Letter from the President Mission & Vision Purpose of the Guide
The UTHSC-H Institutional Compliance Program
Preventing, Detecting and Reporting Fraud and Abuse
Ethical Standards & State Ethics Laws
Privacy
Contacts with External Entities
Intellectual Property and Copyright
Use of UTHSC-H and State of Texas Resources
Records and Information
Workplace Conduct & Practices
Health and Safety
Each of us at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston shares a commitment to “Excellence Above All” in all that we do. As part of our shared commitment to excellence, we are committed to conducting all of our activities according to the highest legal and ethical standards. We are committed to excellence through integrity.
This booklet is your personal copy of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston’s Guide to Excellence through Integrity. Our core mission activities of education, research, clinical care, and community service are constantly evolving and highly regulated. In this complex environment it is hard to know all of the rules and mistakes can occur. This booklet is intended to clearly communicate the guidelines which apply to each faculty and staff member at the university. It will help us meet expectations that we develop and maintain a compliance program to appropriately guide our operations.
You are the “excellence” in our shared commitment to “Excellence Above All.” That is why I ask that you take the time to carefully read and review the material in this booklet. It will be useful to you as a guide to ethical and legal behavior at work.
Sincerely,
James T. Willerson, M.D.
President
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Mission and Goals
Teaching, Searching, Serving
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is a comprehensive health science university composed of six schools, a psychiatric center and an institute of molecular medicine. The mission of the UT Health Science Center at Houston is to treat, cure and prevent disease now and in the future by educating health science professionals; discovering and translating advances in social and biomedical sciences; and modeling the best practices in clinical care. To fulfill its mission, the UT Health Science Center at Houston:
Vision
To be a leader in the quest to conquer the most common diseases of our time…in our time The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston aspires to be a leader in the collaboration to treat, prevent, and cure the most common diseases of our time by
In these things the Health Science Center will pursue “excellence above all.”
Purpose of the Standards of Conduct Guide
Ethical conduct and following the policies, laws, and regulations which apply to the university is the responsibility of each faculty and staff member. Each of us must be aware of the legal and ethical standards which apply to our job responsibilities. We must perform our duties and responsibilities in accordance with the provisions of federal and state laws, regulations, and policies; the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Regents of the U.T. System; and the policies of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
This booklet, A Guide to Excellence Through Integrity, is The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston’s Standards of Conduct Guide. The Guide provides a summary of the standards of ethics and conduct that apply to all faculty and staff. This guide does not cover every situation and does not state every applicable policy. If additional information is needed, it may be found in the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures. The Handbook of Operating Procedures can be found online at http://legal.uth.tmc.edu/hoop/index.html. Faculty and staff members may also seek guidance on specific ethical or compliance issues by contacting the Office of Legal Affairs & Institutional Compliance at (713) 500-3268.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Institutional Compliance Program
The Institutional Compliance Program
The purpose of the Institutional Compliance Program is to pro-actively promote compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The compliance program strives to foster and help ensure ethical conduct and provide education, training, and guidance to all faculty and staff members. These goals are accomplished through regular high risk identification, development of mitigating processes, training, and monitoring of the effectiveness of compliance activity. The goals, purpose, and elements of the Institutional Compliance Program are contained in the university’s Institutional Compliance Plan. Copies may also be obtained through the Office of Legal Affairs & Institutional Compliance.
Responsibility for implementing the Institutional Compliance Program rests with a multidisciplinary Executive Compliance Committee, consisting of the President; the Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer; the Executive Vice Presidents for Finance and Administration, Research and Academic Affairs, and the Medical School Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs.
Faculty and Staff Member Responsibilities
Compliance is both an institutional and an individual commitment at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Each individual commits to:
Management personnel at every level are expected to set an ethical tone at the top and to be role models for legal and ethical behavior in their departments. They should strive to create a departmental culture which promotes the highest legal and ethical behavior and encourages everyone in the department to voice concerns when they arise.
Management personnel are required to ensure and verify that all employees attend appropriate compliance training at the university.
Addressing Ethical & Compliance Concerns
It is the individual responsibility of each faculty and staff member to address ethical and/or compliance questions or concerns. Determining if you have an ethical or compliance issue can be complex. Follow the checklist below to determine if you have an ethical or compliance issue:
If the answer to any of the above questions is no, or if you believe your family, friends, and community would not react favorably to the action, your must report the action using any of the following steps:
It is every faculty and staff member’s responsibility to address suspected violations or questionable conduct. This type of behavior is contrary to the university’s commitment to achieve the highest legal and ethical standards in all operations.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to directly contact the Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at (713) 500-3268 to discuss compliance questions or concerns.
Additionally, as stated above, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston has established a Compliance Hotline. The Compliance Hotline is intended to supplement regular communication channels. Faculty and staff are encouraged to call the Compliance Hotline with questions concerning ethical or legal conduct or to discuss potentially improper actions, if they do not feel comfortable addressing these concerns through the normal administrative channels.
Retaliation
The UTHSC-H encourages its faculty, staff and students to make good faith disclosures of University related misconduct. UTHSC-H 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. If you believe you have been retaliated against for addressing an ethical or compliance concern, you should immediately contact the Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at (713) 500-3268.
Q&A
What is the number for the Compliance Hotline?
1-888-472-9868
What are the hours of the Compliance Hotline?
The Compliance Hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
I have a concern that I want to address through the Compliance Hotline, but I am afraid that my supervisor will find out that I called the hotline. What should I do?
You should feel comfortable making a good faith report to the Compliance Hotline. All reports made to the Compliance Hotline are treated anonymously and confidentially. You do not have to give your name when you call the Hotline. Additionally, both university policy and state law protect you from retaliation.
Preventing, Detecting and Reporting Fraud and Abuse
Fraud is knowingly or willfully attempting to gain any benefit which does not belong to you. The University of Texas System Fraud Policy , UTS 118, accessed at http://www.utsystem.edu/policy/policies/uts118.pdf, specifies our individual responsibilities and actions regarding the prevention and reporting of fraud.
Abuse is defined as activities that result in excessive or unreasonable cost to the university, or other state or federal agencies.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is required by federal law to provide information to all of its employees, contractors and agents regarding the federal false claims act, administrative remedies for false claims and statements, the state false claims act and whistleblower protections under these laws. The federal and state false claims acts play an important role in detecting fraud, waste and abuse in federal health care programs.
Federal False Claims Act: The federal False Claims Act was enacted to prevent the United States government from paying federal funds for fraudulent claims involving a good or a service. The law allows a civil action to be brought against a health care provider who:
Examples of a False Claim:
Federal False Claims Act Remedies:
Federal Whistleblower Protections:
Federal law prohibits an employer from discriminating or retaliating against an employee in the terms or conditions or his or her employment because the employee initiated or otherwise assisted in a false claims action. The employee is entitled to all relief necessary to make the employee whole. This relief includes reinstatement with the same seniority status, two times the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay, compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination.
Texas has a state version of the False Claims Act that is substantially similar to the federal False Claims Act.
Offenses under the Texas Act are, in general, similar to those of the federal False Claims Act. However, under the Texas False Claims Act, a person may also be liable if he presents a claim for payment under the Medicaid program for a product or service that was rendered by an unlicensed provider or that has not been approved by a healthcare practitioner. The Texas False Claims Act also differs from the federal False Claims Act in that the civil penalty is greater for unlawful acts that result in injury to an elderly person, a disabled person, or someone younger than eighteen.
Texas Whistleblower Protections:
The Texas False Claims Act also has a whistleblower provision which prevents employers from retaliating against employees who report their employer’s false claims. Texas also has several other false claims statutes that are intended to prevent fraud and abuse in the Texas Medicaid program. These laws generally prohibit the filing of any false or fraudulent claim or documentation in order to receive compensation from the Texas Medicaid program.
Reporting:
It is the individual responsibility of all individuals who are employed by, affiliated with, under a contract or agreement, or otherwise under the control of the University, to report any activity that appears to be in violation of any state or federal law, including the federal or state false claims act, through the normal administrative channels or any other reporting paths described in these guidelines.
It is not required that possible false claims act violation be reported to the University first. Reports may be made directly to the federal Department of Justice or the U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General Hotline telephone number, 1–800–447–8477 (1–800–HHS–TIPS).
Ethical Standards and State Ethics Laws
Ethical Standards
The State of Texas and the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System have defined certain ethical standards that apply to faculty and staff members of the UT System. The most complete and current source of information on ethical standards is the U.T. System Office of General Counsel web page, accessible via the internet at http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/ethics/homepage.htm. Included on this web site is the UT System’s Ethics Policy.
Q&A
Does the university have an Ethics Officer?
Yes, the Chief Legal & Compliance Officer also serves as the university’s Ethics Officer. You are encouraged to directly contact the Ethics Officer at (713) 500-3268 with any ethical questions or concerns you may have.
Where can I get a copy of the UT System Ethics Policy?
You can access the Ethics Policy via the internet at http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/ethics/homepage.htm. The Office of Legal Affairs & Institutional Compliance also maintains hard copies of the UT System Ethics Policy. You may request a copy by calling (713) 500-3268.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston strives to create a research climate that promotes faithful adherence to high ethical standards in the conduct of research without inhibiting the productivity and creativity of all persons involved in research. These standards require the protection of scientific integrity, human subjects, and research animals. These standards also require responsible data management and authorship. Faculty, trainees, and staff must keep a permanent record of all experimental protocols, data, and findings in accordance with the university’s Records Retention Schedule.Co-authors on research reports of any type must have a bona fide role in the research and must accept responsibility for the quality of the work reported. For more information, consult HOOP 23.01, Conduct of Research. For more information regarding the university’s Records Retention Schedule, contact the Office of Records Management at (713) 500-3100 or visit their website at http://records.uth.tmc.edu/.
Q&A
What behavior is considered scientific misconduct?
Fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or other practices that deviate from those that are commonly accepted within the academic community for proposing, conducting, or reporting research. Honest errors or honest differences in interpretations or judgments of data do not violate the university’s Honesty in Research policy.
How do I report scientific misconduct ?
You should report any allegations of dishonesty, misconduct, or fraud in research to the appropriate department chair or dean. If the allegations involve a department chair or dean, they should be reported to the Executive Vice President for Research. For more information, consult HOOP 23.04, Honesty in Research.
State Ethics Laws
A conflict of interest exists when the loyalty of a health science center faculty or staff member is divided between his responsibilities to the health science center and an outside interest. All faculty and staff members should avoid actual conflicts of interest, as well as actions that appear to involve a conflict of interest. If you believe a conflict of interest may exist, disclose your concerns to your supervisor before taking any action. Treat the situation as if a conflict of interest exists until any potential issue is resolved.
A conflict of interest is created between the university and a faculty or staff member when a faculty or staff member:
For more information, consult HOOP 2.19, Conflicts of Interest.
Q&A
As a department head, I have been working with a health science vendor for several years. This vendor recently offered to do some landscaping work for me at a discount. Can I let him landscape my yard?
No. A discount would mean that the vendor is giving you a benefit with the expectation that you will provide continued or more health science center business for this vendor. Tex. Penal Code §36.08.
If I own stock in UPS and my department ships packages via UPS, does a conflict of interest exist?
No. Investments in publicly traded companies such as UPS are not considered to be conflicts of interest.
Gifts, Gratuities, and Items of Value
As a state employee, it is important that you do not accept or ask for gifts, gratuities, or other items of value that may be interpreted as influencing the way you perform your job duties. Following are guidelines which may help you in this area:
A gift may not be accepted if it will influence the way you do your job.
A gift may generally be accepted if it is under $50.
Cash or negotiable instruments may never be accepted.
Q&A
A student with constant billing problems frequently visits the Bursar’s Office for assistance. The student wants to tip the Cashier $100. Can the Cashier accept the gift?
No. Cash gifts must never be accepted from anyone with whom the university has a business relationship.
One of the vendors we deal with in our department wants to take me to lunch to discuss their new product line. Is it okay to accept the invitation?
It is okay to accept the invitation if going to lunch with the vendor will not tend to influence your decisions, you are the guest of the vendor, and the vendor is present. However, you cannot go to lunch and use a vendor’s account at the restaurant if the representative is not present. You should, however, pay for your own meal to avoid the appearance that the lunch influenced your choice of vendors or products for the university.
An honorarium is a payment in consideration for services such as a speech or lecture. A faculty or staff member cannot ask for or accept an honorarium if the faculty or staff member’s services would not have been requested but for their official position or duties with the university.
Q&A
I have been asked to give a speech regarding the paper I published this spring in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The director stated that I was asked to speak at the conference because of my position at the university and because of my research work. I have been offered a small fee to give the speech along with reimbursement for my food, transportation, and lodging. Can I accept the fee? What about the food, transportation, and lodging?
You cannot accept the fee because your position with the university is one of the reasons you were asked to give the speech. However, you may accept the reimbursement for your food, transportation, and lodging expenses. Tex. Penal Code §36.07.
Privacy
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston respects the privacy of every patient. Patients expect that the information that they give to their health care providers will remain confidential and protected. If patients do not feel that the information they give to their health care providers is respected and protected, patients may not be forthcoming with information. Withholding information could have a drastic and adverse effect on the treatment that the patient receives and the outcome of research based on patient data.
The Privacy Office has developed Policies and Procedures regarding the Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information and Patients’ Rights. Further information can be found at http://www.uth.tmc.edu/hipaa. Contact the Privacy Office at (713) 500-3391 for specific questions.
Sensitive information about health science center students, employees, strategies, and operations must be protected. Employees who handle sensitive information shall follow all administrative, technical, and physical safeguards implemented by the health science center for the protection of sensitive information.
An employee may use or request sensitive information to perform their job. However, that information must not be shared with others, inside or outside of the health science center, unless the individuals have a legitimate business need to know and the information is shared in compliance with the applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Sensitive information includes:
Confidential Nature of Social Security Numbers. All employees must comply with the provisions of UT System Policy 165 - Information Resources & Security Policy, which includes the following provisions:
For more information, consult UT System Policy 165 - Information Resources & Security Policy which can be found on the web at http://www.utsystem.edu/policy/policies/uts165.html . HOOP 17.01, Responsibility for the Use of Information Resources also contains information on how to protect sensitive information.
Q&A
While typing some employment records, I noticed that a new employee is married to my ex-husband. Can I go talk to her about it?
No. You may not disclose that you saw this information on her employment application. The employment application contains sensitive personnel information. If you speak with the new employee about the information in her employment application, you are not fulfilling your responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of this information.
My students just finished taking their mid-term exams. I would like to post their grades on my office door with their social security numbers instead of their names to protect the students’ identity. Is this okay?
No. Grades may not be publicly posted or displayed using the students’ social security numbers. A better practice would be to post the students’ grades with their student identification numbers, as long as the student identification number cannot be identified with the student associated with that number.
Contacts with External Entities
The Office of Public Affairs acts as the official spokesperson for the university. If a member of the media contacts you regarding university business, direct them to the Office of Public Affairs at (713) 500–3031. If it is after hours or on the weekend, you can contact the Media Hotline at (713) 500-3030.
If a faculty member is contacted by the media regarding his or her research, publications, teaching, or clinical work, he or she is encouraged to promote their work and the university. However, faculty members are encouraged to direct the media to the Office of Public Affairs so that Public Affairs can discourage nuisance calls and inform the media about other university activities.
For more information, consult HOOP 1.13, Handling Communications with the Media.
Q&A
A reporter stopped me on campus to ask me what I think about the cost of some of the construction projects on campus. Is it okay to answer the reporter’s questions?
You should ask the reporter to contact the Office of Public Affairs at (713) 500-3031. Public Affairs can schedule interviews for the reporter and has the authority to speak on behalf of the university.
Government Agency or Other Investigations
The health science center is committed to cooperating with government or other investigations of the university and its faculty or staff members. However, it is essential that the legal rights of the health science center and its faculty and staff members are protected. If you are contacted by a governmental agency or if you receive a subpoena, inquiry, or other legal document from any governmental agency regarding university business, you should immediately contact the Office of Legal Affairs & Institutional Compliance at (713) 500-3268. If you are contacted at your home, you may politely ask the agent or the investigator to contact you at your office as you are not required to speak to the agent at your home. You should also immediately contact the Office of Legal Affairs & Institutional Compliance to notify them of the contact. For more information, consult HOOP 1.03, Handling Legal Processes.
Q&A
Two agents from the Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General are in my office and are asking me to pull some files from our department for them, so that they can examine them. What should I do?
You should politely direct the agents to the Office of Legal Affairs & Institutional Compliance at (713) 500-3268. Legal Affairs can ensure that the appropriate information is given to the agents and that the legal rights of the university and its faculty and staff members are protected.
Intellectual Property & Copyright
Intellectual property is any invention, discovery, trade secret, technology, scientific or technological development, computer software, or otherform of expression that isin a tangible form. Intellectual property can be protected by patent, trademark or copyright laws, or it can be protected by not disclosing the “know how” to others.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston’s Office of Technology Management provides a resource to health science center faculty, staff, and student inventors to explore the possibilities of their creations, and facilitate technology transfer activities that bring new discoveries to the people of Texas and generate financial benefits for the health science center and its family of creators.
Intellectual property that is related to an individual’s employment responsibility, or has resulted either from activities performed by an individual while employed by The University of Texas, or supported by state funds, or while using The University of Texas facilities, belongs to The University of Texas (The University of Texas System Intellectual Property Policy, Series 90101, Rules and Regulations of the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System). The University of Texas System Intellectual Property Policy applies to all health science center employees, including candidates for master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as pre-doctoral and postdoctoral fellows.
Intellectual property resulting from research supported by a grant to The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston or The University of Texas System belongs to The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston or The University of Texas System.
Whenever intellectual property is created by a health science center faculty or staff member, the faculty or staff member must disclose the intellectual property to the health science center’s Intellectual Property Committee. Disclosure of an invention or discovery by publication or presentation to the public or industry before disclosure to the health science center’s Intellectual Property Committee is a violation of The University of Texas System Intellectual Property Policy.
For more information on how to disclose an invention or discovery to the health science center’s Intellectual Property Committee, please contact the Office of Technology management at (713) 500-3369 or visit their web page at http://www.uth.tmc.edu/otm/. The Office of Technology Management can also provide you with information on patent protection for an invention or discovery and the health science center’s royalty distribution policy.
The University of Texas System Intellectual Property Policy, can be accessed online at http://www.utsystem.edu/bor/rules.htm. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston’s Intellectual Property Policy, HOOP 23.03, can be accessed online at http://legal.uth.tmc.edu/hoop/23/23_03.html.
Q&A
I submitted a manuscript for publication in a scientific journal on a development that may be patentable. What is the next step?
An Invention Disclosure Form should be submitted to the health science center’s Intellectual Property Committee through the Office of Technology Management prior to submission of a manuscript or abstract for publication or presentation. Public disclosure prior to protecting the invention may result in loss of certain patent protection. For more information, contact the Office of Technology Management at (713) 500-3369 or visit their web page at http://www.uth.tmc.edu/otm/.
Photocopying of Copyrighted Material
Copyrighted material is material produced by someone who has restricted its use. To reproduce the material, you must have the permission of the owner or copyright holder. In general, it is best to assume that most books, magazines, and other materials are copyrighted and are prohibited from being photocopied. For specific guidance, consult the Copyright Guidelines found in Appendix C, 4.15 of the HOOP.
Q&A
I want to copy an article out of a scientific journal I subscribe to, to distribute to my students for discussion in our next class. Is that okay?
Multiple copies may be made for classroom use or discussion provided that each copy includes a notice of copyright, the copying meets the tests of brevity and spontaneity defined in the Copyright Guidelines, and the copying meets the cumulative effects test defined in the Copyright Guidelines. The Copyright Guidelines may be found in Appendix C, 4.15 of the HOOP. Faculty members are encouraged to review the Copyright Guidelines and become familiar with them. Should you require further assistance, contact the Office of Technology Management at (713) 500-3369.
Use of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston & State of Texas Resources
Each faculty and staff member is responsible for protecting and preserving The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston property, equipment, and supplies. The conservation of state resources is a responsibility that university faculty and staff members, as state employees, hold as trustees for the citizens of the State of Texas. Public resources may not be used for personal benefit or gain.
Limited use of university resources for personal purposes, such as telephone calls and e-mail, is permitted under the following circumstances:
University resources may never be used:
Q&A
My child calls me at work when he gets home from school to let me know he is okay. Is this a permissible use of a university resource?
Yes. As a general rule, the personal use of any university property or asset is prohibited. Incidental personal use of email, the telephone, or the internet that complies with applicable university policies, and does not result in additional cost to the university is okay. For example, using your long distance access code to utilize the university’s long distance service to make a personal long distance call is prohibited because this would result in additional cost to the university. For more information, consult HOOP 17.02, Telecommunications Usage.
I have a personal email account that is available via the internet that I would like to check at work. Is this permitted?
The internet should only be used for legitimate state business. However, brief and occasional internet browsing of a personal nature is okay so long as the use conforms to the permissible use and prohibited use sections of HOOP 17.05, Email and Internet Usage. Only incidental amounts of employee time – time periods comparable to reasonable coffee breaks during the day – should be used to attend to personal matters. All internet access is logged and could be subject to further review.
I tried to access an internet site for work purposes and a block screen with a display informing me that I was a attempting to visit a potentially inappropriate site popped up. What should I do?
The block screen is triggered when sites which potentially contain material deemed inappropriate by executive management are accessed. If you have a legitimate mission-related reason to access the site, you may do so by certifying the need. The certification process requires users to enter their health science center username and password at the time of access. If you do not know your health science center username and password, you should contact the Information Services Helpdesk at (713) 500-4848.
Faculty and staff members may participate in political activities if:
For more information, consult HOOP 2.57, Political Activity.
Q&A
My friend is running for office. Is it okay to email some of my co-workers and friends to let them know about a campaign event?
No, a state employee cannot use state time or property, such as computers and the email system, for political purposes.
Is it okay to bring my friend to our next mandatory staff meeting so she can meet my co-workers and tell them about her campaign?
No. It is not appropriate to force other university community members to participate in any political activities. Bringing your friend to the mandatory staff meeting would be considered forcing other university community members to participate in a political activity.
Political Contributions
Political contributions from any source of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston funds are prohibited.
Only individuals expressly authorized in writing by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston President may enter into contracts or agreements, either oral or written, on behalf of the health science center. No faculty or staff member may sign a contract on behalf of the health science center unless expressly authorized to do so in writing by the health science center President. For more information, consult the Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Series 10501, Delegation to Act on Behalf of the Board, which can be accessed at http://www.utsystem.edu/bor/rules.htm.
Q&A
A sales representative has asked me to immediately sign a “purchase agreement” because the product price will increase tomorrow. Can I do so?
No, not unless you have official authority to do so. The Office of Legal Affairs & Institutional Compliance maintains a list of those persons authorized to bind the university through a contract or agreement. You may contact them with questions at (713) 500-3268. Furthermore, this is a contract for purchasing goods and services and must be approved by Procurement Services prior to it being signed.
Purchases of Items, Goods, or Services
Faculty and staff members may not use health science center funds for any purchase unless the person is authorized to make the purchase in accordance with the Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Series 10501, Delgation to Act on Behalf of the Board, and the purchase is made in accordance with all institutional purchasing procedures. The Regents’ Rules and Regulations may be accessed through the internet at http://www.utsystem.edu/bor/rules.htm. For more information, consult HOOP 1.04, Authority to Obligate and HOOP 13.03, The Procurement Process.
Q&A
Our department wants to purchase new furniture. Can we go to any store and purchase the furniture and seek reimbursement?
No. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston has strict guidelines for purchasing. Purchases over a certain amount must be placed for bid and should include Historically Underutilized vendors. When in doubt, contact Procurement Services at (713) 500-4700.
The software installed on university owned computers is licensed to the university for specific uses and purposes. No software licensed to the university may be copied unless authorized by the software licensor. In general, it is best not to copy a software program unless you know that its reproduction is permitted by the license. If you have questions, you can speak with your supervisor, the Local Area Network Manager, or the Office of Information Services at (713) 500-2221. You may also consult HOOP 17.03, Software Copyright Compliance.
Q&A
I have a program installed on my computer which my co-worker does not have installed on her computer. We are working on a project together and she needs this software program in order to help me finish the project. Can we copy the software off of my computer and install it on her computer?
No, before you copy the software, you must make sure that the use of the software in this manner is permitted by the license. Talk to your supervisor, your Local Area Network Manager, or the Office of Information Services before you copy the software to make sure that it is okay.
It is a violation of the Texas Penal Code to disclose computer passwords. Penalties range from a Class B misdemeanor to a felony depending on the related monetary damage. Computer passwords should be considered highly confidential. You should never disclose your computer passwords to anyone. Furthermore, you should not write or otherwise document passwords in a place that is accessible by others.
When I was out of the office yesterday with a cold, I called the office and asked another employee to check my email and calendar. To do this, I had to reveal my password. Was this wrong?
Yes, it is a violation of university policy to disclose your computer password. Computer passwords should be considered highly confidential and should not be disclosed to anyone. When passwords are revealed, data that is protected by passwords becomes vulnerable to damage, theft, or unauthorized disclosure. If you need to check your e-mail or calendar from home, you should make use of webmail. You can access webmail through the internet at http://webmail.uth.tmc.edu. If you do not have access to a computer at home to access webmail, you can configure your calendar to allow others to view it. Talk to your supervisor, your Local Area Network Manager, or the Office of Information Services if you need further information or assistance.
Records and Information
Faculty and staff members of the university are responsible for maintaining the integrity and accuracy of health science center business documents and records for which they are responsible. Faculty and staff members may not alter or falsify information on any university record or document.
Q&A
I noticed that some numbers were wrong on a document I sent out. Can I go back and change the numbers so that my file copy is correct?
No. Changing the numbers may be considered altering or falsifying the document. If possible, reissue the document and indicate what was changed.
Retention & Disposal of Records
The university is required by state law to maintain an active and continuing records management program that identifies vital and confidential records and ensures the appropriate retention and disposition of records. No faculty or staff member should tamper with records, or remove or destroy them, except in accordance with the approved retention and disposition policy. Questions about specific record retention requirements should be directed to the university’s Records Management Department at (713) 500-3100. For further information, consult HOOP 17.06, Records Management Program.
Q&A
My department is very low on file space, and I need to throw away old files to make room for some new ones. Can I throw away everything that is greater than three years old?
No. The university has a formal records retention schedule that should be followed by everyone. The Records Retention Schedule details what records must be kept and for how long. It is department specific and can be accessed through the internet at http://records.uth.tmc.edu/retention_schedule.htm. If you have any questions, you should contact the university’s Records Manager at (713) 500-3100.
I have over 1000 messages in my inbox. I would like to clean out my inbox and delete some of these messages. Is this okay? Is email subject to the Records Retention Schedule?
Email may be subject to the Records Retention Schedule. The retention of a document (or message) depends on the content of the document – not whether it is in paper or electronic form. Unless you are receiving business related email from outside the university, you can most likely delete the vast majority of the messages you receive. Internal memos, announcements, and informational items that you receive can be deleted as soon as they have served their information purpose to you. If you author documents or receive business email from outside customers or business partners, you may have an obligation to retain certain messages. If you have questions, you can access an email tutorial on the Records Management website at http://records.uth.tmc.edu/retention_schedule.htm. If you have additional questions, contact the university’s Records Manager at (713) 500-3100.
Information or Records Requests
The disclosure and nondisclosure of all documents, records, data, and other information in the possession or control of the university is dictated by the requirements of the Texas Public Information Act. The university is required by law to release certain information. Additionally, the university is also required by law to maintain the confidentiality of some information. If you receive a request for information or records from an external (non-university) person or entity, and the request is not authorized by an existing procedure or practice, you should immediately forward the request to the Office of Legal Affairs & Institutional Compliance. For more information, consult HOOP 17.07, Handling Records Requests or call the Office of Legal Affairs & Institutional Compliance at (713) 500-3268.
Q&A
I received a phone call from a woman asking if I would send her copies of all email and other correspondence our office had sent to State leaders regarding tuition and fees. Should I make the copies and send them to her?
No. This is considered a public information request. Individuals verbally contacting you should be advised to submit their request in writing to the Chief Operating Officer. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Office of Legal Affairs & Institutional Compliance at (713) 500-3268 or consult HOOP 17.07, Handling Records Requests.
Workplace Conduct & Practices
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace environment. Health science center staff are encouraged to treat each other in a fair and respectful manner. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations, prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability or veteran status in any of its policies, practices and procedures. All employment-related decisions will reflect this commitment.
Equal Employment Opportunities
In all matters related to employee hiring or status, it is the policy of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. Further, it is the policy of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston to provide a work environment free from verbal, physical, and/or visual forms of discrimination or harassment. For further information, consult HOOP 2.18, Equal Employment Opportunity.
Q&A
I feel that I was passed up for a promotion because of my age. Who do I call if I feel I have been discriminated against?
The Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity manages all allegations of discrimination. If you feel you have been discriminated against, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity at (713) 500-3079.
Sexual Harassment & Sexual Misconduct
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is committed to providing a working environment free from inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature. Faculty or staff members who engage in such conduct will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Should a situation of sexual harassment or misconduct arise, immediately contact the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity at (713) 500-3079. Resources are available to conduct a thorough investigation that protects the rights of all involved parties. For more information, faculty and staff members should consult HOOP 2.04, Sexual Harassment & Sexual Misconduct.
Q&A
What are examples of behavior that could be considered sexual misconduct or harassment?
Examples of behavior that could be considered sexual misconduct or harassment include but are not limited to: physical contact of a sexual nature including touching, patting, hugging, or brushing against a person’s body; explicit or implicit propositions or offers to engage in sexual activity; comments of a sexual nature including sexually explicit statements, questions, jokes or anecdotes, remarks of a sexual nature about a person’s clothing or body, remarks about sexual activity, or speculation about sexual experience; and, exposure to sexually oriented graffiti, pictures, posters, or materials.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston strives to comply with all provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FLSA is a federal law which requires payment to covered employees of overtime pay or compensatory time off for all hours worked in excess of 40 in a work week. In general, employees who are covered by the FLSA at the health science center are classified employees. Employees must specifically obtain prior approval for overtime and compensatory time before it is worked. For more specific information, refer to HOOP 5.05, Overtime Pay.
Q&A
I worked sixty hours last week due to a project that had to be completed by the end of the week. Am I eligible for overtime pay or compensatory time off?
You may be eligible for overtime pay or compensatory time off if you are classified as an employee who is covered by the FLSA and the overtime was approved by your supervisor in advance. For more information, contact the Compensation Manager in the Office of Human Resources at (713) 500-3130.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston requires that all faculty and staff members submit a record reflecting their hours worked and hours absent from work. The health science center maintains an electronic Time Management System which records the hours worked and hours absent of all faculty and staff members. Faculty and staff members should submit their time records in the Time Management System in accordance with the schedule outlined in HOOP 2.27, Time and Attendance Reporting. For specific questions regarding the Time Management System, consult the designated Timekeeper in your department.
Family or Personal Medical Needs
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston acknowledges that faculty and staff members may need time to attend to personal or family medical needs for serious health conditions or the birth, adoption, or placement of a baby. HOOP 2.40C, Family and Medical Leave, details how a faculty or staff member may obtain leave in these circumstances.Faculty and staff members should also consult with an Employee Relations Advisor in the Office of Human Resources. The Employee Relations Advisors can be reached at (713) 500-3130.
Q&A
When am I eligible to apply for Family and Medical Leave?
You are eligible to apply for Family and Medical Leave after you have been employed by a state of Texas agency for the past 12 months and have worked at least 1,250 hours at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
How much time is available under the Family and Medical Leave policy?
A maximum of 12 work weeks during a 12-month period is available under the Family and Medical Leave Policy.
Participation in Outside Activities (Consulting or Outside Employment)
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston encourages the participation of faculty and staff members in activities that are of a consultative or advisory capacity with governmental agencies, private industry, or other institutions. However, the universitydiscourages its faculty and staff members from accepting regular employment outside The University of Texas System. Such employment might result in a division of the faculty or staff member’s loyalty. Involvement in any of the outside activities mentioned above must not constitute a conflict of interest for the faculty or staff member as defined in HOOP 2.19, Conflict of Interest and the associated Guidelines for Faculty Conflicts of Interest or Guidelines for Staff Participation in Outside Activities. Faculty or staff members must seek approval from their supervisor before accepting any offer to participate in outside activity. For more specific information, consult HOOP 2.46B, Participation in Outside Activities and HOOP 2.19, Conflicts of Interest.
Health & Safety
Workplace Health & Safety and Protection of the Environment
Some of the mission activities of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston may involve the use of potentially hazardous agents. It is the intent of the university to both create and maintain a safe and secure work environment and to be prepared to handle emergency and disaster conditions. It is the responsibility of each faculty and staff member to ensure that their work environment is safe, healthy, and that proper procedures are followed for the handling and disposal of potentially hazardous materials.
Each faculty and staff member should immediately alert their supervisor and Environmental Health & Safety of:
Environmental Health & Safety may be reached at (713) 500-8100.
For more specific information on Workplace Health & Safety and Protection of the Environment, consult HOOP Chapter 18.
Q&A
I am not sure how to dispose of the chemicals in my lab. Whom should I contact?
You should contact Environmental Health & Safety at (713) 500-8100.
I was accidentally stuck by a needle at work. Whom should I contact?
You should contact the Safety and Control Nurse via pager at (713) 684-3800. If it is after-hours, you should use the 24-hour pager number which is (713) 951-0813.
Drug and Violence Free Workplace
It is the policy of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston to prohibit the unlawful purchase, manufacture, distribution, possession, selling, storing, or use of a controlled substance, in or on premises or property owned or controlled by the university. A controlled substance is a chemical agent that can be misused or abused. A faculty or staff member who violates this policy is subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination. At the discretion of the university, the faculty or staff member may be referred to an Employee Assistance Program and/or may be required to participate in and satisfactorily complete an approved rehabilitation program. For more information, consult HOOP 18.05, Substance Abuse in the Workplace.
Any faculty or staff member who is convicted of a drug-related offense occurring in the workplace is required to notify his or her immediate supervisor within five days of the conviction. Supervisors who receive such notice must immediately inform the Office of Human Resources. For more information, consult HOOP 18.05, Substance Abuse in the Workplace.
Possession of weapons on health science center property is strictly prohibited and is considered a violation of the Violence Free Workplace Policy. For more information, consult HOOP 2.61, Violence Free Workplace.
Q&A
I believe that I saw one of my coworkers using illegal drugs at the workplace. What should I do?
You should report the suspected incident to your supervisor immediately and inform the UT Police by calling 911.
One of my coworkers threatened to harm me physically. What should I do?
If you feel that the threat is one of imminent bodily harm, you should seek protective cover and call 911 immediately. Once the situation is safe, you must report the incident to your supervisor. If your supervisor is unavailable, you should report the incident to the STOP Line at (713) 792-7867. For more information, consult HOOP 2.61, Violence Free Workplace.
The use or possession of alcohol while at work or while in vehicles used for university business is prohibited. Use of alcohol while not at work which adversely affects job performance or that may adversely affect the safety of other university community members is prohibited. Any member of the university community who violates this prohibition may be subject to disciplinary action. For more information, consult HOOP 18.05, Substance Abuse in the Workplace.
While the university discourages serving alcoholic beverages at most university events, alcoholic beverages may be served at selected events sponsored by the health science center or The University of Texas System. The arrangements to serve alcohol must be requested and approved in advance of the event. For more information, consult HOOP 2.02, Alcoholic Beverages.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is committed to a completely smoke-free environment for all members of the university community and for all other individuals who enter its leased or owned property. Smoking is not permitted on the premises or grounds of the university. Failure to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion or termination. For more information, consult HOOP 2.03, Smoking.
Revised 12/06
Updated 01/06; 08/07