GovState strongly encourages the good-faith reporting of suspected illegal or other wrongful conduct. It is vital to the public’s trust that the University act ethically and legally in all its dealings, whether academic, business, athletic, or otherwise. Although the University has developed and implemented internal policies, procedures, and controls to deter and to prevent unethical, illegal, and other wrongful conduct, it is also critical that GovState stakeholders report instances of suspected unethical, unlawful or other wrongful conduct to a University, State, or accreditor representative with the power to take corrective action.
All GovState stakeholders—whether employees, students, trustees, alumni, contractors, volunteers, or visitors—should immediately make a report if they witness or experience or otherwise reasonably believe that unethical, unlawful, or other wrongful conduct (collectively, “misconduct”) has occurred. University employees specifically are required to report what they reasonably believe to be violations of law, University policy, or any accreditation requirement so that appropriate corrective action can be taken to address substantiated violations.
REPORT ETHICAL MISCONDUCT
Report ethical misconduct using the Compliance Hotline.
Compliance Hotline for Reporting
1-855-252-7606
www.Hotline-Services.com
The Hotline allows for the confidential reporting of possible misconduct, including anonymous reporting. Both telephone (toll-free) and online reporting options available 24/7. It is staffed by a third-party vendor, not University employees, to help preserve privacy. When prompted, reporters should tell the Hotline they are affiliated with Governors State University.
Stakeholders can also contact the GovState Ethics Officer directly to make a report:
Kaitlyn Anne Wild
Director of Compliance and Ethics Officer
1 University Parkway
University Park, IL 60484
Phone: 708-534-4846
Email: ethicsofficer@govst.edu
Office Location: G328
REPORT SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Report sexual harassment using the Secure Electronic Title IX Reporting Portal.
https://govst.caseiq.app/portal
The portal (supported by the University's Case IQ system) allows for the confidential reporting of possible sexual harassment, including anonymous reporting, and is available 24/7.
Stakeholders can also contact the GovState Title IX Coordinator directly to make a report:
Kaitlyn Anne Wild
Director of Compliance and Title IX Coordinator
1 University Parkway
University Park, IL 60484
Phone: 708-534-4846
Email: titleixofficer@govst.edu
Office Location: G328
REPORT DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT
Report unlawful discrimination and harassment using the Compliance Hotline.
Compliance Hotline for Reporting
1-855-252-7606
www.Hotline-Services.com
The Hotline allows for the confidential reporting of possible misconduct, including anonymous reporting. Both telephone (toll-free) and online reporting options available 24/7. It is staffed by a third-party vendor, not University employees, to help preserve privacy. When prompted, reporters should tell the Hotline they are affiliated with Governors State University.
Stakeholders can also contact the GovState Human Resources Department directly to make a report:
Human Resources Department
1 University Parkway
University Park, IL 60484
Phone: 708-534-4100
Email: hr@govst.edu
Office Location: C1360
REPORT CRIME ON CAMPUS
Report crime on campus to law enforcement.
Stakeholders should contact campus law enforcement directly if they have information about a possible crime committed on campus.
Department of Public Safety
1 University Parkway
University Park, IL 60484
Emergency Phone Number: 911 (if calling from campus phone)
Phone: 708-534-4900 (if calling direct)
Office Location: C1375
REPORT HAZING
Report hazing incidents to law enforcement.
Information about hazing incidents may be reported to campus law enforcement.
Department of Public Safety
1 University Parkway
University Park, IL 60484
Emergency Phone Number: 911 (if calling from campus phone)
Phone: 708-534-4900 (if calling direct)
Office Location: C1375
Protection for Whistleblowers
Any GovState stakeholder who, in good faith, reports suspected misconduct, assists in an investigation, participates in an audit, or requests information about the proper interpretation or application of any law, accreditation requirement, or the University’s own policies will be protected from retaliation for having engaged in such a protected activity.
Additional Avenues for Reporting
In addition to the reporting channels highlighted above, there are many other avenues for reporting available to stakeholders who need to report misconduct. The appropriateness of a given avenue might depend on the status of the reporter (e.g., being an employee versus a student) and the nature of the misconduct being reported. Information about various reporting avenues, both internal to GovState and external, is provided in the sections below to guide reporters. If a reporter has any concerns about what avenue to use, they may contact the GovState Ethics Officer at:
Kaitlyn Anne Wild
Director of Compliance and Ethics Officer
1 University Parkway,
University Park, IL 60484
Phone: 708-534-4846
Email: ethicsofficer@govst.edu
Office Location: G328
Office of the General Counsel
The Office of the General Counsel includes the University General Counsel and the University Director of Compliance and Ethics Officer, either of whom will accept any reports of possible misconduct, especially violations of law and University policy. The Ethics Officer may be contacted at the information provided above. The General Counsel may be contacted at:
Therese King Nohos
Vice President and General Counsel
1 University Parkway
University Park, IL 60484
Phone: 708-855-1553
Email: tnohos@govst.edu
The General Counsel is also available to advise University personnel on the University’s legal risks and responsibilities and the interpretation and application of University policies.
Human Resources Department
Members of the University’s Human Resources Department will accept any reports of possible violations involving University employees. The Department may be contacted at:
Human Resources Department
1 University Parkway
University Park, IL 60484
Phone: 708-855-1553
Email: hr@govst.edu
Office Location: C1360
Human Resources Webpage
Office of the Dean of Students
Members of the Office of the Dean of Students (ODOS) will accept any reports of possible violations involving students. The Office may be contacted at:
Office of the Dean of Students
1 University Parkway
University Park, IL 60484
Phone: 708-235-7595
Email: deanofstudents@govst.edu
Office Location: C1310
ODOS Webpage
Chief Internal Auditor
The University’s Chief Internal Auditor will accept any reports of possible violations of law. He may be contacted at:
Kristoffer Evangelista
Chief Internal Auditor
1 University Parkway
University Park, IL 60484
Phone: 708-534-4134
Email: kevangelista@govst.edu
Office Location: D34041
Office of the Provost
The University Provost and Associate Provosts will accept any reports of possible violations of accreditation requirements. The Provost and Associate Provosts are also available to advise GovState stakeholders on the interpretation and application of accreditation requirements. The Provost’s Office may be contacted at:
Office of the Provost
1 University Parkway
University Park, IL 60484
Phone: 708-534-4980
Email: provost@govst.edu
Office Location: G351
Chief of Institutional Engagement and Excellence
With respect to misconduct involving matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion, reports may be made to GovState’s Chief of Institutional Engagement and Excellence. The CIEE may be contacted at:
Joi Patterson, Ph.D.
Chief of Institutional Engagement and Excellence
1 University Parkway
University Park, IL 60484
Phone: 708-534-4023
Email: jpatterson3@govst.edu
Office Location: G334
IEE Webpage
The Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) has jurisdiction over executive branch agencies in the State of Illinois (including the University and its employees). The primary role of the OEIG is to investigate allegations of misconduct and to make reports of its findings to the affected agencies. The OEIG investigates, when appropriate, alleged violations of laws committed by any employee of, or those doing business with, an entity under its jurisdiction. Under the Illinois State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, the OEIG is tasked with accepting and investigating: (a) reports of violations of the Ethics Act, such as instances of fraud and waste; and (b) complaints of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and unlawful retaliation submitted by State employees. Such a report/complaint may be filed with the OEIG in writing or orally as described at: https://oeig.illinois.gov/complaints/process.html
The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) administers the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5), which prohibits various types of discrimination and harassment in Illinois, including discrimination with respect to employment. It investigates charges of employment discrimination filed against employers that are units of State government. A discrimination charge can be initiated by calling, writing, or appearing in person at the IDHR’s Chicago or Springfield office within 2 years of the date the alleged discrimination took place, as described at: https://dhr.illinois.gov/filing-a-charge/employment.html
For students, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces the federal laws—such as Title VI of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Federal Education Amendments of 1972—that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and retaliation (on the basis of several federally recognized protected classes) in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education. A student who believes they have been unlawfully discriminated against, harassed, or unlawfully retaliated against by an educational institution receiving federal funds from the Department, or any other person who believes a student has been unlawfully discriminated against, harassed, or unlawfully retaliated against, may file a complaint of discrimination with the OCR. A timely compliant can be filed online, by mail, by email, or by fax, as described at:
https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/civil-rights-laws/file-complaint
More details about the OCR’s jurisdiction can be found on its website at:
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces the federal laws, such as Title VII of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibit employment discrimination and retaliation on the basis of a federally recognized protected class. Employees who believe they have been unlawfully discriminated against, harassed, or unlawfully retaliated against at work can file a “charge of discrimination” against their employer with the EEOC. All the laws enforced by EEOC, except for the Equal Pay Act, require an employee to file a charge of discrimination with the EEOC before being able to file a job discrimination lawsuit against their employer. There are time limits by which charges of discrimination must be filed with the EEOC depending on the type of discrimination alleged. Timely charges of discrimination can be filed online, in person, or by mail, as described at:
https://www.eeoc.gov/how-file-charge-employment-discrimination
Additional information about how the EEOC can help employees is available at:
For More Information
- Kaitlyn Anne Wild, Director of Compliance and Ethics Officer
- Governors State University
- 1 University Parkway, G-328, University Park, IL 60484
- 708-534-4846
- ethicsofficer@govst.edu