State Officials and Employees Ethics Act (5 ILCS 4 30/1) covers a variety of subjects, including, but not limited to:
- ethics training for all state employees;
- details prohibited political activities;
- provides exceptions to accepting gifts;
- provides "whistle blower" protection to state employees;
- sets up an Executive Ethics Commission as well as positions of Executive Inspectors General; and
- creates the necessity for Ethics Officers at all state agencies.
University's Ethics Officer
Concerns about ethical misconduct should be submitted to the University's Ethics Officer or to the State Office of Executive Inspector General (OEIG), as appropriate.
The University's Ethics Officer is Sandra Bowman, Training Coordinator, Human Resources, 2010 Old Main, Phone: 581-6402, email: sebowman@eiu.edu.
Complaints
Dishonest or Fraudulent Activities and Whistleblower Policy is contained in Internal Governing Policy (IGP) 177.
Public employees have an obligation to safeguard the property and assets of the State. The State Officials and Employees Ethics Act (SOEEA) vests jurisdiction in the Executive Inspector General appointed by the Governor to investigate allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, misconduct, nonfeasance, misfeasance or violations of the SOEEA, and violations of other related laws and rules. The Office of the Executive Inspector General (OEIG) must be notified immediately of all alleged acts of misconduct by any employee in, or any entity doing business with, Eastern Illinois University. The OEIG has the full authority to conduct investigations of any matters within its jurisdiction. Purely management issues, academic matters, and student misconduct not related to employment do not have to be reported to the OEIG.
OEIG Complaint Form
Contact Information
The Office of Executive Inspector General (OEIG) has jurisdiction over the employees of the agencies, boards, commissions and the public university system responsible to the Governor and the vendors of those agencies, boards, commissions and the public university system. Specifically excluded from the office's jurisdiction are the Illinois General Assembly, any Illinois court or its judges, the offices of the Secretary of State, Auditor General, Treasurer, Attorney General, and their staff and employees. If you have a question about its jurisdiction, call (312) 814-5600.
A complaint may be filed with the OEIG in writing, on one of its complaint forms or orally. You may file a complaint by (i) calling the OEIG's toll-free hotline (866) 814-1113; (ii) sending a completed complaint form to Office of Executive Inspector General, Attention Complaint Division, 32 West Randolph, Suite 1900, Chicago, Illinois 60601; (iii) faxing a completed complaint form to (312) 814-5479; or (iv) visiting the office at the addresses shown below to fill out a complaint form. Under State law, the OEIG's office cannot accept anonymous complaints.
The Inspector General or any of the appointed deputies may issue subpoenas requiring the appearance of anyone for questioning and the production of any books, records or other documents relevant to an investigation. The Inspector General or any deputy may also appear before any state agency under its jurisdiction or entity doing business with the state and question any individual or secure anything necessary in furtherance of an investigation.
You may contact the OEIG by U.S. mail, by fax, or by telephone:
OEIG Website: http://www.inspectorgeneral.il.gov/
Economic Interest Statements
The Ethics Officer is required by law [5 ILCS 430/20-23(2)] to review the signed and completed Statement of Economic Interests form(s) of the University's employees before the form is forwarded to the Secretary of State.
The list of employees who are required to complete and file such a form is submitted to the Secretary of State by the University's Department of Human Resources. Some of the requirements that necessitate an employee file this document are:
• they are a member of the Board of Trustees;
• they are, or function as, the head of a department or board;
• they have supervisory authority or direct responsibility for the formulation, negotiation, issuance, or execution of contracts entered into by the State in the amount of $5,000 or more;
• have supervisory responsibility for 20 or more employees of the State;
• have responsibility with respect to the financial inspection of regulated nongovernmental entities;
• have authority for the issuance or promulgation of rules and regulations; or
• adjudicate, arbitrate, or decide any judicial or administrative proceeding, or review the adjudication, arbitration, or decision of any judicial or administrative proceeding.
