Florida A&M Office of Compliance and Ethics

03/02/2026

FAMU Fundamentals opened on March 1. All faculty, staff, and select student workers will have until March 31 to complete the training.
Your leadership plays an important role in ensuring a successful completion cycle for your unit. Below are a few practical steps that can help support timely participation:
1. Set an Internal Deadline
Consider establishing a unit deadline (for example, March 20) ahead of the University deadline. This provides a buffer to address any technical issues or last-minute scheduling conflicts.
2. Create Dedicated Time for Completion
Training completion rates are highest when time is intentionally protected. You may wish to:
Set aside a portion of a staff meeting for employees to begin the training
Block a 30–45 minute window on team calendars
Encourage completion during regular work hours rather than after-hours
3. Monitor and Encourage
The Office of Compliance and Ethics (OCE) will provide periodic progress updates to managers throughout the training window. Please use those reports to follow up with employees who have not yet completed the course.
Student Workers and FAMU Fundamentals Participation
Our focus for student workers includes those who have outward-facing responsibilities to constituency groups, particularly other students, or whose role would reasonably lead others to believe they can assist with reporting or resolving concerns.
Examples of student workers who are required to complete FAMU Fundamentals include:
Resident Assistants (RAs)
Teaching Assistants (TAs)
Research Assistants
Orientation Leaders
Other student employees in leadership, mentoring, or support-facing roles
If a student worker appears on the current training roster, they may have been identified in prior years based on their role. We defer to departments to determine whether additional student worker classifications within their unit should complete the training based on the nature of their responsibilities.
When in doubt, please err on the side of inclusion. Send an email to [email protected] with the student’s email and student id for them to be included in this year's administration of the training.
We can't do this without you!
Thank you for your partnership in reinforcing a culture of compliance, accountability, and integrity across the University. Your engagement makes a meaningful difference in ensuring our community understands its responsibilities and reporting pathways.
If you have questions about training assignments or completion tracking, please contact the Office of Compliance and Ethics at [email protected].
Happy training!

01/29/2026

01/27/2026

Become a Data Privacy Champion by clicking the link below and submitting your registration by this Thursday. Please email your completed registration to [email protected]. Data Privacy Champions represent individuals who are committed to empowering and encouraging others to respect privacy, safeguard personal data, and build trust. On Friday, we will announce a few lucky winners. Thank you for helping promote privacy awareness and for being part of Data Privacy Week.

Link below:
https://www.staysafeonline.org/data-privacy-week

01/27/2026

Welcome to Data Privacy Week.

The Office of Compliance and Ethics Privacy Program is excited to kick off a week dedicated to raising awareness about protecting personal information. Throughout the week, we will be sharing tips, resources, and opportunities to get involved, including how you can become a Data Privacy Champion.

We encourage the University community to stay engaged and be on the lookout for ways we can all help safeguard data. Privacy awareness is everyone’s responsibility.

01/15/2026

Please join us in wishing our Chief Complaince and Ethics Officer Rica Calhoun a very happy birthday today.
Rica, thank you for your leadership and guidance as you continue to push the needle forward and foster a University community grounded in compliance, ethics, and accountability. Your dedication to this work and your commitment to collaboration across the University are truly appreciated.
Wishing you a wonderful day of celebration and continued success in the year ahead.
Happy Birthday!

11/07/2025

We are excited to kick off Compliance and Ethics Week and invite our entire FAMU community to join us.

This year our theme is Well Within Compliance which focuses on integrity, balance, and belonging.

Start your week with something special. On Monday we are hosting Breathe and Paws at the Will Packer Amphitheater from 10 AM to 11 AM. Support animals will be on campus to help faculty, staff, and students relax, reset, and breathe. Sometimes a calm mind is exactly what we need to make clear and ethical choices.

Come meet Bugsy, Gertie Lou, Jazz, and Tater and enjoy a moment of wellness to begin your week.
We look forward to seeing you there.

06/04/2025

Greetings FAMU Faculty and Staff,
This is a reminder regarding outside activity disclosure(s). FAMU has a required INTERNAL process that applies to all University employees and an EXTERNAL process that requires additional reporting for identified employees (Reporting Individuals and Procurement Individuals).
INTERNAL Outside Activity Disclosure (Conflict of Interest/Commitment) -- Required of ALL FAMU EMPLOYEES
All FAMU employees are required to complete the Annual Outside Activity Disclosure by July 1. The disclosure process is streamlined and accessible through the iRattler Human Resources Module.
As an employee and/or researcher, you must disclose any outside activities or employment that involve the use of your university role, expertise, or resources. These disclosures are critical for identifying and addressing potential conflicts of interest and commitment.
To complete your disclosure, follow the step-by-step guide provided in the attached infographic or navigate to:
iRattler → Navigator → Self-Service → Financial & Conflict of Interest
Be sure to:
Select the current disclosure year (to report on the previous calendar year)
Complete Part I (self-approves if all responses are “No”)
If applicable, complete Part II (required if any “Yes” responses)
Submit the form for supervisor and administrative review
EXTERNAL REPORTING: Florida Commission on Ethics FORM 1—Required by employees notified directly by email from the Florida Commission on Ethics ([email protected])
Reporting Individuals and Procurement Employees (RIPE) must submit a Statement of Financial Interests directly to the Florida Commission on Ethics in accordance with Florida law. Please complete your Form 1 or Form 1N by July 1 through the Commission portal (the link is provided in the email to you).
Deadline
All disclosures are due by July 1. The iRattler reporting form must also be updated within 14 days of any change in circumstances.
Your attention to these important requirements helps uphold the University’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and compliance with state ethics laws.
If you have questions, please contact the Office of Compliance and Ethics at [email protected].

03/31/2025

Good morning Managers,

Attached you will find the completion list for employees who have successfully completed FAMU Fundamentals 2025 and FAMU Fundamentals 2025: Foreign Influence as of today at approximately 9:59 a.m. Please remember that the FAMU Fundamentals 2025: Foreign Influence training applies exclusively to employees in Research and Research Support positions.
Today is the final day for completion. Subsequently, I will begin issuing notices of non-compliance. These notices will be placed in employee personnel files and should be referenced during future performance evaluations, as Compliance is a standard evaluation criterion.
Thank you for your continued commitment to compliance and ethical decision-making. Please expect a final, updated completion list to be sent by the end of this week.

03/27/2025

Only 5 Days Left!
Our annual mandatory compliance training runs through March 31st — don’t wait until the last minute! Stay informed, stay compliant. Complete your training today!

03/09/2025

🚨 Reminder: It’s Time for FAMU FUNDAMENTALS! 🚨

Annual compliance training is mandatory and must be completed by March 31st! Don’t wait until the last minute.

FAMU FUNDAMENTALS is designed to be informative, engaging, and essential to understanding the critical role compliance plays in our daily work. Stay ahead, stay compliant, and let’s continue fostering a culture of ethics and integrity at FAMU!

✅ Have you completed your training? Let us know in the comments!

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