.

1.      No person may be appointed to any employment position if they will be in the direct line of authority of any relative of a NSHE employee within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity (i.e., a spouse, child, parent, or sibling, half-sibling, or step-relatives of the person; the spouse of an employee's child, parent, or sibling, half-sibling, or step-relatives of the person; or the employees in-laws, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandparent, grandchild, or first cousin. of the person).

2.      Consanguinity is a blood relationship within a family.

3.      Affinity is a marriage or other legal relationship formally recognized by the State of Nevada.

C.  In addition for classified staff, no person shall be appointed, who is in a dating relationship with the immediate supervisor or in the direct line of authority.

Section 2.  Procedures

A.  Pursuant to Section 1, the following procedures apply to all WNCC employees including academic or administrative faculty both full and part time; members of the state classified system; and all student employees; regardless of the funding source or budget account.

B.   The term "relative" is defined by state statute and WNCC policy as any person who is within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity:

1.      The appointing authority for WNCC is the College President. Appointing authorities cannot hire a relative.

2.      NSHE Regents must report on an annual disclosure form the employment of any relatives within third degree of consanguinity or affinity hired by any NSHE institution.

3.      No employee can participate in making recommendations or decisions affecting the appointing, retention, tenure, promotion, salary, or other status or interest of any individual within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity.

4.      Department heads and supervisors -at any level-who hire a relative of any employee within the department-level unit(s) must provide written notification of the intended hire to the appointing authority and specifically address the manner in which the nepotism issue will be handled. All hires must be approved in writing by the appointing authority.

5.      If a supervisor becomes related to an employee in the direct line of supervision, the supervisor will notify the appointing authority in writing within 10 working days. The appointing authority shall make the final determination of what action shall be taken.

6.      Any deviation from the above policy could result in disciplinary action as well as sanctions stipulated in the NRS and NAC.

Section 3.  Exceptions

A.  Any exceptions to this policy can only be made with specific written approval from the appointing authority.

NSHE Code:       Title 4, Chapter 3, Section 5

NRS:  281.210

NAC:  284.375 and 285.377