What is the University of Kansas Hotline?
The University of Kansas recognizes its obligation to employees and constituents to maintain the highest ethical standards. The University has established a hotline, administered by Lighthouse, to facilitate anonymous reporting of suspected violation of laws, policies or standards in a manner that facilitates resolution and assures non-retaliation. You may use either of the following two methods to submit a report.
1). Report an incident online
or
2). Dial toll-free (within the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Canada): 1-844-420-9065
After you complete your report you will be assigned a unique code called a "report key." Write down your report key and password and keep them in a safe place. After 5-6 business days, use your report key and password to check your report for feedback or questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Every report will be acted upon in a confidential manner, with notification to other appropriate individuals on a need-to-know basis. You may make your report anonymously if you choose, and your anonymity will be protected to the extent possible by law.
Under normal circumstances, compliance issues should first be discussed with your supervisor. Many questions can be resolved informally within the department. However, if you suspect that your supervisor may be involved, if earlier reports have not been pursued, or if you are uncomfortable with reporting in person, you are encouraged to call the hotline.
The hotline is available to any person in the KU community, or other interested parties who know about or suspect illegal, unethical or questionable activity.
Statement of Commitment to Integrity and Ethical Conduct
The University of Kansas is committed to upholding our core institutional values, including:
- Integrity;
- Excellence in the pursuit of our mission;
- Commitment to excellence and academic freedom;
- Advancement and innovation in the pursuit of research and instruction;
- Academic freedom, freedom of expression, and respectful and transparent communication;
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion;
- Safety, security, and sustainability; and
- Service and stewardship.
KU is fully committed to these values in everything we do. All members of our university community are expected to fulfill ethical and other professional standards at all times. Additionally, we abide by federal and state laws and other regulations, as well as follow policies set by the Kansas Board of Regents and the university.
As members of our university community, we are mindful of the obligation to report suspected wrongdoing that adversely affects the university. KU is committed to providing an environment of integrity that encourages the disclosure of violations of law, policy, and other standards to the university administration, while protecting from reprisal its employees and other members of its community who make a good-faith disclosure of suspected wrongful conduct occurring at the university.
Questions or concerns regarding a violation of the law, policy, or other standards should be discussed with your immediate supervisor. Alternatively, reports can be made through the KU Institutional Hotline, which is hosted by Lighthouse, a third-party hotline provider. Information about the hotline and how to create an online or telephonic report is available by consulting the university’s whistleblower policy or the Lighthouse site. Individuals making reports may choose to remain anonymous.
If you call the number, or make an online report, a third party forwards your report to the appropriate campus contact. At the campus, a preliminary inquiry may be conducted to determine if the report has merit. In order to protect everyone involved, no disciplinary or legal action will be taken based solely on a hotline call. If the preliminary inquiry reveals possible non-compliance, an investigation will determine appropriate action. Any corrections, disciplinary action, or sanctions will be weighed according to the severity of the concern.
Federal guidelines and university policy forbid retaliation toward a person bringing a good-faith allegation of non-compliance. Any retaliatory conduct against persons acting in good faith will be subject to disciplinary action. However, employees who intentionally and maliciously make false accusations will be disciplined in accordance with university policy.