UCF Compliance & Ethics Newsletter

On March 16, we distributed an email asking employees to participate in the UCF Compliance and Ethics Culture Survey. All university employees, including hourly and student employees with email addresses, received the invitation to participate in the anonymous survey. The survey contained questions about the employee’s familiarity with our office, the UCF IntegrityLine, UCF policies and regulations. It also asked whether employees had experienced or witnessed misconduct, bullying, or retaliation, and if so, whether they reported it. The survey also offered a comments section for employees to provide feedback or concerns about compliance and ethics. Of the 7,276 university employees emailed, 2,137 employees (29.4%) responded. The following summary highlights the key responses.

What do you know about the laws in Florida that restrict soliciting and accepting gifts and honoraria? Were you aware that UCF employees, as state employees, are subject to the Florida Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees (state ethics laws), which include restrictions on soliciting and accepting gifts and honoraria? Many employees have requested assistance from our office on this topic. The statutes can be quite complicated and dependent on many factors, such as:

• Do you meet the state definition of a procurement employee?
• Are you a state Form 1 filer?
• Who is giving you the gift or honoraria?
• What is the value?
• What is the purpose?

If you are not familiar with the UCF policy on reporting misconduct and protection from retaliation, we encourage you to read the full policy, available at Reporting Misconduct and Protection from Retaliation. This policy declares UCF’s commitment to a culture of integrity, compliance, and accountability that encourages the highest standards of ethical behavior.