Incident Reporting Procedures

Scope

This procedure applies to the use of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s (UNL) Incident Reporting System/Hotline.

Policy Statement

UNL’s Incident Reporting System provides a mechanism for campus reporting that can be anonymous or identifiable to elevate campus incidents for action. The system and procedures are designed to be a conduit to existing campus offices and resources. Publicity of the Incident Reporting System occurs on every UNL web page and is announced at least annually in UNL communications.

This procedure sets forth the established process for the administration UNL’s Incident Reporting System. This procedure is not intended to substitute or modify the guidance of other University policies or procedures that address a specific type of misconduct, such as sexual misconduct, academic misconduct, unsatisfactory work performance, or conflicts with other employees.

Reason for Policy

To document UNL’s procedures for receiving, investigating, and resolving incident reports in compliance with NU’s Whistleblower Reporting Hotlines Policy.

Procedures

A triage committee, housed in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance, manages the routing of all received reports. Once a report is received, the triage committee ensures the report is correctly categorized and then forwards the report to a central UNL department or office responsible or designated for investigation/follow-up in accordance with established University policies and procedures. The report is assigned and routed accordingly within 24 hours. All reports received regarding potential fraud, waste, and abuse are provided to Internal Audit and Advisory Services within one business day of receipt. The assigned UNL office or department contact is responsible for acknowledging receipt, initiating their office or department’s established policy and procedures for remediation and/or investigation, and ensuring the case is properly resolved. If issues would ever be received involving members of the triage committee or senior administration, these would be immediately referred to Internal Audit and Advisory Services or the University-wide Compliance Officer. If the reporter/complainant identifies themselves and provides contact information, they will receive a response within two (2) business days acknowledging receipt of the report and, to the extent allowable in the circumstances, be kept informed of the status of the investigation and subsequent resolution of the case and/or action(s) taken. Reports are considered resolved within the system when they have been assigned and routed to the proper UNL office or department contact, receipt has been acknowledged, and initiation of remediation and/or an investigation has been confirmed. 

Forms

• UNL Report

Related Information

• Whistleblower Reporting Hotlines Policy

History

• This policy was created in January 2021.
• This policy was updated in August 2021 to reflect the current incident reporting system of UNL as being UNL Report.