UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State, in keeping with its tradition of encouraging its employees to follow the highest of ethical standards while helping them to understand the University’s compliance obligations both as individuals and as an institution, will be participating in National Corporate Compliance and Ethics Week, Nov. 3-7.
During the week, Penn State’s Office of Ethics and Compliance will aim to raise awareness and reinforce the positive culture of ethics and compliance across all levels of the University, through:
- HUB tabling to hand out information on Thursday, Nov. 6
- Daily stories in Penn State News
- Trivia contest
- Continued Values, Ethics, and Compliance Training improvement
"Ethics and Compliance Week is an opportunity to reaffirm our dedication to ethical principles and responsible, compliant conduct,” said Amber Grove, chief ethics and compliance officer, Office of Ethics and Compliance. “It’s a time to reflect on our values, strengthen our culture of integrity, and ensure that accountability remains central to everything we do. I encourage our community to engage, reflect and lead with ethics and compliance in mind."
As an integral part of the office’s function, Ethics and Compliance manages the Penn State Hotline, including reviews and investigations arising from hotline reports. Members of the Penn State community are encouraged to report potential issues and concerns and raise questions if they learn about something that might not be consistent with the Penn State Values. The University strives for the highest standard of ethical behavior and seeks to foster healthy and safe learning, working and living environments for all in the community.
Reports can be made through the Office of Ethics and Compliance Hotline, which allows for real-time, anonymous communication via text, mobile app, or web. Individuals can text 1-888-788-8173 to make an anonymous report, use the online Ethics and Compliance Report form. Director of Investigations Erik Kochanowski said “We treat every report to the hotline with care and diligence — ensuring it is triaged appropriately, that the right resources and support are provided, and that it is thoroughly investigated when warranted.”
All students, faculty and staff members can learn more about reporting options and make a report at reporting.psu.edu. If you experience an emergency, need to report a crime, or need immediate assistance, please contact emergency services by calling 911 or Penn State Police at your campus. Penn State takes appropriate action on every report, and reports can be made on a number of topics, including behavioral threats, bias and discrimination, harassment and bullying, child abuse, employee misconduct, hazing, retaliation, sexual or gender-based harassment or misconduct, student conduct and distress, and more.
Trivia Contest
Think you know your stuff? Test your knowledge during Ethics & Compliance Week with our Trivia Contest! Each day, we’ll be sharing a new trivia question related to ethics and compliance. Submit your answer, and if it's correct, you'll be entered into that day's prize drawing.
How to participate:
- Look out for the daily trivia question.
- Submit your correct response by 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7.
- Test your knowledge every day — all correct entries will be entered into a grand prize drawing to be given at the end of the week.
Trivia Question #1
Which is NOT a way to report an issue or concern at Penn State?
- Dial 911, in the case of a crime or emergency
- Text the Hotline at 1-888-778-8173
- File a report online
- Mail a letter to the Nittany Lion
Submit your answer to question #1 at this link.
About the Office of Ethics and Compliance
Established in April 2013, the office is a centralized unit reporting functionally to the Legal and Compliance Committee of the Board of Trustees and administratively to General Counsel. The Office of Ethics and Compliance’s mission is to serve and collaborate with the Penn State community to inspire ethical behavior and find innovative solutions to compliance challenges, thereby ensuring the University’s continued academic, research and athletic success. The office is operationally responsible for youth protection, University ethics, athletics integrity, athletics compliance (Division I and Commonwealth Campuses), central investigations, privacy, and compliance training and communications. Its staff lead several oversight committees and councils that bring together relevant leaders from across the University, including the Issue Response and Investigations Center of Excellence, Regulatory Management and Risk Mitigation Center of Excellence, and the Values, Ethics, Communication, and Training Center of Excellence. The Values Center of Excellence is the sponsor for this year’s Ethics and Compliance Week activities.
Stay tuned to Penn State Today for daily articles about each functional area and visit the Office of Ethics and Compliance for more information.
About National Ethics and Compliance Week
National Corporate Compliance and Ethics Week began in May 2005 as a way to help members of the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) and the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) to increase awareness of compliance and ethics issues at their organizations. It has since grown to an annual event that is celebrated around the world. Learn more at the SCCE website.