Reporting Compliance and Ethics Violations Policy

Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to establish the appropriate reporting mechanisms to be used for notification of known or suspected violations of laws, rules, regulations, policies, or procedures in order to prevent, deter, and detect such violations.

Applies to: All Pittsburg State University faculty, staff, student employees, customers, vendors, contractors, consultants, or other parties related to PSU.

Statement:
Pittsburg State University is committed to conducting its affairs ethically and in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. Each member of PSU’s faculty and staff is expected to share in this responsibility and report suspected or known violations of laws, rules, regulations, policies, or procedures. As a publicly supported institution, PSU has a fiduciary responsibility to conserve, preserve, and efficiently use all university resources and property. PSU is committed to upholding the highest standards of honest behavior, ethical conduct, and fiduciary responsibility with respect to University funds, resources, and property.

Policy:

Responsibilities of PSU Administration

Administrators, with supervisory responsibility at all levels within PSU, are responsible for compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. Each Administrator is responsible for the adequacy of financial and other controls within her/his area of responsibility. This responsibility requires acting prudently and inquisitively while being aware of activities and locations where violations of laws, rules, regulations, policies, or procedures are likely to occur. Administrators are responsible for reporting any suspected or known violations of laws, rules, regulations, policies, or procedures. 

Responsibilities of All PSU Employees

PSU employees are responsible for acting with appropriateness in the use of any PSU resources. PSU employees are responsible for compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. PSU employees are responsible for reporting any suspected or known violations of laws, rules, regulations, policies, or procedures. 

Reporting

Suspected or known violations of laws, rules, regulations, policies or procedures should be reported as follows:                     

PSU employees are encouraged to first bring any suspected or known violations of laws, rules, regulations, policies, or procedures to their direct supervisor or the appropriate PSU resource listed below under Contacts. If an employee prefers not to report any suspected or known violations of laws, rules, regulations, policies, or procedures through the traditional channels listed above, the employee should use the Compliance and Ethics hotline to report the suspected or known violations of laws, rules, regulations, policies, or procedures.

Compliance and Ethics Hotline

The Compliance and Ethics Hotline provides confidential and anonymous telephone and internet system for reporting suspected or known violations of laws, rules, regulations, policies or procedures for individuals who do not want to personally contact a University official. The PSU employee making the report (Reporter), will be asked to describe the issue in as much details as possible so there is sufficient information for PSU to review the information. Reporters who use the hotline are asked to provide sufficient information for PSU to review the complaint.

The Reporter may choose to remain anonymous. The PSU investigator may anonymously dialogue with the Reporter for additional information. The Reporter will be provided with a unique reference code if using the internet system that can be used to obtain the status of the review. 

To report potential fraud, waste, theft, or abuse, or if you believe you have been retaliated against because you reported one of the activities above, reports may be made anonymously through PSU’s Compliance and Ethics Hotline or call toll-free 1-844-410-0003, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Non-Retaliation

No disciplinary or retaliatory action shall be taken against any PSU employee who, in good faith, reports or causes to be reported suspected or known violations of laws, rules, regulations, policies, or procedures or who assists in an authorized review of alleged suspected or known violations of laws, rules, regulations, policies, or procedures. The prohibition against disciplinary action does not extend to disciplinary action for self-reported violations.