June 9, 2011
K-State employees can't accept free baggage offer from American Airlines
Submitted by Jackie L. Hartman
Consistent with Kansas governmental ethics laws, Kansas State University does not endorse or recommend that its employees accept American Airlines' offer to forego the $25 baggage charge when flying out of the Manhattan Regional Airport.
Under these ethics requirements, university employees are not permitted to accept gifts made because of their university position. This offer from American Airlines would be an impermissible gift. University employees who violate the governmental ethics requirements do so at their own risk.
From the state ethics rules:
As a state employee, you are prohibited from soliciting or accepting any gift because of your official position. This includes, but is not limited to speaker's gifts, pens, key chains, mugs and flowers.
More information is available at state ethics rules.