For the purpose of the policy, immediate family is defined as:

"Wife or husband, child, stepchild, father, mother, sister, brother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, grandfather-in-law, grandmother-in-law, grandchild, stepfather, stepmother, half brother, half sister, niece, nephew, ward, dependent persons (foster children or relatives residing in the home) and any individual(s) with whom the employee shares living quarters.

The policy states: "Ferris State University encourages the employment of family members. However, in keeping with good personnel procedures and to guarantee equal employment opportunity to all, applicants may not be hired for positions in which they would be supervised by, nor be subject to, the immediate supervision of a member of the immediate family. Nor will one member of a family be permitted to be appointed to a position where the effort or performance of one family member might affect the effort or performance of another family member.

"This does not preclude the emergency employment of such individuals for a limited period of time, but in no event would such limited service serve to qualify a family member for permanent employment.

"Student employment falls within the scope of the Nepotism Policy. The student groups affected are: students employed for part-time work during the academic year; students employed during semester breaks and summers."