While these cases got a great deal of coverage, fraud is not a new phenomenon on campus. We have more than 18,000 employees and over time, some lose track of what is right and wrong. In nearly every allegation involving fraud that we have investigated, honest, conscientious employees brought the situation to the attention of university officials. If you believe an employee is engaged in activities that might be improper or inappropriate, including that which might constitute a conflict of interest, you should bring the situation to the attention of management. If you have already reported it at the department level and believe your concerns have not been addressed appropriately, contact the next level.
Time is critical if a problem exists, so prompt reporting and resolution is important.
When a complaint reaches UW Administration, we use a working-team approach for investigations. This team normally includes both Internal Audit and University Police. Internal Audit typically begins the inquiry by gathering facts and assessing internal controls in the unit involved. The team will determine whether there is any indication of actual or suspected theft, embezzlement or misconduct. It is important that an independent investigation be conducted.