Whistleblower & Whistleblower Retaliation Complaints
The Associate Vice President of Human Resources has been designated by Chico State’s President to receive complaints from Employees, former Employees, and Applicants for CSU Chico employment who wish to report alleged Improper Governmental Activity.
Executive Order 1115 (Art. II, Section G) defines Improper Governmental Activity, reportable as a Whistleblower Disclosure, as activity that:
- 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
- Is economically wasteful, or involves gross misconduct, incompetence, or inefficiency. For the purposes of this policy, “Improper Government Activity” includes Significant Threats to Health or Safety and Illegal Order(s).
Whistleblower Disclosures
Whistleblower Complaint Instructions:
CSU Executive Order 1115: Complaint Procedures for Protected Disclosure of Improper Governmental Activities and/or Significant Threats to Health or Safety
You must submit your complaint no later than 12 calendar months after you (the Complainant), knew or should have known about the alleged Improper Governmental Activity.
Complaints may be submitted using the EO 1115 complaint form (PDF) or you can submit the complaint in writing, orally or anonymously but it should include the following information:
- The Complainant’s name and contact information (mailing address, email address and phone number), the Complainant’s CSU position title or relationship with the CSU (if Complainant is a third party)
- A detailed description of the alleged Improper Governmental Activities as defined in the Executive Order 1115. The description should include the name(s) and title(s) of the Employee(s) or official(s) allegedly engaged in the Improper Governmental Activities (the “Respondent(s)”).
- The date(s) the alleged Improper Governmental Activities occurred.
- Other potential witnesses to the alleged Improper Governmental Activities, the facts known by each, and if possible, their contact information.
- Any documentation that supports the allegations of Improper Governmental Activities. Individuals should not attempt to obtain documents they do not have the authority to access.
- Descriptions of documents that support the allegations of Improper Governmental Activities, if the actual documents are not in the possession of the Complainant.
Where Do I File or Submit a Whistleblower Complaint?
If you have a whistleblower complaint, we encourage you to submit it in writing to the Associate Vice President of Human Resources. To make a complaint to the Associate Vice President of Human Resources at CSU Chico, contact
Sheryl Woodward
Kendall Hall 211
530-898-6771
swoodward@csuchico.edu
You may alternatively submit your complaint to the Chancellor’s Office for the CSU.
To make a complaint to the Chancellor’s Office, please submit it to the Vice Chancellor, mark it “Confidential” and address it to:
Vice Chancellor of Human Resources
Equal Opportunity and Whistleblower Compliance Unit
Systemwide Human Resources
Office of the Chancellor
401 Golden Shore
Long Beach, California 90802
Complaints to the Vice Chancellor may also be sent via email to EO-TitleIX-Compliance@calstate.edu
You may also file a complaint to the California State Auditor by contacting:
California State Auditor
P.O. Box 1019
Sacramento, CA 95812
Fax Number: 916-322-2603
Whistleblower Hotline: 800-952-5665
California State Auditor does not accept complaints by email, but you may submit an online complaint(opens in new window).
Whistleblower Retaliation Complaint Instructions
Executive Order 1116: Complaint Procedure for Allegations of Retaliation for Having Made a Protected Disclosure under the California Whistleblower Protection Act(opens in new window).
The CSU prohibits Retaliation by any Employee of the CSU against Employees, Former Employees, and Applicants for CSU employment for having made a Protected Disclosure
Retaliation against an Employee, former Employee, or applicant for CSU employment for exercising any rights under this EO is considered a separate issue and is covered under Executive Order 1116, titled Complaint Procedure for Allegations of Retaliation for Having Made a Protected Disclosure under the California Whistleblower Protection Act.
Whistleblower Retaliation complaints may be submitted to an Employee’s supervisor or manager, or with the Vice President Human Resources. A supervisor or manager must immediately deliver Retaliation complaints to the Vice President Human Resources. Retaliation complaints against the Chancellor, a President and/or Vice President may be filed with the Chancellor’s office (see contact information above).
The Retaliation Complaint must be received within 12 months of the most recent alleged act of Retaliation.
Whistleblower Retaliation complaints may be submitted by using the complaint form(opens in new window)
Alternatively, submit your complaint in writing and include:
- The Complainant’s name, position title or position applied for, mailing address, phone number and email address.
- A detailed description of the original Protected Disclosure that led to the alleged Retaliation, including the name(s) and title(s) of the responsible Employee(s) who were alleged to have engaged in the Improper Governmental Activities
- The name(s) of the individual(s) to whom the Improper Governmental Activity was reported, and the date and manner of the disclosure.
- A description of the alleged actual or attempted retaliatory actions, including the date(s), the name(s) and title(s) of the Employee(s) who were alleged to have engaged in Retaliation, and an explanation of the reasons why those actions constituted Retaliation.
- A list of witnesses to the alleged actual or attempted retaliatory actions, including their names, positions, contact information, and the facts known by each.
- Copies of any documentary evidence that supports the Retaliation Complaint.
- A dated, sworn statement by the Complainant under penalty of perjury that the Retaliation Complaint is true or is believed by the Complainant to be true.
Resources
- Whistleblower Poster (PDF) and Brochure (PDF)
- CSU Executive Order 1115: Complaint Procedures for Protected Disclosure of Improper Governmental Activities and/or Significant Threats to Health or Safety(opens in new window)
- CSU Executive Order 1116: Complaint Procedure for Allegations of Retaliation for Having Made a Protected Disclosure under the California Whistleblower Protection Act(opens in new window)
- California State Auditor Notification(opens in new window)