Report a Concern Via EthicsPoint

EthicsPoint: UMD's online reporting system

**To report an emergency or if someone is in danger, please call 911.**

As a state institution for which public trust is essential, the University of Maryland, College Park (“UMD”) bears a particular responsibility to foster a culture of integrity, civility, responsibility, and professionalism and to address concerns regarding the failure to act in accordance with related expectations. The Office of Integrity and Responsible Conduct (“OIRC”) is charged with investigating and addressing concerns regarding certain forms of potential misconduct (e.g., research/scholarly misconduct; professional misconduct involving faculty) through established policies and procedures. Anyone may contact OIRC at oirc@umd.edu or 301-314-1814. 

However, OIRC also maintains UMD’s online reporting system, EthicsPoint, which can be used to report concerns about a variety of types of activity at UMD. The reporting system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (Note: EthicsPoint is not an appropriate mechanism for reporting criminal or medical emergencies.)

You can also make a report by calling 1-844-607-1491. (Translation services are available by calling the phone line.)

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A few notes regarding the use of EthicsPoint:

• Users can remain anonymous. (With regard to matters which fall under the jurisdiction of OIRC, anonymous reports will receive the same attention and diligence as non-anonymous reports. However, please note that it can be critical for OIRC staff to contact a reporter with follow-up questions to better facilitate the office's review and, as needed, referral of a reported concern.)
• After a user submits a report, they will receive a key to access the report, provide updates, and communicate directly and confidentially with the UMD office/personnel assigned to the case.
• It is helpful for users to be as specific as possible and attach any available supporting documentation to the report.

A few notes regarding OIRC’s purview/jurisdiction and approach to referrals:

• The scope of OIRC’s purview is limited to the review of concerns that fall under the institution’s policies related to research/scholarly misconduct and faculty professional misconduct. (Note: Concerns related to faculty professional conduct that may be more readily or suitably resolved at the unit level will be referred to the appropriate Unit Head in accordance with that individual’s supervisory responsibilities and capacity and, when applicable, the University of Maryland Chair Roles, Responsibilities, and Authorities. Similarly, interpersonal issues or disputes which it appears could be addressed through mediation or other conflict resolution efforts will be referred for handling by an appropriate institutional resource (e.g., an ombudsperson or other member of the University’s Conflict Resolvers Network).)
• OIRC does not address other forms of misconduct handled by other institutional offices (e.g., allegations related to discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct, which are handled by the Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct, and allegations related to student conduct and academic integrity, which are handled by the Office of Student Conduct).
• OIRC does not address conduct concerns involving staff members, which may be handled by University Human Resources and/or relevant supervisors or administrators.
• Other UMD offices, units, or committees may be responsible for and/or have oversight authority related to certain types of issues that are reported via EthicsPoint. In the event that OIRC receives a report via EthicsPoint which falls into such a category, the issue will be referred to the appropriate entities/individuals for handling in accordance with their normal policies, procedures, or processes.