Ethics and Compliance
at CMC
Claremont McKenna College is dedicated to developing a positive living, learning, and working environment built on mutual trust and accountability. Words such as integrity, respect, responsibility, and ethics are not just catch phrases at CMC – they are the very foundation of a vibrant academic community. Every CMC student, every CMC faculty member, and every CMC staff member play a critical role in building, promoting, and maintaining a positive campus culture.
Whether through classroom experiences, Open Academy or Athenaeum programming, innovative work conducted through our 11 research institutes and centers, participating in the decorated CMS Athletics program or the 50+ campus clubs and organizations, we prioritize engagement, conversation, and relationships.
CMC’s distinct Mission – “to prepare students for thoughtful and productive lives and responsible leadership in business, government, and the professions,” helps center our community around these principles, as well as around our additional core values of academic freedom, freedom of expression, nonpartisanship, diversity, respect, and inclusion.
Our investment in community and culture turns what could otherwise be merely aspirational statements expressed in the Institutional Statement of Ethics and Values into thoughtful approaches.
Please read further for additional ways we aim to uphold the highest ethical, professional, and legal standards in every interaction, activity, and decision.
Training and Education
CMC provides ongoing education and training to help ensure students, faculty, and staff understand relevant laws, regulations, and College policies.
A variety of training and education modalities are provided through the Office of Human Resources, the Dean of the Faculty’s Office, the Dean of Students Office, the Public Safety and Emergency Management team, and the CMS Athletics program.
Training is provided on a variety of topics, including:
- Discrimination
- Harassment/sexual harassment
- ADA and disability accommodation processes
- Reporting abuse of minors
- Expense reimbursement rules
- Research integrity and Institutional Review Board
- Conflicts of interest
- The Clery Act
- Data privacy/security
- Workplace safety and violence
- Hazing
- Bystander intervention
- Drug and alcohol use/abuse
- NCAA regulations
- FERPA and HIPAA
- Threat assessment
- Environmental health and safety standards
College Policy Library
The College’s Policy Library provides access to official policies and procedures related to various aspects of College life, including academic regulations, financial management, facility usage, governance/legal issues, student life, human resources, safety and emergency management, sponsored research, and information technology.
Reporting Options
Despite its commitments to ethics and compliance, no institution can achieve perfection. If you witness or experience behavior that appears to contradict the values expressed on this page, we encourage you to report it. Please visit the College’s Report a Concern webpage for information on how to report various types of concerns, including those that may touch upon ethics or compliance topics.
Responding to Potential Violations
The College’s relevant disciplinary procedures can impose appropriate disciplinary sanctions for community members who violate the law, regulations, or College policies. Each situation is considered on a case-by-case basis, and any discipline the College may impose seeks to address inappropriate conduct and to deter future violations.
The College also assesses whether conduct falling short of institutional expectations may be due in part to gaps in the College’s policies, training, procedures, or other controls. If so, the College is committed to implementing corrective measures to enhance its controls to prevent further violations.
Oversight
College academic and administrative departments retain responsibility for policy development and compliance within their respective areas. The Audit and Compliance Committee of the Board of Trustees retains ultimate oversight over ethical behavior and legal compliance at CMC. The College’s General Counsel is a staff member assigned to this Committee and makes regular reports to the Committee.