Reporting and Resources for General Unethical or Inappropriate Activity
Campus Resources
The Office of the General Counsel serves as the in-house legal office for Ithaca College. As such, it assists the campus community in the development, interpretation, and application of College policies and provides legal advice relating to contracts, compliance with federal and state laws, and many other topics.
For additional assistance for faculty and staff, we also encourage you to reach out to your supervisor or to Human Resources.
Reporting General Unethical or Inappropriate Activity
Any suspected violation of law or policy, including, but not limited to fraud, financial impropriety, violation of the conflict of interest policy, theft, OSHA violation, unlawful employment practice, or FERPA violation.
Additional Information About Reporting General Unethical or Inappropriate Activity
Q: Will my report be kept confidential?
A: Reports within the scope of this policy may be submitted on a confidential basis or may be submitted anonymously. The identity of persons reporting questions or concerns that are not submitted anonymously, but for which confidentiality is requested, will be disclosed only when necessary or advisable to investigate the report or for related matters, or when required by law. Although the College endeavors to investigate all reports, including anonymous reports, the nature of anonymous reports makes investigation, determination, and remediation more difficult and, at times, impossible. Accordingly, in the event of an anonymous report, the College reserves the right to determine if there is sufficient detail to conduct an investigation.
Q: What happens if the report I submit isn’t the right one for my situation?
A: We will attempt to route your report appropriately.
Q: Should I be concerned about retaliation by the person(s) I am reporting?
A: The College has a strict policy against retaliation. If you experience retaliation, you should report that immediately to your manager, your area VP, or if you don’t feel comfortable with either of those, HR or the Office of the General Counsel (or EthicsPoint).
Q: Will my report automatically result in an investigation?
A: Not necessarily – whether an investigation is conducted will depend on the allegations and the level of information that is available. For example, although the College endeavors to investigate all reports, including anonymous reports, the nature of anonymous reports makes investigation, determination, and remediation more difficult and, at times, impossible.
Accordingly, in the event of an anonymous report, the College reserves the right to determine if there is sufficient detail to conduct an investigation.
Q: What if I still have questions? Who should I contact?
A: You may reach out to either of the attorneys in the Office of the General Counsel – Emily Rockett, (erockett@ithaca.edu) or Phil Garin (pgarin @ithaca.edu).