Ethics training deadline is Thursday

The deadline is here for all permanent state employees, including SIUC faculty and staff, to comply with the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act.

State law mandates the ethics training program, which is a condition of employment at SIUC. Employees should complete the training during regular work hours or as directed by your supervisor. This year's training program content is updated and is designed to familiarize employees with the laws and rules that apply to functions each employee performs on behalf of the University and the state.

The law requires all permanent state employees, including faculty and staff as well as members of boards and commissions, to complete annual ethics training, using an Internet-based program provided by the Office of Executive Inspector General.

These employees must complete the ethics training between Sept. 13 and the University's Oct. 5 deadline.

As of Monday, Oct. 2, 2,865 employees on the SIUC campus (81 percent) have successfully completed and passed the ethics training during this first training period, said Ethics Training Administrator Brent Patton.

Any employee required to complete the training, but who does not comply, will be subject to disciplinary action from the University and may also be subject to charges and/or fines from the State of Illinois, Patton said.

Graduate assistants and student workers will be required to take the online ethics training program during a second training period to be held from mid-October to early November. Temporary and extra-help workers also must complete training and will receive an off-line ethics training document to meet the requirement.

The online training program takes about 30 minutes to one hour to complete. It consists of a series of ethics-related lessons and a 10-question review quiz.

Please note that failure to carefully read and review all of the program's subject matter may invalidate your completion certificate and require you to complete additional ethics training.

Employees may take the quiz as often as necessary to complete it successfully. Employees who do not have access to a computer or if you need other assistance in completing the training, contact your supervisor or Patton, at 453-6677.

For technical assistance, contact the SIUC Helpdesk at 453-5155. For more information go to the SIUC Ethics Web site.