CMU Ethics Hotline

NAVEX Global is a an anonymous, confidential, third party reporting tool created to assist management and employees to work together in addressing fraud, abuse, and other misconduct in the workplace, all while cultivating a positive work environment.

NAVEX Global previously named Ethics Point is also referred to as the Ethics Hotline and are all one and the same.

Reporting “hotlines” have proven to be an effective tool in reducing losses from unethical or otherwise inappropriate activity. Additionally, by creating open channels of communication, we can promote a positive work environment and maximize productivity.

However, certain individuals may fear retaliation and may therefore feel more comfortable reporting complaints anonymously to a third party.

Accordingly, an effective, anonymous reporting system will augment CMU's efforts to foster a culture of integrity and ethical decision-making.

CMU does not suspect any wrongdoing within our campus community. We believe in the integrity of our employees. By establishing this confidential reporting tool, CMU strengthens its commitment to maintaining a safe, secure, and ethical workplace.

Yes. With NAVEX Global you have the ability to file a confidential, anonymous report via either the telephone or the Internet.

The NAVEX Global system is designed for employees to report any violation, or other concern you may have.

When you observe some behavior that you believe involves misconduct or fraud, we expect you to report it. Ideally, you should bring any concerns forward to your direct manager, or other member of our management team. We recognize, however, that there may be circumstances when you are not comfortable reporting the issue in this manner. It is for such circumstances that we have partnered with NAVEX Global. We would rather you report anonymously than keep the information to yourself.

We all have the right to work in a positive environment and with that right comes the responsibility of acting in an ethical manner and letting the appropriate people know if someone is not acting appropriately. By working together, we can maintain a healthy and productive environment.

You can file an NAVEX Global report from any computer that can access the Internet. You can file from home. Many public locations, including the public library, have Internet computers. If you don’t have access to or are uncomfortable using a computer, you can call the NAVEX Global toll-free hotline 1-866-294-9379, which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

We certainly do. In fact, we need you to report. You know what is going on in our university - both good and bad. You may have initial knowledge of an activity that may be cause for concern. Your reporting can minimize the potential negative impact on the university and our people. Also, offering positive input may help identify issues that can improve corporate culture and performance.

Reports are entered directly on the NAVEX Global secure server to prevent any possible breach in security. NAVEX Global makes these reports available only to specific individuals within our university who are charged with evaluating the report, based on the type of violation and location of the incident. Each of these report recipients has had training in keeping these reports in the utmost confidence.

Since the reporter is anonymous, this is cannot be an example of someone watching you. The NAVEX Global system concentrates on being a positive aspect of our overall philosophy, and allows us to assure a safe, secure, and ethical workplace. You are encouraged to seek guidance on ethical dilemmas, provide positive suggestions, or communicate a concern. Effective communication is critical in today’s workplace and this is a great tool to enhance that communication. We have carefully chosen the best reporting tool to meet our compliance obligations while maintaining a positive reporting environment.

Our university chooses to promote ethical behavior. All unethical conduct, at any level, ultimately hurts the university and all employees, including you. You only have to consider what happened in recent university scandals to see the disastrous effects that a seemingly harmless lapse in ethics can have on an otherwise healthy university. So if you know of any incidents of misconduct or ethical violations, consider it your duty to yourself and your coworkers to report it.

File a report. NAVEX Global can help you prepare and file your report so it can be properly understood. We'd rather you report a situation that turns out to be harmless than let possible unethical behavior go unchecked because you weren't sure.

When you file a report at the NAVEX Global Web site or through the NAVEX Global Call Center, you receive a unique user name and are asked to choose a password. You can return to the NAVEX Global system again either by internet or telephone and access the original report to add more detail or answer questions posed by a university representative and add further information that will help resolve open issues. We strongly suggest that you return to the site in the time specified to answer university questions. You and the university now have entered into an “anonymous dialogue,” where situations are not only identified, but can also be resolved, no matter how complex.

At NAVEX Global correspondences are held in the same strict confidence as the initial report, continuing under the umbrella of anonymity.

A report from home, a neighbor’s computer, or any Internet portal will remain secure and anonymous. An Internet portal never identifies a visitor by screen name and the NAVEX Global system strips away Internet addresses so that anonymity is totally maintained. Plus, NAVEX Global is contractually committed not to pursue a reporter’s identity.

The NAVEX Global system is designed to protect your anonymity. However, if you wish to remain anonymous, you - as a reporting party - need to ensure that the body of the report does not reveal your identity by accident. For example, “From my cube next to Jan Smith…” or “In my 33 years…”.

Yes. You will be asked to provide the same information that you would provide in an internet-based report and an interviewer will type your responses into the NAVEX Global Web site. These reports have the same security and confidentiality measures applied to them during delivery.

The NAVEX Global system and report distribution are designed so that implicated parties are not notified or granted access to reports in which they have been named.

There is a section in the report for identifying yourself, if you wish.