Since the beginning of May 2021, the University of Lucerne has had an independent office to which suspected or actual abuses and misconduct by University employees can be reported. The head of this whistleblowing office is Dr Crispin Hugenschmidt, who has been serving as the university's ombudsman since the beginning of 2014.

Members of the university as well as third parties are entitled to submit a report. The Reporting Office has the task of forwarding the reports received promptly to the responsible offices and persons at the university, who will clarify the facts and take the necessary measures within the scope of their legal competences. These may be, for example, the integrity officer, the person investigating sexual harassment, the dean, the university manager or the rector. If there are clear indications that the responsible body or person has a conflict of interest, the report is forwarded directly to the President of the University Council, currently Lucerne's Director of Education and Culture Marcel Schwerzmann.

The Reporting Office itself does not carry out any investigations into the facts of the case and has no competence to take direct measures or communicate with the public. It is subject to official secrecy. The reporting person is entitled to confidentiality. If this cannot be maintained in the procedure, information and clarifications that allow conclusions to be drawn about the reporting person shall only be made after consultation with the reporting person.

Reports may be made in writing or verbally, in person or anonymously. A secure external platform has recently been set up for anonymous reports.
More information: Website of the Reporting Office