Office of the President
	October 9, 2012

To:                   UVM Community

From:               Tom Sullivan, President

Subject:           University Compliance Program

The University of Vermont always has valued a strong ethical culture.  Our motto “Studiis et Rebus Honestis” (Integrity in Theoretical and Practical Pursuits) represents the University’s commitment to honesty and integrity.  As members of the University Community, we hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards and aspire to act in accordance with the values of integrity and openness stated in “Our Common Ground.” I share these values and support our institutional efforts to uphold them.  I also fully endorse the Statement of Expectations in the Workplace, which explains how “Our Common Ground” is relevant to our working environment.

The mission of the University Compliance Services Office is to work proactively and collaboratively to advance our values by fostering a “culture of compliance,” which is an environment that supports adherence to the law and institutional policies and procedures.  This environment is best achieved when built upon a strong ethical foundation.  The Compliance Office also promotes the UVM’s Code of Business Conduct; this code states the underlying standards and principles required for all work at the University.

Although we all strive to do the right thing, there are situations in which the right course of action may not always be clear.  The Compliance Office is available to provide advice or counsel when questions arise.  As an additional resource, the Compliance Office administers the Ethics and Compliance Reporting and Help Line.  This resource enables concerned employees to safely and anonymously voice their compliance concerns, seek compliance guidance, or report suspected wrongdoing.

We all share in the responsibility to comply with University policies, meet legal obligations and conduct ourselves in accordance with the ethical values expressed in “Our Common Ground.”  Our conduct contributes significantly to public trust in our institution and to our reputation for quality and excellence.  The important work of the Compliance Office helps us to implement our values.  By working together and supporting each other, our actions can exemplify our motto and we can pursue integrity in all that we do.