Reporting and Disclosure of Employee Misconduct (Rollins Whistleblower Policy)

Purpose

Rollins College expects its faculty and staff to perform their duties in accordance with high ethical standards, applicable laws and regulations, and College policies and procedures. This policy is intended to enable those who have good-faith serious concerns regarding observed or suspected violations of College policies or unethical or unlawful activities to raise them with appropriate College officials before seeking external resolution. The reporting procedures outlined herein may be used by Rollins’ students, faculty, staff, vendors, or volunteers (Covered Individuals) who observe or suspect misconduct on the part of College employees relating to financial impropriety, theft, fraud, kickbacks, violation of College policies, unlawful employment practices or other forms of non compliance with local, state, or federal rules or regulations, unethical business practices, unsafe working conditions, and other types of misconduct.

This policy is intended to complement and supplement existing College policies and procedures. It does not affect any rights, responsibilities, or procedures set forth in other College policies addressing misconduct such as harassment, academic and disciplinary matters, grievances, Faculty Handbook policies, and other matters as to which there are specific College policies. This policy is also intended to protect covered individuals from retaliation in connection with any good faith report filed under this policy.

Definitions

Covered Individuals: Rollins’ students, faculty, staff, vendors, or volunteers.
College Intake Officers: Rollins officials designated to receive reports regarding observed or suspected violations of College policies or unethical or unlawful activities.

Procedure or Application

Covered Individuals should disclose all relevant information regarding observed or suspected misconduct to the following designated College Intake Officers, in accordance with the subject matter of the disclosure.

In all cases the College Intake Officer to whom a matter is reported is to promptly notify the AVP, HR & Risk Management who will be responsible for providing guidance in the investigation and resolution of the concern.

Confidentiality of the reporter will be maintained to the extent practical within the limitations of the law, College policy, and the legitimate needs of the investigation. Covered Individuals who do not feel comfortable reporting through the above-referenced College channels may convey their concerns directly or anonymously by letter to the designated College attorney.

Mr. James (Trippe) Cheek III
Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman, P.A.,
Office: 329 Park Avenue North, Second Floor, Winter Park Florida 32789
Mail: P.O. Box 880, Winter Park, FL. 32790-0880

The responsibility of the College attorney is to pass information received on to the chair of the College’s Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees and to the College’s AVP, HR & Risk Management. No individual who in good faith makes a report under this policy shall suffer harassment, retaliation, or adverse employment consequence. An employee who retaliates against someone who has reported a violation in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment.

This policy is effective January 11, 2024, and supersedes HR 7591 Reporting Procedure for Financial Misconduct.