Applies to: Faculty (including part-time and visiting faculty), and staff (including postdoctoral scholars and student workers) employed by University of Southern California and its subsidiaries including the USC Health System. This policy continues to apply to individuals on sabbatical, other leaves or while visiting other institutions. Issued: February 1, 2023Last Revised: N/ALast Reviewed: N/A 1. Policy Purpose The…
Category: University Organization, Culture, and Ethics
Third Party Integrity and Accountability Code
We focus on integrity in all we do. Our Third Parties are a vital part of how we achieve our mission, and we must work together to do the right thing in all of our dealings. When working with us or on our behalf, we expect you to perform at the highest standard of business…
Data Privacy Policy
This policy represents USC’s commitment to respecting and protecting the privacy of its students, patients, faculty, staff, research subjects, and anyone from whom USC Personnel collect or receive Personal Information. The University is also committed to protecting the privacy of Personal Information within its direct and indirect control in a manner consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and University policies, procedures, and principles.
Single-use Plastics Elimination – Beverage Bottles
The purpose of this university-wide policy is to eliminate Single-use Plastic Beverage Bottles from campus and medical enterprise operations. By shifting procurement practices, prioritizing reuse and increasing waste diversion and reduction measures, over the next few years, USC intends to transition away from all Single-Use Plastic Beverage Bottles on campus and reach its zero waste goals.
Gifts and Hospitality Policy
As USC Employees, we are accountable for evaluating the G&H that are given and received in accordance with this policy. USC employees must ensure that giving or receiving G&H does not improperly influence or appear to improperly influence an individual’s decision-making abilities.
Political Site Visit Policy
1. Policy Issued: February 15, 2022Last Reviewed: N/ALast Revised: N/A 2. Policy Purpose The purpose of this policy to ensure that the University of Southern California (“USC”) complies with applicable laws when hosting site visits with Government Officials and candidates. Site visits are an opportunity for the university to build and maintain relationships with Government Officials.…
Policy on Policies
All faculty, staff, students, and contractors involved in the development, approval, implementation, or maintenance of University Policies and related resources are expected to comply with this policy. This policy defines a University Policy, explains the relationship to related resources, and describes the key expectations, requirements, and methodology throughout the policy lifecycle, including development, maintenance, retirement, and archiving.
USC Integrity and Accountability Code
At the University of Southern California, ethical behavior is predicated on two main pillars: a commitment to discharging our obligations to others in a fair and honest manner, and a commitment to respecting the rights and dignity of all persons.
Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation
USC’s Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation incorporates a University-wide approach to preventing and responding to discrimination and harassment on the basis of protected characteristics, retaliation, and specific forms of harassment based on sex: sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and related forms of conduct.
Gift Acceptance and Campaign Counting
All university employees and volunteers must adhere to this policy, which also acts as a guide for prospective donors and their advisors, providing assurance that all donors are treated equitably.
Fundraising Coordination
The generosity of alumni, friends, grateful patients, corporations and foundations plays a vital role in supporting USC’s mission of excellence.
Protecting Minors
The university is committed to promoting the safety and wellbeing of students and others who are entrusted to our care or visit our campuses, especially those who are particularly vulnerable, including patients, volunteer subjects of research, and the children in our daycare and community outreach programs.
Investigation of Non-Protected Class Conduct in Violation of University Policy
The Office of Conduct, Accountability, and Professionalism (OCAP) investigates violations of university policy that have not been investigated by the Office of Equity and Diversity, the Office of Compliance, the Office of Internal Audit or an office investigating research misconduct.
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.
Disability Accommodations
The university is committed to the full accessibility of our campus, programs and activities to individuals with disabilities.
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.
Conflict of Interest in Research
The purpose of this policy is to promote the highest ethical standards in situations where conflicts of interest may occur in the conduct of research.
Reporting Wrongdoing
USC requires faculty, staff, students, volunteers and others affiliated with the university to report suspicion of wrongdoing promptly to the proper authorities for investigation.
Accounting and Auditing Complaint Reporting
In order to adhere to the highest standards of integrity, the university encourages employees to submit complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters or concerns (“Accounting Matters”).
Relationships with Industry
The purpose of this policy is to: Support USC’s standard of maintaining a culture of ethics in its business relations and to minimize conflicts of interest and the appearance of impropriety in our relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, device and medical equipment manufacturers and other healthcare suppliers (“Industry”).
Institutional Conflict of Interest in Research
The objective of this policy is to promote the highest ethical standards in the conduct of research in situations where institutional conflicts of interest (“ICOI”) may occur, and to determine those instances when an ICOI is unacceptable.
Misappropriation of University Assets
It is the responsibility of every university employee, regardless of rank or job title, to safeguard university assets and to report any suspected misappropriation of university assets.
Political Activity
USC, as an institution, will not participate in (including the publishing or distributing of statements) any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office (collectively, “Political Statements”) and no employee or agent of USC is authorized to make any Political Statement, or expend any university funds for or against a candidate, on USC’s behalf.