Research
Policies by Topic - Research
| Title | Excerpt | Category | Policy Issued | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | All Policy Topics, Information Technology, Research, University Organization, Culture, and Ethics | data, Faculty, privacy, research, Staff, student | 9/1/2022 | 2/2/2024 |
| 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. | All Policy Topics, Research, University Organization, Culture, and Ethics | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 5/11/2022 | 7/27/2023 |
| Asset Management | Please view policy to access additional details. | All Policy Topics, Information Technology, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 11/4/2021 | 2/15/2023 |
| Cloud Security | Please view policy to access additional details. | All Policy Topics, Information Technology, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 11/1/2019 | 2/15/2023 |
| Data Protection | Please view policy to access additional details. | All Policy Topics, Information Technology, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 11/1/2019 | 2/15/2023 |
| Endpoint Security | Please view policy to access additional details. | All Policy Topics, Information Technology, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 5/3/2019 | 2/15/2023 |
| Third-Party Security Risk Management | Please view policy to access additional details. | All Policy Topics, Information Technology, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 12/1/2020 | 5/16/2023 |
| Acceptable Use | Please view policy to access additional details. | All Policy Topics, Information Technology, Research | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 5/3/2019 | 8/10/2023 |
| Student Travel Abroad - Destination Restrictions and Crisis Management | As a global university, USC encourages students to gain international experience through a variety of programs, including study abroad, internships abroad, and international service trips. | All Policy Topics, Research, Student Issues | research, Students | 9/3/2020 | 4/11/2024 |
| Scholarship and Grant Awards | This policy governs the administration of scholarships and grants at the University of Southern California (USC). USC provides scholarships and grants to students consistent with donor specifications on the basis of financial need, merit, or both. | All Policy Topics, Research, Student Issues | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 11/4/2020 | 2/15/2023 |
| Courseware | The purpose of this policy is to define courseware ownership by way of creation, generating income and/or royalties, outlining contractual courseware agreements, competition, conflict of interest and USC Trademarks and Third-Party Copyrights. | All Policy Topics, Faculty Workplace, Research | Faculty, research | 9/15/2005 | 9/29/2023 |
| Research and Scholarship Misconduct | This policy applies to research and scholarship carried out at USC involving any faculty (including part-time, adjunct and visiting), staff, trainee or students regardless of funding source, if any. | All Policy Topics, Faculty Workplace, Research | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 7/31/2020 | 7/18/2023 |
| 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. | Administrative and Business Practices, All Policy Topics, Research | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 11/30/2016 | 2/15/2023 |
| 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. | Administrative and Business Practices, All Policy Topics, Research | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 11/30/2016 | 2/15/2023 |
| HIPAA RES-301 Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information for Research Purposes | Federal and state regulations govern the protection of human subjects in research. While these regulations provide for some patient confidentiality protections, the HIPAA Privacy Rule adds additional privacy protections for human subjects and establishes the conditions under which protected health information (“PHI”) may be used or disclosed by the University of Southern California (USC) for research purposes. | Administrative and Business Practices, All Policy Topics, Research | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 6/15/2014 | 2/15/2023 |
| 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. | Administrative and Business Practices, All Policy Topics, Research | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 3/1/2016 | 2/15/2023 |
| HIPAA GEN-105 Disclosures of Deidentified | The University of Southern California (USC) may use or disclose de-identified health information without obtaining a patient’s authorization. | Administrative and Business Practices, All Policy Topics, Research | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 11/15/2011 | 2/15/2023 |
| HIPAA GEN-102 When to Obtain Authorizations | The University of Southern California (USC) may use and disclose an individual’s Protected Health Information (PHI) only pursuant to a written Authorization of the patient or the patient’s Personal Representative with the following exceptions. | Administrative and Business Practices, All Policy Topics, Research | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 11/15/2011 | 2/15/2023 |
| Intellectual Property | The purpose of this Policy is to educate members of the University community about their rights and responsibilities regarding intellectual property. | Administrative and Business Practices, All Policy Topics, Research | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 4/3/2001 | 2/15/2023 |
| 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. | All Policy Topics, Facilities and Equipment, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 8/31/2015 | 2/15/2023 |
| Records Management | All units of the university are responsible for ensuring appropriate use, retention and destruction of university records by establishing and following record management practices consistent with this policy. | Administrative and Business Practices, All Policy Topics, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 8/15/2008 | 6/9/2023 |
| 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. | Administrative and Business Practices, All Policy Topics, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 1/31/2017 | 2/15/2023 |
| 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. | Administrative and Business Practices, All Policy Topics, Research | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 3/31/2017 | 4/10/2024 |
| Human Anatomic Materials Procurement | USC is committed to ensuring that human anatomical materials used for academic purposes meet all applicable regulatory and safety requirements. | Administrative and Business Practices, All Policy Topics, Research | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 9/15/2014 | 2/15/2023 |
| Biorepositories | USC encourages the creation of repositories (sometimes called biorepositories, registries, banks, or libraries) that provide access, for use in future research, to data and human biospecimens. | Administrative and Business Practices, All Policy Topics, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 8/17/2012 | 2/15/2023 |
| Travel Cards | USC staff and faculty are eligible for a Travel Card provided they meet the following criteria: Have active employment status, in good standing. | All Policy Topics, Expenditures and Procurement, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 10/12/2017 | 2/15/2023 |
| Travel Expenditures | The purpose of the policy is to ensure travel expenditures are reasonable, customary, and necessary to conduct official university business. | All Policy Topics, Expenditures and Procurement, Research | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 4/26/2019 | 2/15/2023 |
| 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. | All Policy Topics, Expenditures and Procurement, Research | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 11/30/2015 | 2/15/2023 |
| Reimbursements | University community members incur various types of expenses as they perform tasks and duties that support the operations of the university and further its mission. | All Policy Topics, Expenditures and Procurement, Research | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 4/23/2020 | 2/15/2023 |
| Purchasing and Signature Authority | The purpose of this policy is to control the commitment of university funds, including purchasing and contracting activities. | All Policy Topics, Expenditures and Procurement, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 9/15/2014 | 2/15/2023 |
| Procurement Cards | The Procurement Card (P-Card) is a corporate card issued on behalf of USC by a bank (Issuing Bank). The P-Card is used for buying goods and services for the university. | All Policy Topics, Expenditures and Procurement, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 10/12/2017 | 7/24/2023 |
| Membership Expense and Restrictions (Expenditures) | The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for payments and reimbursements for memberships. | All Policy Topics, Expenditures and Procurement, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 11/30/2015 | 2/15/2023 |
| Expense Business Purpose and Approvals | All university expenses must be necessary and reasonable in terms of price and purpose. Therefore, each university reimbursement and payment request must be supported by a written business purpose, regardless of the item, type of service, amount or form of payment. | All Policy Topics, Expenditures and Procurement, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 8/26/2019 | 2/15/2023 |
| Recharge Centers | USC schools, academic departments and other university divisions (units) may establish a recharge center (RC) to provide goods and/or services to university activities, programs and organizations. | All Policy Topics, Finance and Budget, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 9/15/2011 | 2/15/2023 |
| Indirect Cost Rate | When conducting sponsored projects, USC is required to apply the appropriate Facilities and Administrative (“F&A”) rate (also referred to as the “Indirect Cost Rate”) to the appropriate direct cost base for each project. | All Policy Topics, Finance and Budget, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 4/23/2020 | 2/15/2023 |
| Cost-Sharing | The sponsor’s award document normally includes the form and the amount of the cost-sharing commitment or it may reference the proposal submitted to the funding agency. | All Policy Topics, Finance and Budget, Research | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 5/1/1997 | 2/15/2023 |
| 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. | All Policy Topics, Health and Safety, Research | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 3/1/2016 | 2/15/2023 |
| Research Personnel Protection | Safety is a core value at USC. The university is committed to advancement of an institutional safety culture, with strong programs of personal safety, accident and injury prevention, wellness promotion, and compliance with applicable environmental and health and safety laws and regulations. | All Policy Topics, Health and Safety, Research | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 7/2/2020 | 2/15/2023 |
| Minors in Laboratories and Shops | USC encourages and actively promotes creative education, hands-on workshops, and the mentoring of minors (children under 18) who attend educational events on USC campuses. | All Policy Topics, Health and Safety, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 6/30/2020 | 2/15/2023 |
| Mandated Reporters | California law designates USC employees with certain positions as “mandated reporters” (defined below and in Appendix A). | All Policy Topics, Health and Safety, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 11/1/2015 | 2/15/2023 |
| Injury and Illness Prevention | USC is committed to excellence in environmental health and safety stewardship on our campuses and in the larger USC community. This policy outlines safety responsibilities and requirements placed on all USC personnel (faculty, staff, students, contractors, and volunteers)—to support injury and illness prevention, maintain a safe and healthful workplace, and ensure individual and institutional compliance with relevant environmental health and safety regulations. | All Policy Topics, Health and Safety, Research | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 7/30/2013 | 2/15/2023 |
| Hazardous Waste Management (Environmental Management) | The purpose of this policy is to protect the health and safety of university faculty, staff, students and visitors through safe handling and disposal of chemical, infectious, and radioactive wastes; to reduce the potential environmental liabilities and costs of hazardous waste disposal; and to help ensure that hazardous wastes are disposed of in accordance with all applicable regulations. | All Policy Topics, Health and Safety, Research | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 3/15/2004 | 2/15/2023 |
| 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”). | Research, University Organization, Culture, and Ethics | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 9/8/2009 | 3/17/2023 |
| 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. | All Policy Topics, Research, University Organization, Culture, and Ethics | Faculty, research, Staff | 10/2/2002 | 2/12/2024 |
| 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. | All Policy Topics, Research, University Organization, Culture, and Ethics | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 9/1/2009 | 2/15/2023 |
| 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. | All Policy Topics, Research, University Organization, Culture, and Ethics | Faculty, research, Staff | 8/14/2015 | 3/6/2024 |
| 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. | All Policy Topics, Research, University Organization, Culture, and Ethics | Faculty, research, Staff | 7/1/2008 | 4/24/2024 |
| 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. | All Policy Topics, Research, University Organization, Culture, and Ethics | Faculty, research, Staff | 7/1/2016 | 8/17/2023 |
| 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. | All Policy Topics, Research, University Organization, Culture, and Ethics | Faculty, research, Staff, Students | 3/1/2013 | 8/16/2023 |
| Postdoctoral Scholars | USC recognizes the importance of assisting postdoctoral scholars as they develop into independent investigators. | All Policy Topics, General Employment, Research | Faculty, research, Students | 2/28/2015 | 2/15/2023 |
| Hiring Foreign Nationals and Immigration Employment Sponsorship | The process of employing foreign nationals (as faculty, staff, or employees claiming student status) involves federal rules and regulations that, if not carefully followed, can result in severe penalties to both employee and employer. | All Policy Topics, General Employment, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 12/1/2011 | 10/31/2023 |
| Diverse Supplier Guidelines | The Department of Supplier Diversity Services works in tandem with Procurement Services to provide maximum procurement opportunities for Diverse Suppliers. | All Policy Topics, Expenditures and Procurement, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 1/2/2006 | 2/15/2023 |
| University Signature | This policy identifies who is authorized to enter into Agreements on behalf of the University and how authorized individuals may delegate signature authority. This policy also outlines conditions that must be met before any Agreement on behalf of the University is signed and the use of electronic signatures. | Administrative and Business Practices, All Policy Topics, Research | Faculty, research, Staff | 8/3/2010 | 8/23/2023 |