Whistleblower

Date: April 2020

Supersedes: January 2012, January 2006

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Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to deter and detect illegal, dishonest or unethical activity by establishing a confidential channel of communication by which employees can report activity that they reasonably consider to be illegal, dishonest, unethical, or in violation of College policies. This policy is in addition to federal and state whistleblower statutes and is not meant to supersede them.

Policy

A whistleblower as defined for purposes of this policy is an employee of Montgomery County Community College who reports an activity that he or she reasonably considers to be illegal, dishonest, and unethical or in violation of College policies to one or more of the parties specified in this Policy. The whistleblower is not responsible for investigating the reported activity or for determining fault or corrective measures; appropriate management officials are charged with these responsibilities.

If an employee has knowledge of or a concern about what might be considered illegal, dishonest or unethical activity, the employee is to contact either his or her immediate supervisor, the Executive Director of Human Resources or the Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. The employee must exercise sound judgment to avoid baseless allegations. An employee who files a report in bad faith or intentionally files a false report of wrongdoing will be subject to discipline.

Whistleblower protections are provided in two important areas: confidentiality and against retaliation. Insofar as possible, the confidentiality of the whistleblower will be maintained. However, a whistleblower’s identity may have to be disclosed to conduct a thorough investigation, to comply with the law and to provide accused individuals their legal rights of defense. The College will not retaliate against a whistleblower acting in good faith. Any whistleblower who believes he or she is being retaliated against must contact the Executive Director of Human Resources or the Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion immediately. The right of a whistleblower for protection against retaliation does not include immunity for any personal wrongdoing that is alleged, investigated and verified.

Several options for reporting suspected illegal or dishonest activity are available. Employees wishing to anonymously report suspicious activity may leave a message on a “Whistleblower Hotline” by calling 215-619-7339 or leave an email message using whistleblower@mc3.edu. Additionally, employees may also report suspected illegal or dishonest activity directly to their supervisor, the Executive Director of Human Resources or the Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

Procedure

All reports of perceived illegal or dishonest activities will be promptly forwarded to the President, or the President’s designee, who is responsible for coordinating the investigation and any required corrective actions. Employees with any questions regarding this policy should contact the Executive Director of Human Resources or the Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.