HSC Integrity Framework: Applying Our Values Through Ethical Practices

The Integrity Framework outlines solutions and actions that help employees and students demonstrate high ethical behavior and accountability at all levels.

Determining and defining integrity is having confidence in your leadership to make integrity-based decisions and ensuring that expectations are clear and consistent to you. Utilizing our foundational tools: mission, values, Code of Culture (or Conduct), policies, and procedures; guides your behavior and demonstrates your commitment to upholding an ethical culture. Understanding expectations helps to guide you towards integrity. This can be evidenced through education and training that help shape your behavior and attitude towards integrity; clear communication that reinforces your trust in the institution's integrity; people engagement and personnel processes that are fair; and absence of judgment when you seek advice and direction on decisions.

Monitoring is inclusive and needs everyone's participation for the integrity framework's success. When we actively assist leaders in finding and resolving integrity dilemmas, we consciously prevent adverse outcomes and consequences. By participating in risk assessments and reporting suspected wrongdoing, you help to identify areas of vulnerability in the institution's culture. Everyone has the right to report suspected misconduct; it is an essential aspect of the integrity framework and helps deter institutional integrity violations. All employees and students must be protected from retaliation when reporting concerns.

We all want to do what is right. But sometimes, adverse actions happen. Decisions that lead to violations are often complex and complicated and may involve many individuals regardless of their roles. Enforcing integrity means that if you are ever a reporter, respondent, or witness to violations you are assured that solid, consistent, and fair procedures are embedded for reliable and trustworthy investigations. Enforcing Integrity also means that failures create opportunities to learn. By utilizing Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and After-Action Review (AAR) tools we help to improve the investigation experience.

Consistent improvement of the integrity framework is crucial to manage risk and encourage ethical decision-making. We must first have the right governance structure and a values-driven strategy. Our internal audit partners add value by helping detect gaps and providing insight for educational opportunities. Your input in audits and program assessments helps to design the improvements to the integrity framework. Recognizing that our people make change. Being a champion for integrity also means participating in focus groups to help communicate, educate, and invite discussion that address challenges and propose improvements for better understanding.

Everyone has a role in the Integrity Framework. Not acting with integrity is never an option for anyone. The President is responsible for promoting ethical practices that set the tone for the institution- Our Values. The design and implementation of the integrity framework is to ensure that it is evident at all levels. Our leaders establish clear responsibilities to strengthen cooperation, but they cannot do this alone. Although everyone's primary purpose is not to directly administer the integrity framework, we all work towards a shared objective when we participate and collaborate in the integrity framework process to create positive and progressive change to our culture.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in the 1998 Recommendation on Improving Ethical Conduct in the Public Service and the Principles for Managing Ethics in the Public, developed a comprehensive approach in identifying key elements for building a sound framework for promoting ethics in the public service.

Established in 1961 as the successor to the Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is a multilateral organization with 38-member countries (including the United States) that collaborate to develop and compare experiences, common challenges, identify good practices, and develop high standards for economic policy

The Integrity framework serves as guidance to demonstrate integrity in daily interactions and operations. The use of the integrity framework positively influences the impact to HSC’s culture as well as staff and student experiences by creating a positive environment and establishing healthy working relationships. The framework helps influence positive behavior and assist in gaining a better understanding of the impact and experience of integrity. Having an integrity framework helps t HSC to set integrity expectations by integrating the values with foundational tools thus creating confidence in the organization that integrity is being appropriately practiced and managed with accountability.

Although everyone’s primary purpose is not to administer the integrity framework, everyone regardless of role has an impact to the framework. The inclusion of all employees and students to participate, collaborate and cooperate is essential and a must for the integrity process to have effective and progressive change to the culture. Speaking and acting with integrity must always occur to become a standard expectation; not acting with integrity is never an option.

HSC still and must have a compliance program. The integrity framework will help enhance the compliance function to support and guide the decisions and operations that are aligned with our values, laws, regulations and consideration of risk to the institution.

There is no checklist or step by step guide to establish success of applying the integrity framework. Consistency and continuous improvement define success. However, there are some methodologies that can assist with benchmarking the maturity of the framework application.

No, the Office of Institutional Integrity and Awareness as well as other departments such as Human Resources and Title IX conduct investigations on behalf of the employee and students of HSC. The Integrity Framework helps to establish fairness in the process and procedures of investigations including assessments through Root Cause Analysis and After-Action Review.

Everyone has responsibility for the integrity framework, however for questions and direction please contact the Office of Institutional Integrity and Awareness or compliance@unthsc.edu. We will do our best to provide you with any guidance and resources that can assist you.