All USC Policies

International Collaborations and Export Controls

USC engages in a variety of activities related to research, instruction, healthcare, student outreach, and other strategic partnerships and affiliations that may create obligations under United States export control regulations, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and economic and trade sanctions regulations.

Disaster Leave

Disaster leave provides employees with job protection and, when applicable, continued pay and benefits over a designated period of time in concert with a “declaration of emergency” issued by the President or President’s designee.

Protection of Social Security Numbers and Other Restricted Information

USC receives and collects Restricted Information, as defined below, from and about students, faculty and staff employees, patients, and business partners, among others, in order to provide academic and clinical services and/or to conduct business operations. USC will use, store and transmit “Restricted Information” responsibly and in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations.

Smoke Free Policy

The university is committed to promoting a healthy, safe and comfortable environment for all students, faculty, staff and visitors. Smoking is prohibited in all indoor and outdoor facilities on university owned and leased property with no exception, including within vehicles parked on those properties.

University Sponsored Advertising and Sponsorships

To protect and present an appropriate and consistent image, the university restricts the advertising of, or sponsorship agreements involving, certain products and services.

HIPAA PAT-608 Breach Notification

USC shall comply with breach notification requirements under federal and state laws, including the HIPAA privacy and security regulations and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (“HITECH”) Regulations.

HIPAA PAT-601 Access to Protected Health Information

This policy describes when it is appropriate to permit a patient to access his or her Protected Health Information and the procedures to follow when approving or denying a patient request to access his or her Protected Health Information.

HIPAA Privacy Rule: Education of Covered Workforce

It is USC’s policy to provide education to its faculty, staff, students and other employees or volunteers who use, disclose or access Protected Health Information as part of their job responsibilities at USC.

Emergency Management

The university recognizes the need to prepare for unexpected events such as natural or human-caused disasters, as well as the need to return the university as quickly as possible to its normal operations should such events occur.

Cooperation with Compliance Investigations

Every USC employee shares the university’s responsibility to comply with laws and regulations governing a variety of activities, including but not limited to research, healthcare, privacy and security, employment practices, environmental health and safety, financial aid, athletics and conflict of interest.

Paid Sick Time

In the event of a discrepancy between this policy and a collective bargaining agreement, the terms of the collective bargaining agreement will govern.

Unpaid Religious Holidays

An employee wishing to take time off to observe a religious holiday must notify his/her manager at least 30 days prior to the holiday.

California Military Spouse Leave

​​USC is committed to providing job-protected unpaid leave to employees who are spouses or registered domestic partners of military personnel who are home on leave during a period of military deployment, pursuant to the California Military & Veteran Code 395.10

School Activities Leave

USC is committed to providing time-off for employees to participate in their children’s school activities in kindergarten through grade twelve (12), in licensed daycare facilities, and in activities conducted by a licensed childcare provider.

HIPAA CLIN-207 Security Risk Analysis and Management

In accordance with the HIPAA Security Rule, USC maintains a HIPAA security risk analysis and management program to assess and prioritize risks to the confidentiality,
integrity and availability of Protected Health Information (PHI) and to respond, accept or remediate as appropriate.

Unmanned Aerial Systems (Drones)

Due to potential risks to safety, security and privacy, USC generally prohibits operations of an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS; commonly known as a drone) on or above USC property or in connection with a USC-sanctioned or affiliated event or activity, including commercial, recreational, hobbyist, or other uses.

Disability Accommodations

The university is committed to the full accessibility of our campus, programs and activities to individuals with disabilities.

Class Scheduling

Each school and department must distribute its course offerings over all five days of the week and over the full day from 8am through 5pm.

Sponsored Project Funded Expense Provisions (Expenditures)

The purpose of this policy is to ensure controls for sponsored project funded expense provisions. When expenses are to be charged to a sponsored project account, the terms of the applicable contract or grant will take precedence over university expenditure policies.

Membership Expense and Restrictions (Expenditures)

The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for payments and reimbursements for memberships.

Paid Jury Duty

An employee must notify his/her manager as soon as s/he receives a jury summons.

Paid Time Off – Staff Vacation

All benefits-eligible staff employees are eligible. Excluded are resource employees, per diem employees, faculty, postdoctoral scholars and those claiming student status, including teaching and research assistants.

Paid University Holidays

All full-time staff employees are eligible. Excluded are resource employees, per diem employees, faculty, and those claiming student status, including teaching and research assistants; employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement are also excluded.

Funeral and Bereavement Leave

All employees are eligible. Excluded are resource employees, per diem employees, postdoctoral scholars and those claiming student status, including teaching and research assistants.

Mandated Reporters

Mandated Reporters have an individual duty to report known or suspected abuse or neglect relating to children, elders, or dependent adults. Any employees whose positions are designated by the state of California as Mandated Reporters must understand what they are required to report, when it must be reported, and to whom. Summary information regarding the three categories of mandated reports is provided below.

Paid Winter Recess

All staff employees are eligible. Excluded are resource employees, per diem employees, faculty and those claiming student status (including teaching and research assistants).

Equipment Policy

To establish procedures for the management and control of equipment owned by or in the possession and custody of USC. This includes the acquisition, identification, recording, use, care,
maintenance, disposition, and reporting of U.S. government and contractor-owned equipment
held by the university. These procedures are established to comply with federal regulations with respect to government equipment for which the university is responsible and accountable.

Conflict of Interest and Commitment Policy

All employees are expected to adhere to the highest ethical standards in their professional and business practices. In order to meet these obligations, all faculty and staff should avoid conflicts of interest that may exist between outside activities and obligations to the university.

HIPAA PAT-604 Patient Requests to Restrict Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information

USC will consider requested restrictions. However, except in the limited circumstances described below, USC has no obligation to agree to any such request, nor is it required to cite a reason for refusing to do so.

HIPAA PAT-603 Accounting of Disclosures of Protected Health Information

This policy describes the process for responding to a patient’s request for an accounting of disclosures of his or her Protected Health Information.

HIPAA PAT-602 Patient Requests to Amend Protected Health Information

Except as set forth below, the University of Southern California (USC) recognizes the right of a patient to request an amendment to his or her Protected Health Information or a record about a patient maintained by USC in a “Designated Record Set.”

Staff Complaint Process

If a staff employee is unable to resolve employment-related concerns after consultation with his/her manager and/or HR Partner, s/he may escalate the complaint under the Staff Complaint Process described in this policy.