A Message to the Community on Penn's Values

Amy Gutmann, President
Vincent Price, Provost
Craig Carnaroli, Executive Vice President

The tragic events at Penn State have saddened the hearts of people throughout the world. Amid the grief that we all feel for the victims, we think it is important for the Penn community to reflect on our University’s deeply held values, and our determined commitment to ensure an environment of ethical, honorable and legal conduct in every aspect of our campus life.

Everyone at Penn has an explicit obligation to adhere to the Principles of Responsible Conduct. These principles set a tone for expected behavior, and serve as the underpinning of important University policies and regulations. If you have not looked at them recently, we urge you to do so.

As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that we maintain the highest ethical and compliance standards, the University provides a hotline and website where people can anonymously report any violations of Penn policies. You can access the site (and the phone number) at the following link: https://secure.ethicspoint.com/domain/media/en/gui/22868/index.html

In the event of an emergency, you can find information for a broad spectrum of issues, ranging from suicide prevention to physical plant problems to police, fire and medical assistance at this link: http://www.upenn.edu/life-at-penn/emergency.php

We have the mechanisms as well as the procedures in place to assist when faculty, staff and students encounter a problem. What we cannot stress enough is the foundational importance of honoring ethical principles along with legal standards in all that we do, whether in research, patient care, classroom interactions or our personal conduct. This University stands at the apex of American higher education. To earn this standing on an ongoing basis, it is essential for everyone in the Penn community always to do things the right way -- which we should all recognize as being the Penn way.

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