All faculty, staff, students, contractors or visitors are expected to comply with university policy, which is posted on the official university policy website.
Category: University Organization, Culture, and Ethics
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.
Lobbying and Gifts to Government Officials
Because governmental decisions have the potential to significantly impact the university, USC frequently participates in the governmental process at the federal, state, and local level.
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.
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 in Professional and Business Practices
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.
Code of Ethics
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.
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.