Whistleblowers Policy

The UW-River Falls Foundation (the Foundation) is committed to the highest standards of financial reporting and lawful and ethical behavior.  The Board of Directors has adopted the following procedures for reporting illegal and unethical conduct in connection with the Foundation’s finances and other aspects of its operations, including the treatment of such complaints, and of confidential submissions received from any interested party of the Foundation.

Should any person know or have knowledge that a person or persons associated with the Foundation plan to engage or have engaged in illegal or unethical conduct in connection with the finances or other aspect of the Foundation’s operations, that person should immediately file a written complaint with both the Executive Director and Board Chair of the Foundation.  In the event a complaint relates to acts or omissions by the Board Chair, a written complaint should be submitted to the Executive Director and Board Vice-Chair.  In the event a complaint related to acts or omissions by the Executive Director, a written complaint should be submitted to both the Board Chair and Board Vice-Chair of the Foundation.  Interested parties of the Foundation may submit complaints on a confidential basis.

The Board Chair, and/or Executive Director and/or Vice-Chair, shall follow up promptly on all complaints, with further investigation conducted if needed to resolve disputed facts. In conducting its investigation, the investigating parties will strive to respect the interested party’s request for confidentiality and will strive to keep the identity of other complainants as confidential as possible, consistent with the need to conduct an adequate review and investigation.

The Board Chair and/or Executive Director and/or Vice-Chair shall report all complaints to the Executive Committee of the Foundation Board no later than its next scheduled meeting. The Executive Committee shall then decide whether and when to inform the Board as a whole of the complaint.

The Foundation’s Executive Committee shall take appropriate action in response to any complaint, including, but not limited to, disciplinary action (up to and including termination) against any person who, in the Foundation’s assessment, has engaged in misconduct. If the misconduct involves a UWRF employee(s), the Foundation will work with UWRF officials to ensure disciplinary action is consistent with university employee policy.  In addition, the Foundation shall report such misconduct to the relevant civil and criminal authorities if required by law.

The Foundation will not knowingly, with intent to retaliate, take any action harmful to any person, including interference with lawful employment or livelihood, for reporting a complaint in good faith pursuant to this policy or for reporting a complaint to law enforcement officers, governmental agencies or bodies, or persons with supervisory authority over the complaint. Likewise, there will be no punishment or retaliation for providing information regarding a complaint in good faith to, or otherwise assisting in any investigation regarding a complaint conducted by the Foundation, law enforcement officers, governmental agencies or bodies, or person with supervisory authority over the complainant.

There will be no punishment or other retaliation for filing a good faith complaint, or otherwise participating or assisting in a proceeding filed or about to be filed (with any knowledge of the Foundation) regarding the complaint. An individual who deliberately or maliciously provides false information may be subject to disciplinary action (up to and including termination).

Approved by Audit Committee 6/11/09

Approved by Board of Directors 6/15/09