Compliance resources

Director of university policy and compliance: The director of university policy and compliance is available to answer policy questions, assist you in avoiding compliance risks and help you meet your compliance responsibilities. If you have questions about determining the proper course of action, contact Diane Whitney, director of university policy and compliance, at ui-compliance@uidaho.edu or 208-885-6151.

Compliance Concern Reporting Guide: You should report compliance and ethics concerns as soon as possible, even if you do not have all of the facts. The university’s Compliance Concern Reporting Guide provides guidance in reporting specific types of compliance and ethics concerns. All good faith reports, whether or not they turn out to be true, can be made free from fear of retaliation in accordance with the university’s retaliation policy, FSH 3810.

Anonymous compliance hotline: The university subscribes to a hotline reporting service to allow all members of the U of I community to anonymously report, without fear of retribution, any known or suspected unethical, illegal or unsafe act. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 800-775-1056. You can also file an anonymous report online.

University ethics: The employee code of ethics found in FSH 3170 university ethics is the foundation of the U of I compliance program. It sets forth the university’s expectations that we all act ethically and in compliance with applicable laws and policies when acting on behalf of the university.

Required employee training: The university requires periodic employee training about important federal, state and university compliance obligations. Information about required employee training is maintained by Employee Development and Learning. Additional compliance training is offered by other units as appropriate, including Human Resources, Environmental Health and Safety and Research Assurances.

Policy website: The university is governed by Idaho State Board of Education Policies and university policies contained in the Faculty Staff Handbook and Administrative Procedures Manual. The university policy website also provides information on creating and changing policy and tracking policies through the approval process.

Compliance Responsibility Directory: The Compliance Responsibility Directory is a resource for employees to help make the university’s obligations more understandable. It identifies the senior leaders and units with primary responsibility for the university’s major areas of compliance obligations.

Compliance FAQ: The compliance FAQ answers frequently asked questions about compliance and ethics matters.

Make a difference
University employees should report concerns about known or suspected illegal, unethical and irresponsible acts. It is everyone’s responsibility to help prevent these acts. You can make a difference by speaking up. 

Reports to the hotline must be made in good faith. Idaho Code 6-2104 provides protection to public employees who, in good faith, communicate the existence of waste of public funds, property or manpower, or a violation of law or suspected violation of law, rule or regulation adopted under the law of Idaho or a subdivision of the State of Idaho.

File a report online
After processing the report, Navex Global will provide information to designated university representatives for action. Reports are handled promptly and discreetly. 

File a report by phone
Call toll-free 800-775-1056, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Things to report

• Irregular accounting practices or accounting entries.
• Destruction of financial records.
• Fraudulent or intentionally-misleading financial reports.
• Theft of cash, checks, supplies, property or other university assets.
• Making a disbursement from university funds for personal benefit; misuse of a P-card for personal purchases.
• Misuse of university property, equipment or resources for personal use or financial benefit.
• Reports of discrimination, potential violations of policies and procedures, potential violations of laws and regulations.
• Conflicts of interest, any other ethics or compliance issues.
• Cybersecurity concerns.
• Any other violation of university policy or state or federal laws.

Other reporting options

• Office of Civil Rights and Investigations (OCRI)
• Title IX sexual misconduct
• Title IX formal complaint
• Protected class discrimination, harassment or retaliation

We are very fortunate at University of Idaho to have highly dedicated employees, strongly committed to high ethical standards and responsible management of the public’s resources, with which we are entrusted. We deserve and value our excellent reputation and work hard to protect it. To merit the public’s confidence, we must work individually and collectively to uphold our high standards. One of the continuing challenges here, as in other large, complex and decentralized organizations, is the occasional occurrence of unethical, illegal or unsafe conduct in the workplace.

Unethical, illegal or unsafe acts can have serious consequences for the university and its employees, including financial losses, legal liability, reduced morale and diminished public trust. Each employee shares the responsibility for preventing these effects by averting the causes.

To this end, we subscribe to a hotline reporting service to provide each member of our university community with the opportunity and means to convey any matter that could compromise the university’s ability to achieve its objectives. Any member of the university community, including employees, students and community members, may utilize the hotline to make an anonymous report.

Any allegations of illegal behavior or policy violations may be reported to the hotline. Reportable activities of special concern include fraud, conflicts of interest, waste and misuse of university resources, as well as allegations of improper discrimination or harassment, and other policy violations which impact the well-being of individuals within our community and our stewardship responsibilities.

Together, we can make a difference, so we ask you to help ensure the university continues to operate under the highest ethical standards and principles. Thank you for your support of this important matter.

Where should I report my concerns? If you are concerned that an activity is inappropriate or if you encounter a situation that feels wrong or makes you uncomfortable, you should speak to your supervisor or contact the university office that manages the area in which the issue has arisen. 

If you have raised an issue with appropriate people but feel that it has not been addressed or if you wish to report an issue anonymously, you can make a report through the university’s Anonymous Compliance Hotline.

Discrimination

Office of Civil Rights and Investigations
ocri@uidaho.edu 
208-885-4285

Environmental health and safety

Office of Environmental Health and Safety
safety@uidaho.edu 
208-885-6524

Loss or theft of confidential information

Office of the Registrar
registrar@uidaho.edu 
208-885-6731

Or

Office of General Counsel
counsel@uidaho.edu 
208-885-6125

Occupational safety

Office of Environmental Health and Safety
safety@uidaho.edu 
208-885-6524

Public safety and security

Office of Environmental Health and Safety
safety@uidaho.edu 
208-885-6524

Research misconduct

Office of Research Assurances
ored-ora@uidaho.edu 
208-885-6162

Sexual harassment or violence

Office of Civil Rights and Investigations
ocri@uidaho.edu 
208-885-4285

Theft, fraud or misuse of university resources

Anonymous compliance hotline
800-775-1056

Or

Office of General Counsel
counsel@uidaho.edu 
208-885-6125

Any other violation of law or university policy

Anonymous compliance hotline
800-775-1056

Or

Office of General Counsel
counsel@uidaho.edu 
208-885-6125

See answers to common questions about compliance at University of Idaho

What is compliance?
University of Idaho is a complex institution that engages in a broad variety of activities and is subject to laws, regulations and policies that apply to education, research, athletics, public safety, information security, human resources, tax, environmental protection and many other areas. Compliance means following these laws, regulations and policies when acting on behalf of the university.

Why has University of Idaho implemented a compliance program?
We are committed to ethical conduct and to fostering a culture of compliance with the laws, regulations and policies that govern our institution. The university’s compliance program helps to identify and meet these obligations, to coordinate the many people and offices who are responsible for these obligations and to manage the risk associated with compliance issues.

What should I do to meet my compliance responsibilities?
Become familiar with the compliance and ethics resources provided on this compliance website. When you are uncertain whether an activity has compliance implications, seek guidance before taking action.

What should I do if I have a concern about a compliance or ethics issue?
If you are concerned that an activity is inappropriate or if you encounter a situation that feels wrong or makes you uncomfortable, you should speak to your supervisor or contact the university office that manages the area in which the issue has arisen (see the Concern Reporting Guide for help). If you have raised an issue with the appropriate people but feel that it has not been addressed or if you wish to report an issue anonymously, you can make a report through the university’s Anonymous Compliance Hotline, 800-775-1056.

What if I don’t have all the facts?
You should report your concerns as soon as possible even if you do not have all the facts. All good faith reports, whether or not they turn out to be true, can be made free from fear of retaliation in accordance with FSH 3810 Retaliation.

What is the anonymous compliance hotline?
The anonymous compliance hotline provides a way to anonymously raise concerns, ask questions or report problems. You can make a report online or through a toll-free telephone number, 800-775-1056. The hotline is operated by a third-party report manager (Navex Global/Ethicspoint), not the university.

How do I make an anonymous compliance hotline report?
You can telephone the anonymous compliance hotline 24 hours a day at 800-775-1056, or use the online reporting portal. Be sure to provide as much detail as possible so that your report can be properly investigated.

What happens when I make an anonymous compliance hotline report?
The third-party report manager that administers the hotline will forward your report to Internal Audit, and you will be provided with a unique code to use to check the status of your report.