As we move into the holiday season when gift exchanges are common, the Office of Risk Management and Compliance wants to remind everyone of the Alabama Ethics Law and UAH's gift policies. To maintain our commitment to integrity and avoid any appearance of undue influence, employees should not offer or accept gifts that could compromise, or appear to compromise, their professional judgment or responsibilities. Please refer to the chart below before giving or receiving any gifts.
Keep the Following Principles in Mind:
- Avoid gifts of significant monetary value from students, vendors, or external partners.
- Do not solicit gifts in connection with your university role.
- When in doubt, politely decline and refer to university policy or your department supervisor.
- Modest, non-monetary tokens (e.g., thank-you notes or small items of minimal value) may be acceptable, but context matters.
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DO…
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DON’T…
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Ensure any seasonal gifts are valued at less than $100.
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Don’t accept or give a gift valued at more than $100.
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Ensure the total value of gifts from any single donor does not exceed $250 in any one calendar year.
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Don’t accept or give a gift if the aggregate value of such gifts from any single donor is more than $250 during any one calendar year.
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Consult the Institutional Conflicts of Interest and Conflicts of Commitment Interim Policy before accepting or giving gifts to ensure there is no actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest.
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Don’t accept gifts that would create an actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest. Consult the Institutional Conflicts of Interest and Conflicts of Commitment Policy for assistance.
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Contact the Development Office before giving or receiving in-kind donations to the University. Consult the Gift Acceptance Policy for assistance.
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Don’t accept gifts from employees or their immediate family members for accounts directly controlled by those employees or for accounts for which the employee is fiscally responsible.
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Ensure a valid documented business purpose exists prior to presenting non-cash benefits (mugs, t-shirts, etc.) as a token of appreciation to a donor, dignitary, guest, or volunteer.
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Don’t present non-cash benefits (mugs, t-shirts, etc.) as a token of appreciation to a donor, dignitary, guest, or volunteer without a valid documented business purpose in place.
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Comply with IRS rules and regulations regarding receiving gifts.
The University does not provide tax consultation services. Each taxpayer should consult with their tax consultant.
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Don’t accept a gift without complying with IRS rules and regulations.
The University does not provide tax consultation services. Each taxpayer should consult with their tax consultant.
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Thing of Value = Any gift, benefit, favor, service, gratuity, tickets or passes to an entertainment, social or sporting event offered only to public officials, unsecured loan, other than those loans made in the ordinary course of business, reward, promise of future employment, or honoraria.
Relevant Policies:
If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Office of Risk Management and Compliance at compliance@uah.edu.