Campus Security Home Page

Thank you for your interest in employment at East Tennessee State University. East Tennessee State University makes available to current and prospective employees the ETSU Security Information Report. The report is published annually and includes the following information:

a) campus policy regarding the reporting of criminal activity
b) campus policy concerning facility safety and access
c) campus policy concerning law enforcement
d) information regarding safety and crime prevention programs
e) campus policy regarding the sale, possession and use of alcohol and illegal drugs
f) information regarding drug and alcohol education programs
g) campus policy regarding sexual assault programs to prevent sex offenses and procedures to follow when sex offenses occur
h) description of procedures for preparing annual disclosure of crime statistics
i) campus policy allowing disclosure of crimes on a voluntary, confidential basis
j) campus policy concerning crimes disclosed to a pastoral or mental health counselor
k) campus policy concerning the recording of student criminal activity at off-campus locations
l) timely warning procedure (campus crime alerts)
m) crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years

The ETSU Security Information Report is available upon request from the Department of Public Safety, Box 70646, ETSU, Johnson City, TN 37614 or from the Office of Student Affairs, Box 70725, ETSU, Johnson City, TN 37614. The report can be accessed on the Internet at: http://www.etsu.edu/dps/security_report.asp.

The federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act and the Tennessee College and University Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act of 2002 require that whenever a sex offender becomes employed, enrolls as a student or volunteers at an institution of higher education in the, state of Tennessee, he or she must complete or update the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) sexual offender registration/monitoring form and deliver it to TBI headquarters in Nashville. As defined in section 40-39-102 of the Tennessee Code, a "sexual offender" means a person who is, or has been, convicted in this state of committing a sexual offense or who is, or has been, convicted in another state or another country, or who is or has been convicted in a federal or military court, of committing an act which would have constituted a sexual offense if it had been committed in this state. A "sexual offense" means the commission of acts including but not limited to aggravated and statutory rape, sexual battery, sexual exploitation of a minor, aggravated prostitution, and kidnapping.

Both acts designate certain information concerning a registered sexual offender as public information and therefore amend and supercede the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other federal and state laws that previously prohibited the disclosure of such personal information. Since the laws require the publication of information pertaining to sexual offenders employed, enrolled or volunteering at an educational institution, said publication does not constitute grounds for a grievance or complaint under institutional or Tennessee Board of Regents policies or procedures.

East Tennessee State University
Office of Human Resources · Box 70564 · Johnson City, Tennessee 37614-1707 · (423) 439-4457, 5825 · Fax: (423) 439-8354

From: William A. Coleman, Associate Vice President and Director of Human Resources

To maintain institutional compliance with the Campus Security Act, the university must provide to all prospective employees a summary of the university’s Security Information Report. This summary must explain the existence of the full report and offer information on how to obtain it.

A prospective employee is any person who requests information on employment with the institution. A person need not formally apply for employment, they need only to contact a university department or the Office of Human Resources to request employment information.

To comply with this requirement, all search committees and/or supervisors performing a search must respond to formal applicants using the appropriate attached letter (support/clerical letter or administrative/faculty letter). These letters are included in the university’s official Search Guidelines (Personnel Policies and Procedures, PPP-34, 34, 35), available through the Office of Human Resources web page (http://www.etsu.edu/humanres/).

In addition, all departments who respond to a formal or informal request for employment information must provide this same security summary information to interested parties. The attached sample letter is available through the Office of Human Resources web page (http://www.etsu.edu/humanres/forms/forms.htm).

Your cooperation in complying with the Campus Security Act is appreciated. Please distribute this memo and attached letters to all appropriate personnel in your department. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Human Resources, extension 9-5890.

Mission: The Office of Human Resources’ mission is to facilitate long-range programs and services which support faculty and staff in providing a quality learning environment for students.

Responsibilities for Reporting Fraud, Waste and Abuse

The Tennessee Higher Education Accountability Act requires all public institutions of higher education to provide a means by which students, employees or others may report suspected or known improper or dishonest acts. The information below has been developed to provide required information including phone numbers and offices to which known or suspected acts can be reported. We encourage all employees and students to review this information. It will also be posted on various web sites including the registrar, bursar, comptroller and internal audit web pages for future references. If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact this office or the Department of Internal Audit at 9-6156.

Reporting Fraud, Waste, or Abuse

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State law requires all public institutions of higher education to provide a means by which students, employees, or others may report suspected or known improper or dishonest acts. In addition, the University is committed to the responsible stewardship of our resources.

Whether you are part of departmental management, a faculty or staff member, a student, or an interested citizen, we encourage you to report known or suspected dishonest acts by employees, outside contractors, or vendors.

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What Should I Report?

Dishonest acts, either known or suspected, should be reported, such as:

· Theft or misappropriation of funds, supplies, property, or other university/college resources
Forgery or alteration of documents
Unauthorized alteration or manipulation of computer files
Improper and wasteful activity
Falsification of reports to management or external agencies
Pursuit of a benefit or advantage in violation of the university’s conflict of interests policy
Authorization or receipt of compensation for hours not worked

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Think Before You Speak!

Before making allegations of dishonesty, be reasonably certain of any claims. Such allegations can seriously and negatively impact the accused individual’s life and adversely affect the working environment of the department.

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Reporting Options

Several options are available to all university employees, students and others for reporting known or suspected dishonest acts.

You may report your concerns:
To your supervisor or department head
To an official at your campus or institute
To University Internal Audit at 9-6156
To the Tennessee Board of Regents by email at ReportFraud@tbr.state.tn.us
To the Tennessee Comptroller’s Hotline for Fraud, Waste and Abuse at 1-800-232-5454

If you are a supervisor, department head, or campus official and you receive a report of a dishonest act, contact Internal Audit at 9-6156 for further assistance.

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Investigations

When Internal Audit receives allegations of dishonesty or other irregularity by an employee, outside contractor, or vendor, they are required to conduct an investigation.

Departmental management should not attempt to conduct investigations nor alert suspected employees of an impending investigation.

In an investigation, objectives include verifying the facts, maintaining objectivity and confidentiality, determining responsibility, and recommending corrective actions to help ensure that similar actions do not occur in the future.

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Protection under State Law

As Internal Audit investigates allegations of dishonesty, the reporting individual’s confidentiality is protected under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 10, Chapter 7 (subject to court action requiring disclosure). Also, state law prohibits discrimination or retaliation of any kind against employees who report allegations of dishonest acts.

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Reporting Responsibility

Internal Audit has reporting responsibility to the Audit Committee of the Tennessee Board of Regents through the Director of System-wide Internal Auditing. This reporting relationship enables them to independently and objectively review matters involving any level of administration at the university.

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Preventing Fraud, Waste and Abuse

University management is responsible for establishing and implementing systems and procedures to prevent and detect fraud, waste and abuse.

The basic elements of a proper control system include:

Creating a culture of honesty and high ethics
Evaluating risks and implementing processes, procedures and controls to prevent, deter and detect fraud, waste and abuse
Developing an appropriate oversight process

Management at all levels of the university should review the information that is available from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants in the document, Management Antifraud Programs and Controls: Guidance to Help Prevent and Deter Fraud, at their website:

http://www.aicpa.org/download/antifraud/SAS-99-Exhibit.pdf

Please contact Internal Audit at 9-6156 if you need assistance in reviewing risks, processes, procedures or controls, or in providing internal control training.

It is a Class A misdemeanor to misrepresent academic credentials. A person commits the offense of misrepresentation of academic credentials who, knowing that the statement is false and with the intent to secure employment at or admission to an institution of higher education in Tennessee, represents, orally or in writing that such person:
(1) Has successfully completed the required course work for and has been awarded one (1) or more degrees or diplomas from an accredited institution of higher education;
(2) Has successfully completed the required course work for and has been awarded one (1) or more degrees or diplomas from a particular institution of higher education; or
(3) Has successfully completed the required course work for and has been awarded one (1) or more degrees or diplomas in a particular field or specialty from an accredited institution of higher education.

Though no transmission of the avian flu has been reported in the United States, East Tennessee State University recognizes the importance of having a diligent plan in place in the event a local outbreak of the avian flu or another infectious disease was to occur. A task force was formed to develop a detailed preparedness plan that would encompass all areas of the university community accordingly.

If such an event were to occur, important information would be disseminated to the campus via the ETSU Alert Page at http://www.etsu.edu/alert/, which is easily accessible from the home page. Other forms of communication, such as email, would be used.

Mailing Address: Office of Human Resources
ETSU Box 70564
Johnson City, TN 37614-1707
Telephone: 423-439-4457
Fax: 423-439-8354
TDD: 423-439-4710

Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern; Monday - Friday
Office Location: Room 307, Dossett Hall