Compliance
Higher education institutions are among the most regulated entities in the United States. With many and diverse activities, universities must be diligent and proactive in their compliance program. The Compliance Office does not assume the duties of the various departments with respect to compliance, and all ongoing compliance activities continue in their existing areas of responsibility. Rather, the Office helps to coordinate these efforts, assess overall achievement, raise awareness and promote the sharing of best practices and increased internal communication.
The compliance and safety of the university is a collaborative effort amongst several departments. Below are various subject matters with links to the responsible area.
| Topic | Responsible Area(s) |
|---|---|
| Chemical Safety | Facilities Management |
| Contract Review | Procurement & Business Services |
| Discrimination | Office of Institutional Diversity & Inclusion |
| Emergency Response / KatSafe | Emergency Preparedness & Safety |
| Drones | Office of the President |
| FERPA / Student Privacy | Registrar |
| Fraud & Abuse | Office of Internal Audit |
| International Travel | Procurement & Business Services |
| Sexual Misconduct | Office of Institutional Diversity & Inclusion |
| Slow Moving Vehicle | Compliance & Insurance |
| Worker's Compensation / Employee Injury | Human Resources |
The Clery Act is a consumer protection law that aims to provide transparency around campus crime policy and statistics. For more information, review our Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, is a federal law which provides that colleges and universities will maintain the confidentiality of student education records. This law also affords students certain rights with respect to their education records.
PolicyThe Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act privacy regulations require health care providers and organizations, as well as their business associates, to develop and follow procedures that ensure the confidentiality and security of protected health information (PHI) when it is transferred, received, handled, or shared. This applies to all forms of PHI, including paper, oral, and electronic, etc. Furthermore, only the minimum health information necessary to conduct business is to be used or shared.
PolicyAs a member of the Texas State University System, Sam Houston State University must comply with the rules and regulations established by the Board of Regents. Their guidance may address, but not limited to, academics, finance, code of conduct, and employment.
Rules & RegulationsCompliance Committee
The committee meets quarterly to:
- Monitor compliance environment
- Promotes and maintains compliance in daily departmental activities
- Ensure accountability for the University’s compliance obligations
- Identify and evaluate institutional risks
- Communicate and recommend remediation and monitoring of said efforts for President’s Cabinet review
Report Fraud and/or Abuse
Anyone with knowledge about fraud, flagrant waste, or other abuses is encouraged to report their concerns.