UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A new 2019-20 version of the mandatory Annual Compliance Training (ACT) course for University employees and others will be released the week of Dec. 2. This year’s course will focus on ethical decision making and include new sections on health and safety and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
For the majority of Penn State employees, graduate assistants and graduate fellows/trainees, the 40-minute ACT is the only University-wide compliance training course required to be completed on an annual basis. New employees and PA Mandated Reporters need to complete additional training courses, which are outlined on the Office of Ethics and Compliance website.
In order to provide employees, graduate assistants and graduate fellows/trainees with ample opportunities for completion, the deadline for completion will be March 31, 2020. For employees, annual merit increase eligibility will be tied to completion of the ACT. For graduate assistants and graduate fellows/trainees, individuals who remain incomplete as of March 31 will be referred to the Graduate School.
Because of the increasingly complex regulatory environment in which the University operates, it is imperative that the University community is aware of our compliance obligations and knows where to go for help when potential compliance issues occur. Consequences for noncompliance can be severe for both the University and individuals, and can include fines, loss of funding, and even criminal charges. A full listing of globally required compliance training and recommendations for supervisors regarding consequences for noncompliance can be found on the Office of Ethics and Compliance website at https://universityethics.psu.edu/compliance-training-plan.
For more questions about the ACT, email the Office of Ethics and Compliance at psoec@psu.edu.