Hotline FAQs

The Yale University Hotline is an option for making a confidential report either online or by calling the toll-free number (at 877-360-9253) to help Yale faculty members, staff members, students, or trainees (“community members”) identify and address compliance concerns (e.g., financial, research, HIPAA, Safety or Environmental matters, etc.).

This online and telephone reporting service is not maintained on the University’s system and is not maintained by University employees. A community member may provide their name and contact information, or may choose to remain anonymous.

ComplianceLine, an independent, third-party reporting service provider for the University’s Hotline, is available to community members 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year.

There are two options:

Yale University is committed to conducting business ethically and complying with applicable federal and state laws and regulations. An important aspect of that commitment is the availability of the confidential reporting ‘hotline’ operated by ComplianceLine, an independent reporting service. The ‘hotline’ provides a mechanism by which community members may anonymously raise concerns about the compliance of the University or individual community members with Yale policies, legal and regulatory requirements, or the Institutional Standards of Conduct.

There are a variety of campus channels of communication for expressing compliance concerns and resolving them. Typically, a possible violation of Yale policy, legal or regulatory requirements, or the Institutional Standards of Conduct is resolved by a community member referring the concern to a supervisor or to a person of greater authority within the University’s organizational structure. Alternatively, a community member may choose to report an issue to a central University department such as Human Resources, the Office of General Counsel, the Office of the Controller, Environmental Health and Safety, or University Audit and Advisory. See Who to Call.

As another option, if a community member does not feel comfortable speaking with a supervisor or other resource, or where a community member desires anonymity, the Yale University Hotline is available to the community member to bring the concern to the University’s attention.

Please note that any community member who brings an issue to the University’s attention through the Hotline or otherwise should be aware that University policy prohibits retaliation against community members who in good faith report possible violations of Yale policy, the law, or the Institutional Standards of Conduct.

Some examples of situations that you may want to call or make an online report to the University Hotline are:

  • Conflict of Interest
  • Fraud/Theft
  • Financial Policy Violations
  • Safety or Environmental Violations
  • Information Security
  • Inappropriate Workplace Behavior
  • Medical Billing Non-Compliance
  • HIPAA Non-Compliance
  • Sexual Misconduct
  • Scientific Misconduct
  • Research Non-Compliance (e.g., human research subject or animal welfare non-compliance)
  • Other Regulatory Violations

Please refer to the Yale’s Campus Health website for more information.

A report filed via the Yale University Hotline is taken by ComplianceLine, an independent, third-party vendor, not a University employee. When you call the Hotline, a trained Communication Specialist will gather information regarding the issue being reported. For online reports, the information entered into the website is automatically generated into a report. The vendor will then promptly forward a detailed report to University Audit and Advisory and the University’s Office of the Senior Vice President and General Counsel, who will coordinate a review of the issue by the appropriate University officials. The University will investigate and take appropriate action regarding all issues reported through the Hotline. The more complete the information you provide, the more thoroughly and quickly the University can investigate and resolve your concern.

No. If you wish to remain anonymous, the Communication Specialist or website will provide you with a unique report ID number, a PIN number/password, and a follow-up date. You will be asked to call the Hotline again on the follow-up callback date to receive any response or feedback from the University or the opportunity to answer questions the University may have. (This enables communication between you and the University while maintaining your anonymity). You are also free to call the Hotline back at any time. Providing the unique report ID number and PIN number/password that were assigned to you during your initial call, you will be able to communicate additional information relevant to the reported issue.

University policy prohibits retaliation against community members who in good faith report apparent violations of Yale policy, the law, or the Institutional Standards of Conduct.

The information provided by you may be the basis of an internal and/or external investigation into the issue(s) you report and your anonymity will be protected to the extent possible. However, your identity may become known during the course of the investigation.

To follow-up on an anonymous report, you must call the Yale University Hotline at 877-360-YALE (9253) and provide your report ID number and PIN number/password.

Unfortunately, if you have lost or forgotten your report number or PIN number/password, you will need to create a new report. For security and confidentiality reasons, the vendor is not permitted to retrieve lost report numbers or passwords.

Yes. When reports are filed using the toll-free number, ComplianceLine offers translation service to callers who need translation assistance.

When you file a report, the Communication Specialist or website will provide you with a unique report ID number and PIN number/Password. You will be asked to call the Hotline again on the follow-up date to receive any response or feedback from the University. This enables communication between you and the University while maintaining your anonymity. You are free to call the Hotline back at any time. If you provide this unique report ID number and PIN number/password, you will be able to communicate additional information relevant to the reported issue.