BestChoiceOnlyChoice

A Note from the President All great institutions strive to ensure a strong workforce and sound institutional compliance standards. Understanding this standard of excellence, I have made compliance one of the three major pillars with which to build Fort Valley State University’s foundation in the early days of my presidency (along with enrollment management and fundraising). Because I understand how mission-critical compliance is to a sound and sustainable institution of higher learning, I pulled key compliance-related departments within FVSU under the Office of the President. Guided by chief of staff Kendall Isaac, the offices of human resources, legal affairs, campus safety and compliance (including athletics compliance) are working together to build a fully integrated and harmonious divisional approach to our institutional compliance efforts. Soon we also hope to infuse an internal audit component into the equation. We have already started to make significant strides, including engaging campus partners to re-ignite the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) committee and working towards the soon-to-be-launched web portals for the housing of institutional policies and procedures. Additionally, we are establishing an easily locatable and identifiable online reporting mechanism. Annual compliance training platforms are also on the horizon. I hope that each member of the Wildcat Family will take the time to read this important and informative publication. We all need to understand our obligation to understand and take compliance seriously, and to exhibit the requisite courage to report any conduct that appears to be falling short. We must remain vigilant in our assigned task of protecting this institution, its reputation and funding - as entrusted to us by the State of Georgia, the numerous federal agencies and the community members that we all serve. This task is not easy, but it is most certainly fulfilling. Let’s all work together to make sure that FVSU is a safe, ethical and responsible place to live, to learn, to work and to play. Sincerely,PaulJones,Ph.D.President

DIDYOUKNOW?ADACompliant:FVSUWebsite

DidyouknowthatthereareguidelinesthatmustbefollowedtoguaranteethatourwebsiteiscompliantwiththeAmericanDisabilitiesAct?Ifyouareuploadingdocumentstoyourwebpage,pleasecontacttheOfficeofMarketingandCommunication,(478)825-6319,toensureyouaremeetingtherequiredstandard.

Answer: Most faculty and staff are considered representatives of athletics interests. You are a representative if you have at any time:

• Participated in or are a member of an agency or organization promoting Fort Valley State University intercollegiate athletics program

• Made financial contributions to Fort Valley State University athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of Fort Valley State University.

• Been requested by the athletics department staff to assist in the recruitment of Prospective Student-Athletes (PSA).

• Assisted or is assisting in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes (SA).

• Involved in promoting Fort Valley State University’s athletics program. Once an individual is identified as an athletics representative, the person retains that identity indefinitely.

MakingSpecialArrangementsforWildcats

Receiptofabenefitbystudentathletes,ortheirrelativesorfriendsisnotaviolationofNCAAlegislationifitisdemonstratedthatthesamebenefitisgenerallyavailabletotheinstitution’sregularstudentpopulation;totheirrelativesorfriendsortoaparticularsegmentofthestudentbody(e.g.,internationalstudents,minoritystudents).Thisisdeterminedonabasisunrelatedtoathleticsability.Therefore,ageneralstudentdiscountorbenefitisallowable;however,adiscountorbenefitavailableonlytostudentathleteswouldnotbepermissible.Aboostermaynotprovideastudent-athletewithprofessionalservices(forwhichafeenormallywouldbecharged)withoutchargeoratareducedcostexceptaspermittedelsewhereinthisbylaw.

NCAA guidelines regulate the activities of booster clubs in relation to student-athletes. These regulations are intended to prevent booster clubs from influencing an athlete's school and athletics program enrollment decision.

NCAA rules place several limits on booster interactions with prospects. A booster club or its members may not contact a prospect or her family for recruiting purposes. Nor may a booster encourage a prospect's attendance or participation in a school's athletics program.

Additionally, boosters may not supply any benefits or special arrangements to student-athletes. This includes loans, payment of the athlete or his family's expenses, or gifts of any kind. Boosters are not allowed to buy student-athletes meals of any kind, including a small snack or drink.

WhatisPreferentialTreatment?

Preferential treatment occurs when benefits or services are provided based on thestudent-athlete’s athletics reputation or skill. When examining a case of preferentialtreatment,theoriginandthedurationofarelationshipand theconsistencyofbenefitsprovidedduringtherelationshiparekeyfactors.This rule applies to student-athletes receiving benefits from anyone outside of theinstitutionbasedontheirstatusasanathleteortheirathleticability.The main difference between extra benefits and preferential treatment is who isprovidingthebenefit.Extrabenefitsarebenefitsfromaninstitutionalemployeeoraboosterwhilepreferentialtreatmentoccurswithnoknowledgebytheinstitution.

KnowtheNCAARulesforStudent-Athletes

OurClassifiedStaffHandbookhasbeenupdated,pleasereadtheemployeeacknowledgmentstatementandcompletetherequiredfields.AllClassifiedStaffemployeesarerequiredtoreadtheupdatedhandbookandcompletetheacknowledgmentstatement.Printedcopiesofthehandbookarenotavailable.

Hereisthelink:http://www.fvsu.edu/receipt-acknowledgement-employee-handbook/

FVSUVolunteerAgreementForms

FortValleyStateUniversity'sVolunteerAgreementisnewandimproved.Thenewversionsupersedesandreplacesanypreviousversions.AllvolunteersmustcompleteaVolunteerAgreementform.ToaccessthenewVolunteerAgreement,visithttp://www.fvsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/FVSUVolunteerForm.pdf.FortValleyStateUniversityreservestheunilateralrighttoterminateanindividual’svolunteereffortsand/oragreementforanyornoreasonatall.Forquestions,pleasecontacttheFVSUOfficeofHumanResources,(478)825-6301.

Forinclusioninthispublication,contact:

DeniseEady,

ChiefComplianceOfficerHuntingtonHall,Room220

eadyd@fvsu.edu478-825-6333

or

LuWannaWilliams,AssociateAthleticsDirector

HPEComplex,Roomwilliamsl@fvsu.edu478-825-6179

VisitusOnline:www.fvsu.edu/institutional-compliance-program/

Fort Valley State University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate against applicants, students oremployeesonthebasisofrace,gender,ethnicity,nationalorigin,sexualorientation,religion,age,disabilityormaritalorveteranstatus.Fort Valley State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to awardbaccalaureate, master’s and educational specialist degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur,Georgia30033-4097orcall404-679-4500forquestionsabouttheaccreditationofFortValleyStateUniversity.

Incumbent TitleTriciaAddison ChiefHumanResourceOfficerDeniseW.Eady ChiefComplianceOfficerKendallD.Isaac ChiefofStaffCharlesE.Jones ChiefLegalOfficerKenMorgan ChiefofPoliceLuWannaWilliams AssociateAthleticsDirector/AthleticsComplianceOfficer

FortValleyStateUniversity’sCompliancePod

Chancellor’sStatementonMalfeasanceReporting

TheUniversitySystemofGeorgiaiscommittedtothehighestethicalandprofessionstandardsofconductinpursuitofitsmissiontocreateamoreeducatedGeorgia.TheUSGisalsocommittedtopreventinganddetectingfraud,wasteandabuseandotherforms ofwrongdoing and taking action when it occurs. This is not only the rightthing to do but it also helps to protect the reputation of the USG and that of itsdedicated employees. Similarly, safeguarding resources is our responsibility toGeorgiataxpayersandallthosewhogenerouslydonatetohighereducation.It is also thepolicyof theUSG to report instances ofemployeemalfeasance to theUSG chief audit officer for any appropriate action to include a referral to theAttorney General’s Office. Employee malfeasance includes, but is not limited to,instances of embezzlement, misappropriation, theft, bribery or kickbacks, andintentionalmisrepresentationoffacts.TheMalfeasanceReportingpolicy is in theBoardofRegentsPolicyManual section8.2.20–UniversitySystemofGeorgiaEthicsPolicy.Ifyouhaveaninstancetoreport,pleasecontactJohnM.FuchkoIII,vicechancellorfortheOfficeofInternalAuditandCompliance/chiefauditofficer, (404)962-3025orjohn.fuchko@usg.edu