Overview of the Whistleblower Policy
What is the Purpose of the Whistleblower Policy?
The Whistleblower Policy is intended to encourage employees and others to make to appropriate university officials and to describe the process that will be followed by the university in evaluating and investigating such reports.
The University of California, Merced is committed to maintaining the highest standards of conduct in the fulfillment of its education, research, and public service mission. The University’s Whistleblower Policy provides an avenue for employees to bring forward good faith reports of suspected fraud, corruption, health and safety concerns, or other Improper Governmental Activity.
What is an Improper Governmental Activity?
An Improper Governmental Activity (IGA) is defined in the University's Whistleblower Policy as "Any activity by the University or by a University employee that is undertaken in the performance of the employee's official duties, whether or not that action is within the scope of his or her employment, and that
(1) is in violation of any state or federal law or regulation, including, but not limited to, corruption, malfeasance, bribery, theft of government property, fraudulent claims, fraud, coercion, conversion, malicious prosecution, misuse of government property, or willful omission to perform duty, or
(2) is in violation of an Executive order of the Governor, a California Rule of Court, or any policy or procedure mandated by the State Administrative Manual or State Contracting Manual, or
(3) is economically wasteful, involves gross misconduct, incompetency, or inefficiency."
This broad definition is derived from California state law. Not all instances of improper conduct will constitute an Improper Governmental Activity.
