Prohibited Relationships with Students

Applies to: Faculty (including part-time, adjunct, voluntary, and visiting faculty), postdoctoral scholars (including teaching fellows), staff, academic staff,  and graduate assistants (including teaching assistants, assistant lecturers, research assistants, and resident assistants) employed by University of Southern California (“USC“ or the “University“) and including those working for Keck Medicine of USC. This policy continues to apply…

Service and Assistance Animal

The purpose of this policy to articulate the conditions under which Service and Assistance Animals are permitted access to University grounds and facilities.

External Surveys and Rankings Data Management Policy

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…

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 and Events

​​Applies to:​ Faculty (including part-time, adjunct and visiting faculty), postdoctoral scholars, staff (including graduate/undergraduate student workers and graduate assistants) employed by University of Southern California (“USC“ or the “University“) and including those working for Keck Medicine of USC (“USC Employees”), students and Recognized Student Organizations. This policy continues to apply to individuals who are on…

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Financial 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.