UWM has a decentralized ethics program, with development, coordination and oversight by UWM’s Compliance and Ethics Officer. All staff are governed by UWM’s Code of Conduct, with additional reporting and oversight for many staff through Outside Activities Reporting (OAR). UWM also maintains two institutional ethics committees, who are available to consult on ethical issues for faculty and academic staff.
Applicable Ethics Rules:
- UWM Faculty/Staff Code of Conduct: SAAP 7-3 (PDF)
- UPS Operational Policy WE 3 (PDF) (Workplace Conduct Expectations)
- Regent Policy Document 20-22, Code of Ethics
- Wis. Admin. Code UWS 8 (Unclassified Staff Code of Ethics)
- Remunerated Activities, Outside Activities, and Conflicts of Interest: ASPPP Chapter 113 (PDF)
- Conflict of Interest for Researchers and Scholars: SAAP 7-18 (PDF)
- UWM Faculty/Staff Code of Conduct: Faculty Document 2901 (PDF)
- Academic Staff Ethics Committee: ASPPP 113.07 (PDF)
- Wis. Admin. Code UWS 8 (Unclassified Staff Code of Ethics)
- UWM Faculty Policies and Procedures (PDF), Section 5.30-5.39
- Faculty Statement on Professional Ethics: Faculty Document 2229 (PDF)
- Conflict of Interest for Researchers and Scholars: SAAP 7-18 (PDF)
- UWM Faculty/Staff Code of Conduct: Faculty Document 2901 (PDF)
- Faculty Ethics Advisory Committee
- Wis. Stat. § 19.45 (PDF) (Standards of conduct; state public officials)
How to report an ethics concern
Here are three options for reporting your concern:
- Tell your supervisor, who is obligated to inform UWM’s vice chancellor for Finance and Administrative Affairs.
- Complete the UWM fiscal misconduct reporting form, and someone acting on behalf of UWM’s vice chancellor for Finance and Administrative Affairs will follow up with you.
- Make an anonymous report through the Universities of Wisconsin Reporting Hotline.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
You have several options for getting help with an ethics question. Speak to your supervisor. If you are a member of the academic staff or faculty, seek advice from the Faculty Ethics Advisory Committee or Academic Staff Committee. The Office of Legal Affairs is also available to provide advice on ethics matters.
Do not accept meals or entertainment (e.g. golf outings) from UWM suppliers or prospective suppliers, even if it is intended to help in discussing UWM business.
Do not accept gifts, including birthday gifts, gift baskets, gift certificates, etc. While these gifts may be common marketing tools in business, they create the wrong impression within a state agency like UWM. If a gift arrives, talk to your supervisor about gently declining it or asking the supplier to donate it to a charitable organization.
Generally no. UWM employees may not accept supplier-paid travel, even when it benefits the department. Supplier-paid travel should only be accepted by an employee who is not in a position to approve or influence a contract with that supplier, and only after the arrangement has been reviewed and approved by the dean or division head. Like yourself, members of your immediate family or household may not accept items of value from a supplier as a result of your employment with UWM.
Items of minimal value are not prohibited. However, keep an eye on appearances when using a vendor’s marketing item at work. If an employee is in a position to approve or influence a contract with a supplier, the employee may not even accept items of minimal value.
Disclose that relationship to your supervisor so that actions can be taken to minimize or remove any potential conflict of interest arising from that relationship.
Employees may not participate in a decision to hire, retain, promote, or determine the salary of a member of their immediate family. Nepotism is not permitted at UWM. Disclose any potential conflicts that might result in nepotism to your supervisor.
University resources such as office supplies, cell phones, meeting rooms, and work time should be used only for university purposes. Phone and email may be used for minimal personal use consistent with UWM policies. Never use UWM resources, including email and telephone, for outside work.