Mission

As a unit of Georgia Tech, GTRI should uphold the highest level of integrity and commitment to ethical standards to ensure all activities are executed in the best interest of those who support us and of those we serve.  The Ethics and Compliance Office serves as resource to GTRI in order to promote a work environment in GTRI where integrity and ethics are a paramount consideration in strategic, operations, and daily decisions.

About Us

The GTRI Ethics and Compliance Office (ECO) underscores our commitment to ethical conduct and provides an organizational framework for compliance. ECO helps protect and maintain the reputations of GTRI, the Georgia Tech Applied Research Corporation, and Georgia Tech at large for ethics and integrity in business. ECO strives to promote a culture of compliance and ethical conduct throughout GTRI.

GTRI maintains a zero tolerance approach for noncompliance with Board of Regents, Georgia Tech, and GTRI policies and procedures. GTRI performs internal monitoring of compliance with policies and procedures to hold employees to the highest standard of ethics and integrity in the performance of their organizational responsibilities. Examples of compliance requirements include, but are not limited to, sponsored project expenditure certification, mandatory project director training, daily timekeeping requirements, travel expense reimbursement requirements,  p-card and other procurement requirements, security requirements, and external activity reporting.

The following is a summary of the GTRI Code of Ethics

1. Follow both the letter and the spirit of the laws, regulations, and policies that govern our work.
2. Maintain a work environment where ethical considerations are paramount in strategic, operational, and everyday decisions. This includes abiding by the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act (FCPA). The FCPA prohibits the offer or payment of money or anything of value to a foreign official for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. "Foreign official" is defined as anyone acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of a foreign government or public international organization.
3. Commit to doing what is right, good, and honorable. Ask yourself whether your action or decision will compromise the integrity and reputation of GTRI.
4. Contact the Ethics and Compliance Office if you are not sure what to do regarding a potential compliance issue or an ethical dilemma or to report misconduct.  Use the Georgia Tech Employee Hotline (1-866-294-5565 or EthicsPoint) if you want to inquire or report confidentially.
5. Lead by example. As leaders you can affect employee behavior through your words and conduct.  Be aware that your actions could influence employees to act in a way that is contrary to our ethical standards, even if that is not your intent.
6. Cooperate in internal investigations; never destroy or alter documents or electronic records, lie to or mislead an investigator or obstruct the collection of information; notify the Office of Legal Affairs if you learn that a government agency or any third party is conducting an investigation or asking for information pertaining to a suspected violation of law.
7. Acknowledge and abide by the Georgia Tech Code of Ethics, Georgia Tech Policies, and the University System of Georgia Ethics Policy, which are excerpted and referenced below.
    

Resources

• GTRI Code of Ethics