Ethics & Compliance

The University implemented the Hotline to provide a proactive deterrent to unethical conduct and demonstrate its commitment to ensuring that FGCU conducts business in a trustworthy manner. The Hotline allows FGCU employees and stakeholders to bring forward good faith concerns and assist the FGCU Board of Trustees, President and Cabinet with upholding high standards of ethics and integrity in the workplace. Through open channels of communication, the Hotline encourages FGCU employees to think about and address ethically significant issues that arise in the workplace and enable FGCU employees to step up and do the right thing.

You can. The University encourages you to report suspected violations through your management chain of command. But, if you have tried unsuccessfully to address your concern through a manager, or if you are not comfortable reporting a concern to a university official, you have the option of using the Hotline. The Hotline has an anonymous filing option.

They certainly do. In fact, the University needs you to report good-faith concerns. You know what’s going on around campus---both the good and the bad. You may have important information about an activity that could be cause for concern. Your reporting can minimize the potential negative impact on the University and its reputation and help identify issues that can improve University culture and performance.

FGCU chooses to promote ethical behavior. All unethical behavior, at any level, ultimately harms the university and its employees and erodes the culture and reputation of the university. If you know of any incidents of misconduct occurring on campus, consider it your duty to report it.

The EthicsPoint system is designed to protect your anonymity if you desire. EthicsPoint does not generate or maintain any internal connection logs with IP addresses, so no information linking your computer, tablet, or phone to EthicsPoint is available. A report filed from your office desktop, home computer, neighbor’s computer, or any Internet portal will remain secure and anonymous. Similarly, phone calls made to EthicsPoint are not traced or recorded.

While we strive to maintain anonymity, depending on the particularized details you present you may be identifiable.

It is also important to note anonymity does can provide certain restraints to an investigative process. For example, if you do not provide sufficient details to move forward with an investigation, it is difficult for the responding office to take any action. Luckily, through the EthicsPoint system we are able to communicate with you while you still remain anonymous.

Our University Anti-Retaliation policy protects even an anonymous reporter from Retaliation. We understand that reporting can be scary. However, we have set up systems to offer you support and protection.

Absolutely not. The Hotline system is meant to be a positive aspect of the University learning environment and allows employees and students to assure a safe, secure, and ethical workplace. The University encourages you to use the Hotline to seek guidance on ethical dilemmas, provide positive suggestions, or communicate a concern. Effective communication is the lifeblood of any organization and the Hotline is a great way to enhance communication throughout the University community.

When you file a report on the EthicsPoint website or via toll free telephone number, you receive a unique report key along with a password of your choosing. You can return to the EthicsPoint system by internet or telephone and access the original report to answer questions posted by a FGCU official or add further information that may help resolve an open issue.

There is a section in the report for identifying yourself, if you wish.

Reports are entered directly on the EthicsPoint secure server and made available only to specific individuals within the university. FGCU’s Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer is the primary contact point and the Director of Internal Audit is the secondary contact point. These two University employees are committed to maintaining the utmost confidence and discretion. Similarly, EthicsPoint staff are trained and committed to ensure no report is shared with implicated parties, their peers or subordinates.

You have a responsibility to bring forward your concern in good-faith and allow a University official to review your concern. You must not:

• Contact the suspected individual in an effort to determine facts or demand restitution;
• Discuss the case, facts, suspicions, or allegations with anyone unless specifically authorized to do so by the Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer or university official assigned to the review.

An employee or student who uses the Hotline to intentionally harm or impugn the integrity of another employee, student, contractor, vendor or any University stakeholder will be subject to disciplinary action, sanctions or loss of contract, as appropriate.

The length of the review depends on many factors, such as the complexity of the issue, the number of individuals involved and interviews to be conducted, the nature and extent of documents or other evidence that must be obtained and analyzed, and the urgency of the matter. FGCU recommends you follow up on the report you made within five to seven business days. At that time, the OIEC will seek additional information from you as necessary. The OIEC makes every effort to complete the review in a reasonable and timely manner.