Ethics Hotline

Missouri State University has a long tradition of operating in a professional and ethical manner. The University values integrity, honesty and fairness and strives to model and integrate these values into its teaching, research, and business practices.

Missouri State University provides various mechanisms to assist and encourage employees and students to come forward in good faith to report concerns about suspected compliance issues. The University’s Board of Governors has approved a Whistleblower Policy (G1.25), which encourages employees to report compliance issues without fear of reprisal or retaliation.

When an individual identifies a suspected compliance issue, he or she is encouraged to make a report to his or her supervisor, or an appropriate University official. If, however, an individual is uncomfortable discussing the concern with a University official, the University has made available a third-party hotline service provided by EthicsPoint. The hotline service may be contacted either by toll-free phone or via the internet, 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Reports to the hotline service may be made anonymously. Each hotline report is immediately routed to the Office of Internal Audit and Risk Management and the General Counsel’s Office for review and directed to the appropriate institutional official(s) for investigation and follow-up.

Missouri State University is committed to promptly investigating all unethical or inappropriate activities. If you file a report through EthicsPoint, you are encouraged to return there 10 business days after filing the report to check the status of your report. In some instances, the University may request additional information from you through EthicsPoint to proceed with the investigation.

Examples of reportable issues include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Misuse, theft or embezzlement of funds
  • Waste of University resources, funds or property
  • Theft or misuse of information or technology resources
  • Bribes or kickbacks
  • Research or scientific misconduct
  • Falsification of contracts, timesheets, reports or other records
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Discrimination against an employee or student on the basis of a protected class (e.g., race, sex, disability, etc.)
  • Public or environmental safety issues
  • Violations of federal or state laws or regulations
  • Serious or recurring violations of University policies

You may use either of the following two methods to submit a report: