The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (“university”) expects all employees and students to follow the highest standards of personal conduct as established by university policy and federal, state and local laws.
As a condition of employment with the university, all employeesare required to acknowledge receipt of a copy of the General Standards of Conduct policy, a list of contacts/responsible areas for various compliance issues, and the web site references for the Standards of Conduct Guide.
Employees must also acknowledge they understand their responsibilities to review the policy and to perform their work in an ethical and legal manner as described in the Standards of Conduct Guide.
The university reserves the right to take appropriate disciplinary measures against any employee or student who fails to comply with, or fails to report suspected noncompliance with, policies and procedures of the university, federal health care program requirements, or other applicable state or federal law or regulation. Employees who encounter situations they believe violate provisions of the university's Handbook of Operating Procedures, federal health care program requirements or other applicable state or federal law or regulation are expected to immediately consult their supervisor, another member of management in their area, or the Chief Legal and Compliance Officer. Employees may also call the Compliance Hotline at 1-888-472-9868 in confidence and anonymity. Any person with a concern regarding a breach of ethics or a possible compliance matter should notify the Chief Legal and Compliance Officer.
The university encourages its employees and students to make good faith disclosures of university related misconduct. The university will not tolerate retaliation or threat of retaliation against those who make disclosures of actual or perceived misconduct. Acts or threats of retaliation in response to such disclosures may subject the person retaliating to disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Persons making disclosures with reckless disregard for the truth or in willful ignorance of the facts may be subjected to disciplinary action. Refer to HOOP Policy 2.17.1 Protection from Retaliation.
As a condition of enrollment, students are also responsible for knowing and observing the university regulations concerning student conduct and discipline (refer to HOOP Policy 6.03 Student Conduct and Discipline).
This policy applies to all university employees and students.
For questions regarding this policy, contact the Office of Institutional Compliance.
Violations of the provisions of this policy will be handled in accordance with the appropriate disciplinary policy.
Updated 08/05; 08/07