Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Just about every industry and area of business is subject to regulations and/or guidance of regulatory bodies. At University Houston-Clear Lake, we are no different.

In order to maintain compliance, we take a proactive, preventative approach. Management of compliance risks is good ethical business practice. Within the university, we operate in an increasingly complex environment of laws, regulations, policies, standards and procedures. We encounter risks on a daily basis. An effective compliance program is knowing what our particular risks are and then putting into place reasonable measures to help insure that the most critical risks are lessened to reasonable levels.

The campus Compliance Program goals are to achieve the following objectives:

• Comply with the UH Board of Regents and System mandates.
• Collaborate with management to reduce the risk of non-compliance that could result in significant harm to the institution's operations, finances or reputation.
• Provide UHCL community with an opportunity to report issues of potential non-compliance in a manner that preserves confidentiality against improper retaliation.
• Develop and then maintain a campus compliance program that has the following elements:
  • Existence of written standards
  • Effective oversight
  • Training
  • Monitoring
  • Corrective action

The campus Institutional Compliance Officer is Yolanda Nimmer-Williams, Director.

Email: nimmerwillia@uhcl.edu
Phone: 281-283-2307

Your role, basically, is "to do the right thing." Faculty, staff and students are responsible for knowing, understanding and complying with MAPs that relate to their position, employment or enrollment at UHCL. Additionally, you need to keep abreast of the laws and regulations that may affect your area of operations as well as be knowledgeable of the Board, and System policies and procedures that affect your position and responsibilities.

The Fraud & Non-Compliance Hotline provides a safe and anonymous environment for reporting a fraudulent situation. This third-party incident reporting system is not affiliated in any way with the University of Houston System, as it is intended to build trust and enable dialogue between the university and reporting individuals without requiring identity disclosure.

You are encouraged to report any issues and concerns you have about activities at University of Houston-Clear Lake using our Fraud & Non-Compliance Hotline. You can use this hotline to report instances of suspected fraud, policy non-compliance, employee misconduct and sexual harassment or misconduct. 

To submit a report, visit the Fraud & Non-Compliance Hotline website or call 1-866-843-4379.

Discuss it with your supervisor. There are other offices to discuss an issue if you feel uncomfortable asking your supervisor:

Non-Anonymous Options

• Call UHCL Office of Compliance: 281-283-2307
• Call UHCL Office of Human Resources: 281-283-2160
• Call UHS Director of Internal Auditing: 713-743-8000
• Contact the Texas State Auditor's Office or by calling 1-800-891-8348

Anonymous Option

Submit a report to the Fraud & Non-Compliance Hotline website or call 1-866-843-4379. 

Federal and state laws and university policy prohibit retaliation against employees who report violations of possible illegal activities in good faith. The UHCL encourages employees and students to make good faith reports about suspected activity, including factual information of suspected fraud, violations of laws or other concerns suggestive of dishonest or illegal activities. We are committed to maintaining the confidentiality and anonymity of all individuals who make such reports to the extent allowed by law. 

You have two available options, and regardless of which you choose, you will not be required to provide any personally identifiable information unless you choose to. 

•  Visit the Fraud & Non-Compliance Hotline website.
• You can also call 1-866-843-4379. You can place a call to this hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• You can make your report your preferred language to ensure that you convey the necessary information in the most comfortable way possible.

After you submit your report, it will be immediately forwarded for review to the appropriate individual(s) within UHCL.

• You will receive a confidential issue access number.
• You will provide a personal password and security question so you can anonymously check the status of your report on the Fraud & Non-Compliance Hotline website.
• You will be able to send and receive messages pertaining to your report and you can participate in any follow-up. 
• You can call the Fraud & Non-Compliance Hotline at 1-866-843-4379 or log into the Fraud & Non-Compliance website to check the status of your report.

The Fraud & Non-Compliance Hotline should be used to report activities such as:

• Theft.
• Kickbacks.
• Misuse of grant funds.
• Misuse of state resources.
• Falsification of documents.
• Conflicts of interest.
• Violations of laws or regulations.
• Dishonest activities.
• Sexual harassment or misconduct.

You may also report concerns regarding troubling employee or student behaviors that raise safety concerns. If you make your report online, do so under the "Campus Safety/Security Concerns" section.

Personal dissatisfaction should not be reported through the Fraud & Non-Compliance Hotline. Additionally, complaints about wages work hours, performance evaluations, merit raises, grades and so forth should be addressed with the appropriate department or school.

University of Houston-Clear Lake is committed to maintaining the confidentiality and anonymity of all individuals who make such reports to the extent allowed by law. Pursuant to federal and state laws and university policy, all employees of the University of Houston System have the right to report suspected compliance failures with anonymity.

 Employees who report compliance failures in good faith will be protected from retaliation. Anyone who retaliates against an employee who reports a compliance failure shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. If you believe you are experiencing retaliation based on a report you have made, you should send follow-up communication to Fraud & Non-Compliance Hotline.