Scholarship committee members must be able to make independent recommendations without any conflict of interest or the appearance of any conflict of interest. Committee members agree that selections will be made
through an objective, nondiscriminatory process. Evaluation will be conducted without bias based on the established criteria for each scholarship fund.

1. Committee members agree that evaluations will be based on fair, equitable criteria established before the review process.
2. No committee member shall be eligible to apply for assistance from the fund.
3. If a family member of a committee member has applied for assistance, that committee member will declare a conflict of interest and will not be present during the review and selection process for that award cycle.
If an applicant’s family member has a financial relationship with a committee member, that member shall declare a conflict of interest, withdraw from the meeting until the discussion of that applicant is complete, and refrain from voting on that applicant.

Although not mandatory, we recommend committee members recuse themselves if they have a personal relationship with an applicant.
‘‘Family member’’ is defined as:
o Spouse, parent or parent-in-law.
o Grandparent or grandparent-in-law.
o Child or stepchild and their spouse.
o Grandchild or step-grandchild and their spouse.
o Sibling and their spouse.
o Niece or nephew and their spouse.

‘‘Financial relationship’’ is defined as a direct or indirect business, investment or family interest, such as:
o An ownership or investment interest in any entity with which the committee member has a transaction or arrangement.
o A compensation arrangement with any entity or individual with which the committee member has a transaction or arrangement.
o Potential ownership of investment interest in, or a compensation arrangement with, any entity or individual
with which the member is negotiating a transaction or arrangement (compensation includes direct and indirect
remuneration, as well as gifts or favors that are not insubstantial).