Fraud, Waste and Abuse Reporting
The ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ System of Georgia (ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ) is committed to the highest standards of excellence, integrity, accountability and respect throughout all of its operations and institutions. Dedicated to its mission of transforming the System, changing lives, and strengthening the state, the ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ both expects and requires its employees to report suspected malfeasance or wrongdoing on the part of any ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ employee or member of the ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ community. Additionally, ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ institutions are required to report suspected malfeasance and other violations of federal and state law or BOR policy.
WHAT INCIDENTS MUST BE REPORTED?
All suspected or known employee malfeasance shall be reported. Examples of employee malfeasance include but are not limited to embezzlement, misappropriation, alteration or falsification of documents, false claims or reimbursement requests, theft of any asset, inappropriate use of computer systems, violation of state or federal laws, violation of the ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ Ethics Policy or any misuse of federal funds to include funds provided pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Additionally, violations of policies and procedures often must be reported to the appropriate ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ office. For example, incidents involving computer or network security breaches must be reported to the ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ Office of Information Security while incidents involving violation of environmental compliance requirements must be reported to the Office of Real Estate and Facilities Compliance & Operations Program.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPORTING INCIDENTS?
The ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ Ethics Policy mandates reporting wrongdoing to the proper authority while protecting those who do report violations from retaliation.
- Individual ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ employees should report suspected malfeasance on the part of a ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ employee using any of the options outlined below.
- ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ institutions are also required to report suspected employee malfeasance in a timely manner to the ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ Office of Internal Audit. Additionally, incidents involving misuse of information technology assets or involving computer/network security breaches must be reported to the ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ Office of Information Security.
HOW SHOULD INCIDENTS BE REPORTED?
Incidents may be reported:
Anonymously by phone or internet using the ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ Ethics and Compliance Hotline ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ“ see for guidance on accessing each institutionÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s hotline.
Directly to:
- ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ Office of Organizational Effectiveness, 270 Washington Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30334, usg-compliance@usg.edu, 404-962-3034
- ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ Office of Internal Audit, 270 Washington Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30334, jenna.wiese@usg.edu, 404-962-3068
- ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ Office of Legal Affairs, 270 Washington Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30334, usg-legal@usg.edu, 404-962-3255
- ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ Office of Information Security, 270 Washington Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30334, 1-888-875-3697 24/7 or 404-962-3034
- ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ Office of Real Estate and Facilities, Compliance & Operations, 270 Washington Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30334, sandra.neuse@usg.edu, 404-962-3162
ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ offices with core responsibilities for addressing malfeasance include:
Office of Organizational Effectiveness
Organizational Effectiveness assists the ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ in meeting its organizational, risk management and compliance responsibilities, while helping to improve operational effectiveness and efficiency. Organizational Effectiveness also maintains responsibility for:
- Overseeing the reporting of suspected malfeasance to the appropriate local, state, or federal agency;
- Monitoring the Ethics and Compliance Hotlines maintained at each ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ institution; and,
- Investigating or overseeing the investigations of incidents of fraud, waste, and abuse involving ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ employees (in conjunction with Internal Audit).
These duties are accomplished through coordinating with multiple ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ offices to include the ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ Office of Internal Audit the ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ Office of Legal Affairs, the ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ Office of Information Security, the ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ Office of Real Estate and Facilities, and campus departments of internal audit.
Office of Internal Audit
Internal Audit is responsible for planning and performing internal audits of the ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ System of Georgia components. Internal audit provides support in investigating and overseeing the investigations of incidents of fraud, waste, and abuse involving ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ employees.
Office of Legal Affairs
Legal Affairs provides advice and guidance to members of the Board of Regents, the Chancellor, Presidents, and the administrations of ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ System institutions. Legal Affairs supports the reporting of fraud, waste and abuse through helping to coordinate the reporting of suspected criminal malfeasance and disclosure of organizational misconduct.
Office of Information Security
Information Security is the primary ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ authority responsibility for information technology security matters. Among its responsibilities is working with institution Information Security Officers to mitigate, identify, respond to and report information security incidents.
Office of Real Estate and Facilities, Compliance & Operations
The Office of Real Estate and Facilities provides a wide degree of guidance and assistance on implementing federal and state laws, rules and regulations, as well as BOR policies and procedures, pertaining to environmental compliance, public health, campus safety, risk management, construction compliance, emergency preparedness/planning, hazard & disaster mitigation, and homeland security.