Report a Compliance or Privacy Concern

If you see something you don’t think is right or encounter a situation in which you’re not sure what to do, you should raise your concerns or ask questions. Early identification can help to prevent a small problem from becoming big. Raising such concerns is a service to the University and the right thing to do.

The University encourages employees to report concerns through normal lines of communication, such as to a supervisor or to an office or individual whose responsibility it is to handle such reports. Ohio University’s Whistle-blowing and Retaliation Policy prohibits retaliation against any faculty member, employee, or student for making a good faith report or inquiry relating to potential or suspected improper behavior.

There are a number of University offices to which you may bring questions or concerns and which can help in resolving various issues, and the Office of Audit, Risk, and Compliance can help direct you to the individuals who are responsible for various enumerated compliance areas that are listed on the OHIO Compliance Network Directory page.  

Examples of compliance concerns might include:

  • Conduct that you believe may cause harm to students, employees, visitors or guests.
  • Conduct that you believe may violate University policies or otherwise place the University at risk.
  • Unauthorized disclosure of sensitive, private, or legally protected information.
  • Improper or unsecured documents or records, including digital (electronic)  format.
  • Actions or practices that may be inappropriate given what you know about federal or other regulations or University policy.

Ohio University also provides a confidential and anonymous way to report compliance concerns or problems for which regular channels are uncomfortable or otherwise inappropriate.  The hotline, which is operated by EthicsPoint, provides both a toll-free telephone reporting line (866) 294-9591 and a simple web-based reporting system through which you may make reports or raise questions regarding fraud, waste, abuse, or non-compliance with regulations or University policies. You are encouraged to provide your name so that we may respond most effectively to your concern, however, anonymous reporting is available. Regardless of how you choose to report, your concern will receive prompt attention.  

While investigations are conducted in a highly confidential manner, it should be noted that records generated during an investigation may be subject to disclosure in accordance with applicable laws, including Ohio’s Public Records Act. The University is also required by Ohio law to make the University community aware of an additional fraud hotline maintained by the Ohio Auditor of State. This additional hotline resource is available by calling (866) 372-8364.