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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCode of Ethics and Professional Conduct - Single Signature clean CAPE FEAR MUSEUM OF HISTORY & SCIENCE CODE OF ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT This Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct outlines the principles and responsibilities that guide all individuals who serve Cape Fear Museum of History and Science ("the Museum"), including board members (Museum Advisory Board – MAB, and Cape Fear Museum Associates – CFMA), staff, and volunteers. It reflects the shared duty to uphold the highest standards of integrity, public trust, and stewardship, and is informed by the ethical guidelines of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The Museum collects, preserves, and interprets objects related to the history, science, and cultures of the Lower Cape Fear region. These collections are shared with the public through exhibitions and educational programs, ensuring access, relevance, and responsible scholarship.1 PUBLIC TRUST AND ACCOUNTABILITY: The Museum holds its assets, including collections and information, in trust for the public. It is committed to operating transparently, sharing accurate and timely information about its finances, programs, and governance. All stewardship decisions reflect the responsibility to serve the public now and in the future. Diverse perspectives of the community are valued, and the Museum is committed to ensuring equitable access to its resources, experiences, and opportunities. This commitment guides decisions in hiring, programming, interpretation, and community engagement. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ACCESS: The Museum serves as a public institution committed to fostering civic engagement, community dialogue, and meaningful participation. As representatives of the Museum, all museum boards members (MAB and CFMA), staff, and volunteers share the responsibility to support the Museum’s role as a welcoming, accessible, and responsive community resource. All are expected to: • Support efforts that build and maintain strong community relationships through outreach, collaboration, and responsiveness to public needs. • Encourage inclusive participation by helping reduce barriers to access and promoting programs that serve a broad range of community interests. • Uphold the Museum’s mission to provide educational and cultural experiences that benefit the public and reflect the region’s diverse history and heritage. • Represent the Museum in a manner that fosters public trust, transparency, and civic pride. By embracing these responsibilities, each person helps ensure the Museum remains a valued and trusted institution that serves and reflects the community of the Lower Cape Fear region. GOVERNANCE: The Museum is dedicated to responsible governance that guides the museum’s progress, fulfills its mission, protects and invigorates the institution, ensures responsibility to the community, and enhances its character, integrity, and welfare. Governance is achieved by the collaboration of the following three boards in cooperation with Museum staff: • New Hanover County Board of Commissioners (NHCBOC): New Hanover County Board of Commissioners (NHCBOC): The governing body of the County owns and operates the Museum, including its facilities and property, and approves the Museum's budget. • Museum Advisory Board (MAB): Appointed by NHCBOC, represents the public interest and provides oversight of policies and operations. Recommends priorities to County leadership. • Cape Fear Museum Associates, Inc. (CFMA): A 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports the Museum through fundraising, membership, and community engagement. CFMA adheres to the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethics and the Donor Bill of Rights. Each board functions in accordance with its governing documents. No individual may act independently on behalf of a board unless authorized. Board members must uphold all established policies and legal agreements.2 STAFF RESPONSIBLITIES: Staff implement the Museum's mission, guided by County and/or CFMA policies. All staff report to the Museum Director, who reports to the County Manager’s Office. The Director oversees daily operations, supervises staff, and serves as the Museum's primary spokesperson. All staff must: • Adhere to organizational and County policies. • Abide by approved personnel policies of New Hanover County (inclusive of hiring and supervisory responsibilities). • Protect and steward collections, resources, and financial assets. • Act collaboratively, respectfully, and in service to the Museum and the public. VOLUNTEER STANDARDS: Volunteers are essential partners in advancing the Museum’s mission. Although unpaid, volunteers are held to the same standards as staff and are expected to: • Represent the Museum with professionalism. • Uphold Museum policies and protect Museum property. • Work in the service of the public, not for personal gain. GENERAL: Board members, staff, and volunteers are expected at all times to serve the museum and its purposes, to faithfully fulfill their respective duties, and to encourage goodwill and support for the museum. All shall strive to ensure truth and wholeness in the content and quality of scholarship in all exhibitions, programs, and site interpretations. All shall recognize the responsibility of holding artifacts in trust for the community. All individuals are expected to manage Museum-owned digital assets and confidential data with integrity and discretion. Personal, visitor, donor, and community information must be safeguarded and used only in accordance with applicable privacy laws and organizational policies. Social media activity related to the Museum must be professional, accurate, and aligned with the organization’s values. All must ensure a distinct separation between personal and committee/board views and must not speak as a representative of the County or Museum while interacting on social media. COLLECTIONS STEWARDSHIP: The Museum is to be managed according to applicable Federal, State, local, and international laws, including the UNESCO 1970 Convention. The Museum commits to: • Acquiring and deaccessioning artifacts ethically. • Conducting due diligence to avoid acquiring unlawfully obtained cultural property. • Ensuring collections are accessible, preserved, and relevant to the Museum’s mission. • Avoiding conflicts of interest in personal collecting or art dealing. No affiliated individual shall appraise objects intended for donation to the Museum. The collection will be managed according to the approved policy, in a professional manner which improves the content, strengthens relevance to the institutional mission, and increases the collection’s value for future generations.3 USE OF MUSEUM AFFILIATION AND ASSETS: Individuals affiliated with the Museum must not use their association for personal gain, political activity, commercial endorsement, or unauthorized communication. Confidential and proprietary information must be handled with care and in accordance with County and Museum established policies. APPRAISALS: No board members, staff members, or volunteers shall perform appraisals of objects donated to the Museum. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Board members, staff members, and volunteers must avoid conflicts of interest and the appearance of impropriety in Museum activities. If a potential conflict arises, it must be disclosed promptly to the appropriate governance authority (staff should report conflicts to the director, board members to their board chair). Individuals may not participate in decisions involving contracts or grants where personal benefit may result. All should take precautions to avoid even the appearance of impropriety inherent in the acceptance or disbursement of funds, outside employment or consulting, participation in other volunteer activities, and use of County and Museum resources. Further, board members, staff member, and volunteers shall neither vote on nor participate in the solicitation, negotiation, formation, award, arbitration, modification, or settlement of any contract or grant involving any funds or disputes arising under such contract or grant when the board member, staff member, or volunteer stands to benefit, either directly or indirectly, from such contract or grant. PERSONAL GAIN/DISCRETION: Neither one’s association with the Museum nor the Museum’s name, reputation, or property should be employed knowingly for personal use or advantage, political activity, commercial endorsement, or unauthorized communications. Individuals affiliated with the Museum must avoid any perception that their personal opinions or affiliations represent those of the institution. Privileged information received during museum service must be regarded with discretion and confidence. Gifts and favors valued greater than $5 cannot be accepted by individuals. All monetary gifts shall be deposited as donations to CFMA. A board member, staff member, or volunteer is not deemed to benefit directly or indirectly from a contract or grant if they receive only the salary/stipend due to them in the normal course of employment with or service to Cape Fear Museum. REPORTING AND ENFORCEMENT: The Museum is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards. Alleged violations of this document shall be reviewed through a clear and confidential process. Concerns may be reported to the Museum Director, Museum Advisory Board Chair, Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners, or appropriate governing authority, who will initiate an impartial review. Corrective actions may include education, training, removal from duties, or termination of affiliation. The Museum operates with transparency and accountability to the public it serves. It is committed to the responsible management and reporting of finances, programs, and decision- making. Institutional information shall be shared in a timely and accurate manner through appropriate public channels, including board meeting minutes, financial reports, and annual summaries. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: All those affiliated with Cape Fear Museum are expected to abide by the terms outlined and shall receive a copy of the Code of Ethics to sign upon the start of their employment or board term, unless the board’s bylaws require an annual signature. ACKNOWLEDGMENT SIGNATURE: I have read and understand the Cape Fear Museum Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. I agree to uphold its standards and act in service to the Museum’s mission and public trust. Printed Name: _______________________________________ Signature: __________________________________________ Date: ____________________ Citations: 1. Originally adopted by the Board of Trustees on 4.6.95 and the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners on 5.15.95. Revised and Approved by NHCBOCC 10.6.25 2. Reference: MAB Bylaws; CFMA Bylaws; County authorizing contract. 3. Reference: Curator’s Code of Ethics, Historian’s Code of Ethics, Registrar’s Code of Ethics; Museum Collections Policy, revised and approved by NHCBOC.