University Compliance FAQ's

Compliance is the adherence to applicable laws, policies, and regulations. In a university setting, compliance about understanding applicable regulatory requirements that apply to university activities as an institution and ensuring that we meet them. 

Every member of the Rush community is impacted by compliance. 

Compliance functions at RUSH are integrated into the activities that take place across our campuses every day.  Compliance personnel work within many units, either individually or as part of teams. The Rush University Compliance Office is part of the RUSH Corporate Compliance Department and helps to coordinate these activities throughout the university to identify and fulfill legal and policy responsibilities.  Successful and sustainable compliance occurs when leaders identify and resolve issues, consult and collaborate with compliance and legal, and when all members of the university act ethically.  A successful compliance system depends on the individual commitment and accountability of all university community members. 

The University Compliance Office focuses on: 

• Identify and evaluate risks that may impact the university. 
• Cultivate a university standard that promotes awareness of compliance and its protective functions.  
• Provide students and faculty with training and information that allows them to understand relevant compliance matters to effectively carry out their responsibilities.  
• Provide the university community a safe and confidential mechanism to report issues of concern. 
• Be a source of best practices for the university community. 
• Assist in solving issues or concerns by providing consultative services and risk mitigation strategies.   

Compliance issues can be related to activities, situations, and transactions that could potentially violate federal, state, or local laws and regulations, or violate Rush University’s policies, procedures, and rules.  Examples include violations of regulations associated with research, conflicts of interest, environmental concerns, information security, fire safety, etc. 

Use the guiding questions below to help you identify compliance or integrity issues.  If the answer to any of these questions is NO, then there is probably a compliance or integrity issue: 

• Are these actions legal? 
• Do these actions comply with university policy? 
• Do these actions seem fair and honest? 

If you believe that compliance is not being upheld, follow the steps below for how to address the potential issue: 

1. Identify Concern. If you have observed potentially illegal or unethical behavior, you may first wish to review related policies for guidance and clarity. 
2. Discuss Concern with Supervisor. Contact your supervisor for guidance about your concern.  If you are uncomfortable with this approach, see Step 3. 
3. Discuss Concern with Human Resources, Compliance, or Legal. Report your concern directly to Human Resources, the University Compliance Office, or Rush Legal.  If you are still uncomfortable, wish to remain anonymous, or have not received an adequate response, see Step 4. 
4. Submit a Report to the Anonymous Hotline. To learn more about how to report a concern, please click here.