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Office of Ethics, Compliance,
and Risk

 

Reporting

At GW, we conduct our activities with the highest standards of conduct in mind. The Code of Ethical Conduct (the Code) presents the ethical standards to which all persons acting on the university’s behalf should aspire. The Code should be used as a general guide in making ethical decisions in all situations, especially those where the “right” answer is not always clear. Policies at GW are created and maintained with the purpose of encouraging a culture of ethical, social, professional, and legal behavior. Policies serve to communicate GW’s values and mission while protecting its people and reputation.

Members of the university community are expected to report concerns of potential unethical conduct and/or allegations of noncompliance with laws, regulations, or university policies. Ideally, such reports should be made to the appropriate supervisor, management within your unit, or the appropriate university official (if applicable). Alternatively, you can report a concern 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via EthicsPoint, managed by a third-party provider, NAVEX Global, which works in conjunction with the Office of Ethics, Compliance, and Risk. More information on reporting to EthicsPoint can be found at the bottom of this page. Options for reporting can either be found in the list below or by using the reporting avenues questionnaire.

Non-Retaliation

The university's Non-Retaliation Policy states that retaliation against members of the university community who make good-faith reports regarding potential university-related violations of law, regulations, or university policies and/or who provide information or participate in a complaint review process is prohibited. The university will review complaints of retaliation, and any attempted or actual retaliatory action covered under the policy may subject the violator to disciplinary action.

Reporting Avenues

The following is a list of reporting contacts and resources organized alphabetically by subject matter of the complaint. Additional information on where or how to report can be found using this questionnaire on reporting avenues. Separately, contact information for the GW Hospital and GW Medical Faculty Associates (MFA) is listed; reports that involve either the Hospital or the MFA should be reported to the respective entity directly, as both are distinct entities with their own reporting channels.

  • Accessibility: The university is committed to making our physical and digital spaces accessible and usable to everyone, including people with disabilities. Barriers experienced that affect someone's ability to access GW facilities, services, websites, or other digital content should be reported.
  • Disability Policy Grievance Procedure: The procedures for when an individual wishes to grieve any determination under the Disability Policy.
  • Discrimination or Harassment: Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against or harassed based on a protected characteristic(s) defined in and covered by the Equal Opportunity, Nondiscrimination, Anti-Harassment, and Non-Retaliation Policy may submit reports via a centralized Discrimination, Harassment, and Bias Reporting Form.
  • Employee Relations: Reports can be submitted to an employee's HR Business Partner.
  • Facilities Repair: Maintenance or repair work needs can be submitted to the FixIt ticket system.
  • Faculty Concerns and Grievances: Faculty can submit reports to their department head, or, where applicable, the head of other pertinent academic unit, Dean, or Faculty Affairs at facultyaffairsatgwu [dot] edu or 202-994-1620. The process for filing a formal grievance is outlined in the Faculty Code.
  • Grade Appeals: Each school/college has a grade appeal process. Students should contact their dean's office for the process specific to their school/college.
  • Management: Reports can be submitted to an employee's supervisor, department head, or, where applicable, head of other pertinent academic unit.
  • Office of Professional and Respectful Learning (School of Medicine & Health Sciences only): The Office of Professional and Respectful Learning manages reports of learner mistreatment within the School of Medicine & Health Sciences.
  • Privacy: The GW Privacy Office manages reports of data incidents or privacy concerns.
  • Research Misconduct: Reports of observed, suspected, or apparent misconduct in research should be submitted to the Research Integrity Officer.
  • Sexual Harassment: The Title IX Office responds to reports of sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, dating and/or domestic violence, and provides supportive measures to individuals affected by these issues.
  • Student Behavior: Reports of alleged student misconduct (including academic dishonesty but excluding Title IX-related matters) can be submitted to Conflict Education & Student Accountability.
  • Threat Assessment Team: The Threat Assessment Team is a cross-functional team comprised of a variety of University offices that addresses concerns about threatening behavior that could result in violence directed towards a faculty, staff, or student. Reports of concerning (non-emergency) behavior can be submitted here.
  • Workers'Compensation Accident Reporting: To report a work-related injury or illness, complete the Accident Form.

Please note, if you are looking to report a concern related to either the GW Hospital or GW Medical Faculty Associates (MFA), they are separate entities from the university with their own reporting features. To report a concern  involving either the GW Hospital or the GW MFA, please see below:

  • GW Hospital: A list of patient rights and responsibilities, points of contact, and how to report concerns involving GW Hospital can be found on the Patient Rights and Responsibilities webpage.
  • GW Medical Faculty Associates: The MFA's Privacy Team manages concerns and inquiries related to the MFA. Anonymous reporting features regarding concerns about the MFA can be submitted via their General Compliance Reporting Form or at 1-855-231-0615. For general inquiries, please reach out to PrivacyOfficeratmfa [dot] gwu [dot] edu (PrivacyOfficer[at]mfa[dot]gwu[dot]edu) or call (202) 741-3341.

Reporting to EthicsPoint

If you are unsure what to do, please reach out to the Office of Ethics, Compliance, and Risk, either by reaching out via our contact information found below or by submitting a report to EthicsPoint, the university's hotline reporting feature. Reports submitted can be anonymous if preferred and may be submitted either online by clicking the buttonat the bottom of this page or by calling the EthicsPoint Hotline Phone Number at (888) 508-5275. More information about reporting and EthicsPoint can be found in this list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Report a Concern to EthicsPoint

Submit a Report Using a Mobile Device

 For consultation or inquiry, please complyatgwu [dot] edu (email the Office of Ethics, Compliance, and Risk) or call (202) 994-3386.

If you are experiencing an emergency, please call your local emergency services at 9-1-1 or the GW Police Department at (202) 994-6111.