FAQs

The Aware Line is a way for Academy Team Members or vendors to report incidents or suspected violations of our policies, procedures, or the law by phone or online. It is operated and staffed by NAVEX, an outside source with whom you can speak anonymously, if you prefer to report an incident or suspected violation.

NAVEX is an independent, third-party vendor that provides secure, confidential telephone and web-based services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. NAVEX's independence from Academy is designed to provide Team Members with an added level of comfort and security that reports concerning incidents or suspected violations of policies, procedures, or the law will remain confidential, to the extent reasonably possible and legally permissible.

You should use the Aware Line if you have concerns regarding incidents or suspected violations of Academy policies, procedures, or the law, and you don't feel comfortable reporting these issues to your immediate manager, next-level manager, or Human Resources representative.

When you report a complaint through the Aware Line, it is kept confidential to the extent reasonably possible and legally permissible. It is only shared with appropriate Academy Team Members to follow up and resolve your concern.

NAVEX does not trace phone calls or use caller identification. If you choose to report a concern online, NAVEX does not generate or maintain internal connection logs containing Internet Protocol (IP) addresses; no information linking your computer to NAVEX is available. Reports from your computer come through a secure internet portal which does not trace or show usernames.

Academy Team Members who report an incident or suspected violation and/or are involved in an investigation are also expected to maintain confidentiality as appropriate to protect the integrity of the process and privacy of the person(s) involved.

No Team Member who in good faith reports an incident or suspected violation of Academy policies, procedures, or the law will be subject to retaliation for voicing a concern. If you believe you have faced retaliation of any kind, please contact your Human Resources representative immediately.

NAVEX is NOT a 911 or emergency service. Concerns about an immediate threat of physical harm or damage to property should not be reported to the Aware Line or NAVEX. If you require emergency assistance, please contact your local emergency services or authorities.

One of your most important responsibilities as an Academy Team Member is to report any concerns you may have about a potential violation of Academy's policies, procedures, or the law. If you are reluctant to raise a concern, please remember that you can harm Academy and your fellow Team Members by remaining silent.

You may report incidents or suspected violations of Academy's policies, procedures, or the law through any of the following avenues:

• Your Manager: Academy has an open door policy, and the most direct way to report a concern is to engage your immediate manager. If your concern involves your immediate manager, report the concern to the next level of management or use one of the other reporting avenues.
• Human Resources: You can report any concern to a member of the Human Resources team.
• Aware Line: If you wish to anonymously report a concern, you may contact the Aware Line at (888) 503-0808 or awareline.academy.com.
• General Counsel: You can always report any ethical concerns to the General Counsel or anyone on the Legal staff.

The Aware Line is designed for Academy Team Members or vendors to anonymously report concerns about an incident or suspected violation of Academy's policies, procedures, or the law. These may include:

• Compensation
• Conflict of Interest
• Conflict with Management
• Discipline, Evaluation or Termination
• Disclosure of Confidential or Proprietary Information
• Discrimination or Harassment
• Improper Financial Controls
• Information Security
• Loss Prevention Issues
• Policy Violation
• Retaliation
• Safety
• Scheduling & Hours
• Time Off
• Workplace Violence & Threats

Contact your Human Resources representative or the Aware Line to report your concern. We would rather you report your concern about a situation that turns out to be harmless than let possible unethical behavior go unresolved because you weren't sure.

Absolutely. In fact, we need you to report concerns because you know what is going on at Academy. You could have knowledge of an activity that may be cause for concern. Your report can minimize the potential negative impact on Academy and our Team Members. By reporting your concerns, you may also be able to help identify issues that can improve Academy's culture and performance.

Your report will be documented in NAVEX's secure server and forwarded to specific individuals within the Human Resources or Legal departments who are responsible for evaluating reports, based on the type of concern and location of the incident.

Academy chooses to promote ethical behavior. All unethical conduct, at any level, ultimately hurts the company and all Team Members, including you. If you are aware of any incidents of misconduct or unethical behavior, consider it your duty to yourself and your coworkers to report your concern.

Academy and NAVEX are committed to providing safe, secure, and ethical workplace. As part of our open door policy, we encourage you to communicate concerns, or seek guidance on ethical dilemmas. Effective communication is critical in today's workplace and this is a great tool to enhance that communication. We carefully chose the best reporting tool to meet our compliance obligations, while also maintaining a positive reporting environment for our Team Members.

Yes. When you report anonymously, you do not tell NAVEX your name or any other identifying information about yourself. You may report your concern anonymously by using either the web-based form or by phone, which are both operated by NAVEX. To help ensure anonymity and protect confidentiality the information you provide will only be given on a need to know basis to those investigating your concern.

However, providing your contact information may help expedite an investigation into your concern. You can also choose to withhold your name, and provide just a contact method (phone or email address) if you wish.

Academy will make every reasonable effort to hold your name in confidence during an investigation should you choose to identify yourself when reporting your concern. Most investigations can be completed in a more timely and effective manner when the Team Member or vendor reveals their identity. Identifying yourself allows the Academy representative investigating your concern to follow up with you directly.

NAVEX's system is designed to maintain confidentiality and protect your anonymity. If you wish to remain anonymous, be sure not to reveal your identity in the body of your report by accident. For example, “From my cube, I sit next to Jan Smith…” or “In my 33 years working here…”

Yes. You will be asked to provide the same information that you would provide in an online report, and an interviewer will type your responses into the NAVEX site. These reports have the same security and confidentiality measures applied to them during delivery.

If you report a concern anonymously, write down the report key and password, and keep them in a safe place. You can follow up on your report by contacting the Aware Line at (888) 503-0808 or awareline.academy.com and using your report key and password.

Concerns reported to the Aware Line are not distributed to any party named in the report. Implicated individuals will not be notified or granted access to reports in which they have been listed.

Yes. You can report a concern from any location or internet portal, including your home or a neighbor's computer, and all reports will remain secure and anonymous. An internet portal never identifies a visitor by screen name, and the NAVEX system strips away internet addresses so anonymity is completely maintained. NAVEX has also contractually committed not to pursue a reporter's identity.

A unique identifier, called a report key, is generated for each incident or suspected violation you report by phone or online and submit for resolution. Your password and report key will allow you to monitor the progress of your concern, submit additional information, attach documents, or answer questions Academy representatives might have.

We ask you to follow up on your report within 1-3 business days to:

• Ensure the accuracy of your report
• Include additional information
• Receive acknowledgment of your report
• Find out if additional information is needed to resolve your concern
• View status, updates, or resolution of your concern

When reporting a concern through the Aware Line, by phone or online, you will be asked to create a password and will be provided with a unique identifier, called a report key. NAVEX provides functionality that enables Academy representatives to post questions for you to review and respond, even if you remain anonymous. We strongly suggest that you return to the Aware Line within 1-3 business days to provide additional details or answer follow up questions that may assist with resolving your concern.

Academy and NAVEX are committed to treating your concern with a high level of confidentiality. If you lose your report key or password, you will be required to file a new report. When completing the new report, be sure to mention that this matter relates to another concern you previously reported.