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Compliance and Ethics

Training

Training represents a core component of USM's compliance program by providing the information necessary for individuals to understand the laws. Moreover, training promotes an organizational culture that fosters a commitment to compliance with the applicable laws. Within each submenu, you will find information about our training program. 

  • UPCOMING COMPLIANCE COURSES
    • Employee Code of Conduct and Alcohol and Drugs will be released this spring (2022). 
    • Voices for Change will be released for Students on September 15th.
  • iTECH FACILITATED COURSES 
      • Cybersecurity 101
      • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
      • Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
    • iTech will oversee the rollout of additional compliance courses provided by InfoSec. For questions about cybersecurity training, email infosecFREEMississippi.

  • FINANCIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE
    • Each year on September 1st, full-time faculty members need to complete their FCOI Disclosure. Use the following link below to access the FCOI Disclosure.

 

GET INCLUSIVE COMPLIANCE COURSE SYSTEM

  • Use the link above to access USM compliance courses through the Get Inclusive platform.
  • Use the following credentials to log in:
    • Username: (w+ID#)@usm.edu
    • Password: CampusID password
  • This does not include access to the following courses, which are on other systems.
    • Cybersecurity 101
    • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
    • Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
    • Financial Conflict of Interest
  • Please note we reserve the right to add additional courses based on the needs of the institution.

 

  • COURSE DISCLOSURES
    • The courses listed below have specific course disclosures that apply to them. Please review the disclosure applicable to the course that you have been assigned.
  • TITLE IX COURSE DISCLOSURES
    Sensitive Nature of Training - Disclosure
    • Title IX: Identify, Stop, Prevent, and Remedy Sexual Harassment and Sexual Discrimination
      • The contents of the Title IX training course contain some sensitive material involving sexual violence prevention.
      • If you need sexual violence survivor's support during the training, contact one of the following:
        • The Student Counseling Center at 601-266-4829
        • The Shafer Center for Crisis Intervention at 601-264-7777
      • For additional information about Title IX, view the Title IX website at https://www.usm.edu/title-ix/ or email titleixFREEMississippi.

 

  • REQUIRED COURSES - Faculty, staff, benefit eligible adjuncts and affiliates are required to complete the following courses biennially or every two (2) years:
    • Alcohol and Drugs - Learn about the basic definitions of frequently used terms, distinguish between drug and alcohol facts and myths, describe how various drugs affect the body, and review laws related to alcohol and drugs.
    • Code of Ethical Conduct in Higher Education - Learn about the components of the Code of Ethical Conduct, review situations that create a conflict of interest, describe how to report ethical violations.
    • Cybersecurity 101 (provided by iTech)- email infosecFREEMississippi%20for additional information. [iTech determines the frequency of this training].
    • Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) - Examines the obligations present under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act to ensure compliance with students' federal rights.
    • Gramm Leach Bliley (GLBA) (provided by iTech)- The Gramm Leach Bliley Act (GLBA) is a comprehensive, federal law affecting institutions including higher education institutions.  Per the requirements of the law, institutions that handle financial information must develop, implement and maintain administrative, technical and physical safeguards to protect the security, integrity and confidentiality of customer information.  [By law, this training must be completed annually annual for those in roles that involve dealing with confidential financial information.]  For additional information email infosecFREEMississippi
    • Title IX: Identify, Stop, Prevent, and Remedy Sexual Harassment and Sexual Discrimination - Identifies mandatory reporting obligations for faculty and staff, includes Title VII as well as state specific anti-harassment training requirements.
  • ON DEMAND COURSES - Faculty, staff, benefit eligible adjuncts and affiliates serving in certain roles may be required to complete one or more of the following courses.
    • Clery Act (for those that function as Campus Security Authorities) - Course reviews the history and purpose of the Clery Act, explains the roles and responsibilities of campus authorities (CSAs), describes the Clery Act requirements for higher education institutions, discusses procedures for receiving and reporting information on crimes subject to Clery reporting, and provides an overview on bystander intervention. [This course must be completed annually.]
    • Child Abuse Prevention (for those working at USM camps or at camps at USM properties) - Course indicates the consequences of child abuse, reviews the definition of child abuse in Mississippi, distinguishes between the types of child abuse and their indicators/signs, explains your reporting obligations, indicates who to contact about suspected abuse, and explains how the USM Minors on Campus policy functions to protect minors.  [This course must be completed annually].
    • Bloodborne Pathogens - Course details how to protect yourself and others and appropriate handling procedures.
    • Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Basics - Course reviews portability in terms of ensuring that individuals maintain healthcare coverage and benefits when they switch jobs or leave the workforce and reviews accountability in terms of protecting individual's healthcare information and medical records from fraud, theft, and misuse as well as ensuring access to properly requested health information.
  • OPTIONAL COURSES - Accessible on your dashboard in Get Inclusive.
    • Inclusive Leadership - Course examines your identity and how you share it with others, how to handle human differences, understanding and avoiding labeling and bias, reviewing concepts of power and privilege, identifying means of enhancing intercultural communications, developing strategies to identify and respond to communication styles different than your own, and learn techniques to resolve miscommunication related to cultural differences and misunderstandings.
    • Tapestry: Accommodating Abilities (ADA course) - Learn the fundamentals of the ADA and best practices for accommodations for students, faculty, and staff.
    • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Workplace - Define diversity, equity, and inclusion. Identify categories of difference. Explore microaggressions and unconscious bias in the workplace.
    • DEI Unconscious Bias Expanded Learning - Define unconscious biases. Explain their impact. Figure out what we can do consciously to reduce them.
    • DEI Unconscious Bias Microaggressions Learning - Revisit what microaggressions are and what they do. Identify ways to handle microaggressions. Describe constructive ways to address microaggressions as allies.
  • STUDENT REQUIRED COURSES - Freshmen and Transfer Students are required to complete the following courses annually.
    • Voices for Change - This course is composed of the following modules:
      • Identities & Inclusion - Which includes information about the formation of identity, how identity shapes thought, bias and stereotyping, definition of consent, the prevalence of assault and rape culture.
      • Consent and Sexual Violence - Includes information defining consent, the prevalence of assault and rape culture.
      • Alcohol & Other Drugs - Includes information about alcohol in college, partying smart and binge drinking.
      • Hazing and Intimidation Prevention - Includes information on the USM hazing policy, the definition of hazing, prevalence of hazing, myths about hazing, laws against hazing, relationship between hazing and cyberbullying, and what you can do about hazing.
  • STUDENT OPTIONAL COURSES
    • Mental Well-Being - Course prepares students for successful academic outcomes by fostering and enabling help-seeking and help-offering behaviors.
    • Student Upstanders - Course includes Title IX video, definitions of terms such as sexual harassment, stalking, dating violence and sexual assault, reviews sexual harassment policies and procedures, discusses how to be a bystander (including safety and reporting options, situations requiring involvement, continuum of behaviors, primary prevention and why people choose to act or refrain from doing so).

 

  • FEDERAL LAWS REQUIRING TRAINING

If any law (either Federal or State) or if an institutional policy needs to be communicated, The University of Southern Mississippi may elect to use an online system to educate the entire Campus community or any group within the community as a whole. A variety of federal laws affect how the University must handle certain matters and indicate what information needs to be distributed to the campus community as a whole. 

    • Title IX training

Required pursuant to Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000c) which prohibits public school districts and colleges from discriminating against students on the basis of sex, among other bases.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq., and its implementing regulations, 34 C.F.R. Part 106, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities operated by recipients of Federal financial assistance.

    • Alcohol and Drug Training

Required pursuant to the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (as articulated in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) Part 86.1 of the Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Regulations requiring Institutions of Higher Education who are receiving Federal Funds or Financial assistance to develop and implement a program to prevent the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees.

  • INSTITUTIONALLY REQUIRED TRAINING 
    • Child Abuse Awareness

Pursuant to USM's Minors on Campus policy, this training is required of each Authorized Adult/Program Staff member who will be participating in a program covered by the Minors on Campus policy. (read the policy at https://usm.policystat.com/policy/7128478/latest/

    • Financial Conflict of Interest

If your grant funder requires you to obtain institution specific FCOI training, please email samuel.brutonFREEMississippi. Remember, all full-time faculty members must complete their FCOI Disclosure annually starting each September 1st. Use the following link to access the FCOI Disclosure.

 

If any of the content is not accessible using assistive technology, please email complianceFREEMississippi.

 

Should you have any questions or concerns, please email trainingFREEMississippi

 

 COURSE COMPLETION FREQUENCY:

Starting with the 2021 rollout of courses, courses will be completed biennially or every 2 years.