Compliance and Ethics
Compliance and Ethics
USM is committed to conducting itself in a manner that promotes the upmost public confidence and trust, which requires that we consistently abide by the highest ethical standards of integrity, honesty, fairness, and excellence. These standards of conduct should be implemented within all the services that we provide as an institution and represents a core belief to which each USM campus community member must abide in compliance with USM’s Code of Ethical Conduct.
We encourage you to report instances where ethical standards were not upheld so that we can remedy those and improve as we move forward. In alignment with USM’s Code of Ethical Conduct and the Disclosure of Wrongful Conduct Policy, those reporting good faith concerns assist the institution and receive protection from retaliation for reporting ethical concerns.
If you have questions about the policy or reporting an ethical concern, please feel free to contact the Office of Compliance & Ethics at 601.266.4466.
Every day members of the USM community face difficult decisions. When taking action, or observing someone else's actions, consider the following information to help you better understand the next step to undertake.
OBTAIN GUIDANCE FROM THE CODE
Review the Code of Ethical Conduct for guidance by clicking the button below.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATION QUESTIONS
If you still are unsure of how to proceed after reading the Code of Ethical Conduct, ask yourself the questions listed below.
Proceed to act based on your answer to the above-referenced question. If the answer is yes, proceed to question two. If you are unsure about the answer, ask for help.
If the answer is no, do not proceed because there may be serious consequences for the individual and the University. The individual should contact the Office of Compliance and Ethics for other options.
Question Two: If the action is legal, the individual must ask themselves if it aligns with the Universities' values and policies?
Question Three: Would you feel comfortable if others knew about it?
If the answer is yes, proceed to question four. If you are unsure about the answer, ask for help.
If the answer is no, do not proceed because there may be serious consequences for the individual and the University. The individual should contact the Office of Compliance and Ethics for other options. If the answer is no, do not proceed because there may be serious consequences for the individual and the University.
Question Four: Would you want to read about it in tomorrow's news?
SEEK ASSISTANCE AND/RAISE A CONCERN
If you are still unsure of how to proceed, seek out assistance using one of the following options for seeking assistance or raising concerns:
your supervisor or other management
Office of Compliance and Ethics
Office of Internal Audit
Office of General Counsel
Human Resources
the Compliance and Ethics Helpline (anonymously if desired)
You can discreetly and confidentially report activities that may involve criminal
or unethical actions. Click on one of the following links to begin.
Make an Anonymous Report