Washington State University employees are reminded to review the information included in their email signature blocks and links on employee websites to ensure compliance with state ethics laws and university policy.
Under WSU’s Executive Policy 45 and RCW 42.52.160, university resources, including employee email and employee websites, may not be used for personal benefit or gain, except under narrow exceptions. This means links to outside sources such as personal websites, social media accounts, or promotional content must be used with caution. Information that promotes personal business ventures, sales of authored textbooks, or other self-promotional activities in a university email signature block or employee website could be considered an improper use of state resources.
For example, guidance provided by the Washington State Executive Ethics Board makes clear that university faculty may not profit from textbooks they require for their own classes, and complimentary copies provided to the author may not be sold. Placing a link in a signature block that directs students or colleagues to purchase an authored book, or other product from which the employee would gain personally, could raise ethics concerns.
When in doubt, employees are reminded to keep their WSU signature block and employee website professional and focused on university-related contact information. Sharing of personal or commercial links should only be done using an appropriate non-university communication channel. For questions about whether employee signature blocks and/or employee websites meet ethics guidelines, please contact the WSU Ethics Advisor.
