3357:12-21-09-Foundation Whistleblower Policy

This Whistleblower Policy of the Zane State College Foundation: (1) encourages staff and volunteers to come forward with credible information on illegal practices or serious violations of adopted policies of the Foundation; (2) specifies that the College and/or Foundation will protect the person from retaliation; and (3) identifies where such information can be reported.

1. Encouragement of reporting. The Foundation encourages legitimate complaints, reports, or inquiries about illegal practices or serious violations of the Foundation’s policies, including illegal or improper conduct by the Foundation leadership or by others on its behalf. Appropriate subjects that could be of concern under this policy would include financial improprieties, accounting or audit matters, ethical violations, or other similar illegal or improper practices or policies. Other subjects on which the College has existing complaint mechanisms should be addressed under those mechanisms, such as raising matters of alleged discrimination or harassment via Zane State College’s human resources channels, unless those channels are themselves implicated in the wrongdoing. This policy is not intended to provide a means of appeal from outcomes in those other mechanisms.
2. Protection from retaliation. The Foundation prohibits retaliation by or on behalf of the Foundation against staff or volunteers for making good faith complaints, reports or inquiries under this policy or for participating in a review or investigation under this policy. This protection extends to those whose allegations are made in good faith but prove to be mistaken. The Foundation reserves the right to discipline persons who make bad faith, knowingly false, or vexatious complaints, reports or inquiries, or who otherwise abuse this policy.
3. Where to report. Complaints, reports, or inquiries may be made under this policy on a confidential or anonymous basis. They should describe in detail the specific facts demonstrating the bases for the complaints, reports or inquiries. They should be directed to the Foundation’s executive director or chair of the Board of Directors; if both of those persons are implicated in the complaint, report or inquiry, it should be directed to the vice chair. The Foundation will conduct a prompt, discreet, and objective review or investigation. Staff or volunteers must recognize that the Foundation may be unable to fully evaluate a vague or general complaint, report or inquiry that is made anonymously.