Compliance Corner – Issue 3.13
Compliance Corner is back in action! We’re here to share timely updates, demystify complex policies and showcase how we actively support VCU’s values. Get ready for blog posts that will be informative and maybe even a little enjoyable!
Success: It’s Not Just What You Do—It’s How You Do It
We love celebrating big wins at VCU: groundbreaking research, successful outcomes and innovative teaching methods. Although these achievements define the “what,” we reflect on what truly makes us a leading institution. Lately, we’ve been working behind the scenes at the Integrity and Compliance Office (ICO) to emphasize a more critical question: How?
Our success is built on how those achievements are made. That “how” is rooted in our ethical foundation and Code of Conduct. Every one of us—faculty, staff, researchers, administrators and affiliates—play an essential role in building the community we’re proud of.
VCU’s Values in Action
We’ve organized our ethical framework into four simple, actionable categories that define our shared commitments. These make up the pillars of our “how.”
- AT VCU: How we treat each other
How we treat one another within the walls of VCU—in meetings, emails, hallways and labs is important. It is the foundation of a culture of courtesy, respect and civility across all of our campuses.
- WITH VCU: How we work with external partners
We engage with an expansive network of local partners, businesses and organizations. This pillar defines how we collaborate with external partners, from vendors, contractors and corporate sponsors to nonprofits and community organizations. It ensures our actions reflect fairness, transparency and accountability whenever we commit resources or make decisions that involve outside entities.
- BEYOND VCU: How we engage with the larger community
As a major urban university, our impact extends far beyond our physical campuses. This outlines how we are representatives of VCU’s global reputation, as we engage with the larger community and represent VCU through public service, communication and stewardship.
- SPEAKING UP: A culture of confidence and safety
Reporting concerns of misconduct safely and confidently are paramount, ensuring that VCU protects those who raise issues in good faith from retaliation.
Integrity Is Our Shared Value
These pillars are a helpful compass that grounds us in how we work. Ideally they help you navigate those complex moments, ensuring our collective pursuit of excellence is always matched by our commitment to driving VCU toward greater success, with integrity always leading the way.
In the coming months we’ll continue to highlight these pillars, uplift stories that celebrate these achievements and illustrate how compliance is making an impact, both on campus and in the greater community. Stay tuned!