The good name and reputation of the Institute is maintained by the actions of each member of the Institute community. Accordingly, each member should uphold the highest standards of ethical personal conduct. Whether employees are at work on the Institute's property or off-site representing the Institute, they should demonstrate good judgment and proper respect for the rights of others and the law in every aspect of conducting their duties on behalf of the Institute. Additionally, discretion is important in one's work, and Institute employees should not disclose nonpublic information such as confidential or private personal information that becomes known to them in the course of their work.

Although the personal conduct of Institute community members is self-regulated, individuals should be sensitive to situations that may raise questions or the appearance of impropriety. Where an individual's conduct falls outside the parameters of good judgment, integrity, or the law, the Institute reserves the right to take action in response to that conduct. Within the limits of Institute guidelines and legal parameters, the Institute may take action at its sole discretion to uphold ethical standards.

It is the Institute's intent to have as few rules and regulations regarding conduct as possible. Individual departments, however, may create specific work rules tailored to their own areas of concern. Similarly, certain Institute policies have been created to inform the community on appropriate behavior with regard to work schedules, the use of alcohol and controlled substances, and some other matters. Other policies explicitly forbid harassment and conflicts of interest. Please see the appropriate policies for more information on these and other specific topics.