Dear Faculty and Staff,
As you know, the University
of Oklahoma has enjoyed unprecedented growth in our clinical and research
endeavors in recent years. OU’s strength in teaching and research is also
helping to build the economic future of our state. Since 1994, research and sponsored programs
expenditures at OU have more than doubled, and OU continues to set new records
for funding for externally sponsored research. OU ended FY 2010 with total
expenditures of more than $261 million. Over the past 16 years, the growth of
OU’s research programs and student enrollment has precipitated an unprecedented
$1.8 billion building boom, and the number of endowed faculty positions has
increased from 100 to more than 540.
As we all know, however, we
are working in an increasingly complex legal and economic environment and our
continued growth increases the number of federal and state requirements with
which we must comply. To promote the highest legal and ethical standards within
the University to ensure that we meet or exceed the federal and state
requirements, we have implemented a
comprehensive, integrated Compliance and Quality Improvement Program that was
adopted by the Board of Regents on January 30, 2002. The adoption of the
program is a proactive step by the University to respond to the complex legal
environment in the areas of (a) clinical billing and coding; (b) all types of
research; and (c) environmental and radiation safety. The program is intended
to promote legal and ethical behavior through education and training and
prevent and detect weaknesses in our compliance systems.
The program sets forth
Standards of Conduct, which are a non-exclusive compilation of guidelines
regarding ethical and legal standards that all University employees are
expected to follow when performing services for or on behalf of the University
that are related to the areas covered by the program. A complete copy of the
program is posted on the Office of Compliance's webpage at
www.ouhsc.edu/compliance.
The Director of Compliance is
responsible for ensuring that the Program is implemented and monitored. Coordination and communication are key
functions of the Director of Compliance, who can be contacted at (405)
271-2511. The Director of Compliance
will be available to answer compliance-related questions, provide education,
and respond to compliance concerns.
The success of the program
depends on the cooperation of all University employees. All of us must take the
initiative to review the standards, to develop an understanding of the
obligations applicable to his or her job duties, and to actively participate in
the compliance training programs that are offered. We must all do our part by
reporting any suspected violations of the law or the program pursuant to the
reporting mechanisms set forth in the program, which includes a 24-hour
hotline. Anonymous messages regarding compliance issues can be left on the
hotline by calling (405) 271-2223 or toll free 1- 866-836-3150.
Ethical conduct and
compliance are the responsibility of all of us. It is important that we all
participate. I appreciate your help as we continue our remarkable success.
Sincerely,
David L. Boren
To help ensure this initiative's success, we are asking all employees to read the program's guideline document called "Standards of Conduct." This requirement must be completed by all current full-time permanent employees. This information will take less than twenty minutes to review and can be read online as a Web page or downloaded as a Word document or as a PDF document. If you are unable to access the document, you may pick up a copy at your local human resources office.
You may return the paper copy of the form included with the Standards document to your local human resource department or submit your certification electronically through this Web page. If you submit your certification online, you DO NOT need to return a paper copy of the form.
Norman Campus:
Office of Human Resources
Training and Development
NEL 258 - (405) 325 - 3706
HSC Campus:
Office of Human Resources
Training and Development
SCB 133 - (405) 271-2443
Tulsa Campus:
Office of Human Resources
Room 1C114
(918)-660-3192
If you have any questions about the content of the "Standards of Conduct," please contact Director, Office of Compliance by telephone at (405) 271-2511.
To the Standards of Conduct documents | To the certification page |
