Volunteer Code of Conduct
Volunteers are dedicated alumni who have been invited to serve as advocates and champions for Johns Hopkins University. Our volunteers play a significant role, supporting the university by engaging alumni, students, parents, and friends through activities, programs, events, and individual outreach. Volunteers perform tasks without compensation and are not considered employees of the university. Nevertheless, we expect our alumni volunteers to abide by the following:
- Promote and protect the best interests of the Office of Alumni Relations and the university by carrying out volunteer responsibilities in an ethical, positive, and informed manner.
Safeguard all sensitive, confidential or proprietary information, including alumni data and payment information, at all times. - Identify yourself as an alumni volunteer, not as an employee or official representative of the university, when engaging with third parties, including venues, media outlets, other universities, companies, etc. Direct questions that are beyond your expertise to the Office of Alumni Relations.
- Unless specifically authorized by the University, no volunteer shall have the authority, either implied or expressed, to enter into any contract in the name of the University.
- Maintain respectful and professional verbal and written communications with alumni, students, parents, university staff and other constituents.
- Acknowledge and respect other volunteers and their contributions, talents, efforts, and dignity. Be courteous and respectful of their opinions; participate in honest and open communication.
- University policy prohibits discrimination and harassment based on any protected characteristic, which includes sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military status, veteran status or other legally protected characteristic. University policy also prohibits sexual misconduct, which, as defined below, includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking. These policies apply to volunteers while on University property, participating in a University sponsored activity, or providing services to the University.
Specific to Conflict of Interest
- Alert the Office of Alumni Relations immediately when personal or professional conflicts of interest prevent you from volunteering.
- Avoid placing your own self-interest or any third party self-interest above that of the university in the scope of conducting or assisting with University business or while volunteering for a University sponsored activity, program or event.
- Disclose involvement with other organizations, businesses, or individuals where such a relationship(s) might be viewed as an actual or potential conflict between your personal financial interests and those of the university, and remove yourself from participating in any decision with respect to those interests.
- Volunteers may not use their role for personal or commercial gain.
- Please note that the Office of Alumni Relations reserves the right to disengage at any time with an alumni volunteer who does not adhere to the above guidelines, or whose actions are deemed inappropriate or unprofessional for their role. Similarly, volunteers may disengage their role with the Office of Alumni Relations at any time if they believe that their expectations are not being met or that their role is no longer fulfilling. Notice of such decisions should be communicated in writing as soon as possible.
