Advisory Opinion No. 1993-2
Student Trustee Seeking Employment
Within A College
Under The
Board Of Trustees Jurisdiction
Two student trustees serve on the Board of Trustees for the State Regional Community Colleges. Mr. David L. Cannon, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, has asked whether it is permissible for a student trustee to seek employment within a college under the Boards jurisdiction and to hold such employment while continuing as trustee.
The Code of Ethics for Public Officials, Chapter 10, Part I,
applies to those individuals defined by the Code to be either public officials
or state employees. As a student
trustee, one is clearly not an employee of the executive branch of government. The two student trustees are elected by the
students enrolled at the institutions under the jurisdiction of the Board. See Conn. Gen. Stat. §10a-71. All other members are appointed by the
Governor.
If the student trustee accepts such employment, he or she will then be a state employee subject to the Code, but only in his or her capacity as a state worker, not as a student member of the Board. For example, the individual would be prohibited from using his or her state employee position or confidential information gained specifically in that position for personal financial benefit.
The Commission hereby overrules Advisory Opinion No. 82-9,
44 Conn. L.J. No. 21, p. 4B (
By order of the Commission,
Christopher T. Donohue
Chairperson