Values and Culture

Mission Statement

The Emory University Office of Ethics and Compliance is committed to promoting the highest legal, professional, and ethical standards. We will collaborate with all members of the Emory University community to foster a collective effort to comply with the laws, regulations, policies, and ethical principles that govern Emory University. 

Ethical Principles

The highest degree of integrity is expected of all members of the Emory community. 

The university’s resources, both natural and fiscal, are entrusted to us for the common good and for future generations; the university and we, its members, are expected to exercise wise stewardship over these resources and to guard against their misappropriation or misuse. All conflicts of interest and of commitment are to be promptly addressed, and all possible steps are to be taken to eliminate the conflicts or to manage them to ensure that they do not undermine the integrity of our institution or ourselves. 

Emory seeks to uphold the dignity and rights of all persons through fair treatment, honest dealing, and respect. Emory is committed to creating an environment of work, teaching, living, and learning that enables all people to strive toward their highest potential. Members of the Emory community in positions of authority carry a particular obligation to exercise care and compassion, and appropriately safeguard confidential or personal information. 

As an organization comprising thousands of persons in a shared enterprise, Emory fosters collegiality in order to advance our mission of teaching, research, service, and health care. While frictions often may emerge, we seek to resolve conflict in a spirit of mutual respect through the active practice of community. 

By our participation in the Emory community, each of us assumes responsibility for our actions and will be held accountable for them. Similarly, members of our community are responsible for holding each other and the university to these ethical principles. Members of the Emory community are expected to abide by these principles, regardless of the letter of the law. 

Governance Structure and Independence

It is vital that the Office of Ethics and Compliance operates independently to fulfill its mission. To provide for this independence, the Office of Ethics and Compliance reports directly to the chair of the Audit and Compliance Committee of the Board of Trustees and the executive vice president for business and administration.  

View the Ethics and Compliance Reporting Structure

Integrity and Confidentiality

The Office of Ethics and Compliance operates with the highest level of integrity and respect for the confidentiality of the information to which it may have access.