OXFORD, Miss. – To promote a more positive and ethical environment, the University of Mississippi is highlighting a new Code of Ethics and Conduct policy and will further promote the ethics fraud hotline to better communicate employee expectations and provide an effective means for reporting misconduct.
This policy establishes, for the first time, a unified ethics and conduct policy for the university that clarifies acceptable behavior in the scope of employment and ties to the spirit of the UM Creed.
A video featuring Chancellor Dan Jones is being released today (Oct. 20) to introduce the new policy to the campus community. A series of “Honor the Code, Live the Creed” posters emphasizing key policies will also be visible on campus to provide convenient, accessible information about responsible behavior.
This policy and others can be found online on the UM Policy Directory site, a central location for accessing and posting any universitywide policies.
“The university is committed to the values expressed in the Creed, including conducting our affairs with personal and professional integrity,” said Lee Tyner, university attorney. “We hope to increase awareness about university policies and expectations and to make certain people know how to find policies they need to do their jobs.”
To further encourage accountability, the university is reminding faculty and staff of the fraud hotline, EthicsPoint, which is a confidential telephone and internet-based reporting system for employees to anonymously report any violation of university policies.
Any employee who believes that misconduct may be occurring has a duty to report concerns. The hotline is designed to protect the identity of individuals reporting suspect behavior that may involve criminal, unethical or inappropriate activities. To file a report, either go to http://www.olemiss.edu/ethicspoint or call 877-310-0424.
“Employees are encouraged to first inform and work with their immediate supervisor or leaders within their division,” said Andrea Jekabsons, assistant director of employment and training. “Other campus resources are available, such as the Department of Human Resources, Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance, Internal Audit and the Office of General Counsel.
“However, if an employee is uncomfortable reaching out to these departments, EthicsPoint offers an alternative for filing legitimate concerns in an anonymous manner.”
The “Honor the Code, Live the Creed” training is being offered to new employees and in leadership training. Employees are expected to follow the new Code of Ethics and Conduct, which incorporates state and federal laws and regulations, UM policies and policies of the Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning.