The University of Missouri System is committed to institutional accountability, transparency and the protection of students, faculty, staff, patients and visitors. As an organization, we strive to promote and foster a ‘speak up’ culture that will make our institution a better place to live, learn and work.
If you witness, personally experience, or suspect unacceptable or unethical behavior anywhere in the UM System, we expect you to report it. It is important that you provide as many details or as much information as you can about the incident you are reporting, so that we can fully address your concerns. Reports submitted without sufficient details may not be able to be adequately investigated.
Understand Options for Reporting
Direct Reporting
The University is committed to an environment where open, honest communications are the expectation, not the exception. We want you to feel comfortable and supported to raise questions or voice concerns about workplace issues, or if you believe a violation of law, policy or standard has occurred. Reporting your concerns and providing information may identify issues that can help us improve our culture and performance, and minimize potential negative impacts on the University and its employees.
We encourage you to report your concerns directly to a member of management, academic leadership, or other university representative or official. Some conventional means for direct reporting include the following:
- Direct supervisor, manager or director
- Dean or department chair
- Trusted professor, advisor or mentor
- Human Resources representative
- Campus Police or security services
- Ethics and Compliance Office
If you experience, witness or suspect discriminatory behavior and/or conduct that conflicts with our values, please take immediate action. If you are an employee, university policies require you to report any instance of discrimination or harassment of which you become aware to the applicable Title IX Coordinator or Equity Officer.
Report via Hotline
We understand there may be times where reporting directly may be uncomfortable or inappropriate, or where you prefer to report anonymously. In these cases, the University provides the following hotlines, hosted by an independent, third-party hotline provider, EthicsSuite.
These hotlines do not replace or supersede methods for direct reporting, but provide a secure and confidential method to make the organization aware of your concerns. Reports submitted through the EthicsSuite reporting platform are made available only to specific individuals at the University who are charged with evaluating the report. Each report is assigned as promptly and discreetly as possible, based on the type of violation and location of the incident, with facts made available only to those who need to know to investigate and resolve the matter.
All reports to these hotlines, including those submitted anonymously, will be taken seriously, and the University will make every effort to address the concerns. Without adequate detail, however, some types of cases may be difficult for the University to pursue.
We encourage all reporters to stay engaged in the reporting process, logging back into the system every few days to see if we have any questions as the matter is reviewed. The EthicsSuite platform also contains tools that will allow investigators to communicate directly and confidentially with reporters, while still protecting and maintaining anonymity.
- Hotline Process (PDF)
About Retaliation
The University will honor its responsibility to hold individuals, regardless of rank, accountable for their actions when they are found to violate University policy. The University prohibits retaliation against any person reporting a concern in good faith, and any individual, department, or unit engaging in retaliation will be subject to disciplinary action per existing procedures.
If you feel you have experienced retaliation, please contact Ethics and Compliance, (573) 882-6151.
Integrity and Accountability Hotline
The Integrity and Accountability Hotline is available for all University faculty and staff, and provides a secure and confidential method for reporting any type of unethical or inappropriate conduct. Some broad allegation categories are provided within the EthicsSuite platform to help you classify your concern, but these are not intended to limit the matters that can be reported. Posters (PDF) displayed in common areas across the university show the hotline’s contact information as a quick reference.
Visit the Integrity and Accountability Hotline webpage (exit UM System site)
or call (844) 469-6383.
Reviewed 2024-08-09