​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Institutional Ethics

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is committed to our core institutional values, including a commitment to behaving in an ethical manner and treating all people with respect. All members of our community are expected to always fulfill ethical and other professional standards. Additionally, we abide by federal, state and other regulations in addition to policies set by the UW System Board of Regents and the university.

​The following workplace conduct expectations apply to all employees of the Universities of Wisconsin, as well as volunteers and other representatives when speaking or acting on behalf of a UW university:

• Be fair and respectful to others.
• Protect and preserve UW System resources.
  
• Act ethically and with integrity.
  
• Contribute to a healthy and safe workplace.
  
• Promote a culture of compliance.​​​ 
  

​If you have a concern about misconduct, abuse, fraud, illegal activity, violations of university policy, 

or if you fear retaliation for speaking out, please report concerns to your supervisor. 

The UW System provides a simple and anonymous way to file a report. 

​Simply go online or dial 855-827-4950. 

​Periodically, questions arise regarding what items (gifts, tickets to events and ballgames, etc.) university employees can accept from vendors or contractors. In general, employees may not accept "anything of value" from these sources. Examples of items that you may not accept, in addition to the obvious ones, include airline tickets or hotel rooms to attend university business functions or vendor-sponsored activities, specifically if you are in the position to approve or influence a decision to award a contract for a product or service. The laws and rules we must work within are designed to provide an open and free "market," both reality, and appearance, for the goods and services the university buys.  

Many of you participate in conferences or seminars hosted and attended by education entities and private vendors. At these meetings, breaks or meals may be sponsored by private vendors. Since these benefits are provided to all attendees, they are not considered inappropriate under this code.   In addition, vendors or potential vendors may offer to pay for a meal for you as part of a business meeting. This is likewise acceptable assuming the cost of the meal is within "contemporary community standards."  In general, if you have any doubts about whether you can ethically accept an item from a vendor or contractor, you should decline the offer. 

The employees subject to Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter UWS 8 must keep track of and report annually outside activities pursuant to Wis. Admin. Code UWS 8.025.  The Board of Regents require all UW System faculty, academic staff, and limited appointees who are subject to UWS 8 with half-time or greater appointments are required to report annually (by April 30 of each year) on outside activities and interests related to their areas of professional responsibility and for which they receive remuneration.  

You are required to report: officerships, directorships, ownership interests, outside professional activities and remunerative activities that occur at any time during the year, even if you are not under contract to the university for part of that time. If, during the year, changes in your reportable outside activities occur, you should immediately inform, in writing, your dean, director or other appropriate administrator. Review the complete policy here. Learn more about Conflicts of Interest here​. Conflicts of Commitment here.

Outside professional activities may not create a conflict of commitment with your UW System primary duties.  If your aggregate time commitment to one or more outside professional activities will exceed an average of 16 hours per calendar month during hours that you would be normally on duty in your UWS position, you must receive prior written permission from your supervisor.​

In the spring of each year, you will be alerted that an online form is available to report any outside activities. The form is completed directly in Workday and must be completed by April 30. As an additional reminder, you will receive communication from UWSP Human Resources about reporting on/around April 1 each year regarding the requirements to complete the form.

​​Per the Wisconsin Ethics Commission (WEC), the Ethics Code, or Subchapter III of Chapter 19 of Wisconsin Statutes, requires State Public Officials (SPOs) to file a Statement of Economic Interests (SEI) once a year with the WEC. Officials are required to identify a variety of interests, including securities they hold, businesses and clients, creditors, employers, and gifts and honoraria. This allows the public and press to watch out for possible conflicts of interest and can help public officials to be aware of issues where legal advice may be required, or recusal may be recommended. Per UWS 8.06, any employee who is defined as “contracting personnel” (Non-SPO) under UWS 8.02(7) must also file an annual statement of economics interest with the WEC. Those are UWSP with signature authority who must file an SEI are contracted directly regarding the submission.