Standards of Conduct

The following are the general provisions and standards of the University, SOM and SIU P&S's Code of Conduct.

General Provision and Standards

1. All business will be conducted in conformance with sound ethical standards. Achieving business results by illegal acts or unethical conduct is not acceptable.

2. All personnel shall act in compliance with the requirements of applicable laws and this Code of Conduct and in a sound ethical manner when conducting business and operations.

3. All personnel are responsible for acquiring sufficient knowledge to recognize potential compliance issues applicable to their duties and for appropriately seeking advice regarding such issues.

4. Personnel shall not offer or give any bribe, payment, gift, or thing of value to any person or entity with whom the University, SIU SOM and/or SIU P&S has or is seeking any business or regulatory relationship except for gifts of a nominal value which are legal and given in the ordinary course of business.

5. Personnel shall be completely honest in all dealings with government agencies and representatives. No misrepresentations shall be made, and no false bills or requests for payments or other documents shall be submitted to government agencies or representatives. Personnel certifying the correctness of records submitted to government agencies, including bills or requests for payment, shall have knowledge that the information is accurate and complete before giving such certification.

Reporting of Violations

1. Illegal acts or improper conduct may subject the University, SIU SOM and/or SIU P&S to severe civil and criminal penalties, including large fines and being barred from certain types of business. It is, therefore, very important that any inappropriate activities or violations of the Code of Conduct be promptly brought to the University, SIU SOM and/or SIU P&S's attention. In many cases, if illegal acts are discovered and reported to the appropriate governmental authorities, lesser penalties may result.

2. Any director, officer, or employee who believes or becomes aware of any violation of the Code of Conduct or any inappropriate activity by a director, officer, or employee or another person acting on the University, SIU SOM, and/or SIU P&S's behalf shall promptly report the violation or activity in person, by phone, or in writing, to the University Office of Compliance or other appropriate offices or personnel of the SOM and/or SIU P&S. A report may also be made by calling the Compliance Hotline at 217.545.7479.

3. It is a violation of this Code of Conduct for personnel not to report a possible violation of the Code of Conduct or other inappropriate activities. If you have a question about whether particular acts or conduct may be inappropriate or a violation of the Code of Conduct, you should contact the University Office of Compliance or other appropriate SOM or SIU P&S offices and/or personnel. It is a violation of this Code of Conduct for personnel to whom a potential inappropriate act or violation of the Code of Conduct is reported to not ensure that the suspected act or violation of the Code of Conduct comes to the attention of those responsible for investigating such reports. If the suspected acts or conduct may be in violation of the Code of Conduct involve a person to whom such acts or violations might otherwise be reported, the individual should report such activities to another person to whom reporting is appropriate.

4. It is the University, SIU SOM and/or SIU P&S's policy to promptly and thoroughly investigate reports of illegal activity or violations of this Code of Conduct. Personnel must cooperate with these investigations. You must not take any actions to prevent, hinder, or delay discovery and full investigation of any suspected acts or violations. It is a violation of this Code of Conduct for personnel to prevent, hinder or delay discovery and full investigation of matters under this Code of Conduct.

5. Personnel may report suspected acts or violations of this Code anonymously. To the extent permitted by law, the University, SIU SOM and/or SIU P&S will take reasonable precautions to maintain the confidentiality of those individuals who report such activities or violations of this Code and of those individuals involved in the alleged improper activity, whether or not it turns out that improper acts occurred. Failure to abide by this confidentiality obligation is a violation of this Code of Conduct.

6. No reprisals or disciplinary action will be taken or permitted against personnel for good faith reporting of, or cooperating in the investigation of, suspected violations of this Code of Conduct. It is a violation of this Code for personnel to punish or conduct reprisals in regard to personnel who have made a good faith report of, or cooperated in the investigation of, illegal acts or violations of this Code of Conduct.

7. Personnel who violate the Code of Conduct or commit illegal acts are subject to discipline up to and including dismissal. Personnel who report their own illegal acts or improper conduct, however, will have such self-reporting taken into account in determining the appropriate disciplinary action.