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USF's regulations, policies, and procedures may be viewed on the General Counsel's web site. The following are summaries of specific regulations, policies, and procedures that are of interest to USF Health faculty. | |
Employment Policies
Employee Benefits for Faculty
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Other USF Policies
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Employment Policies | |
| Employment of related persons (husband, wife, parent, child, brother, sister, or spouse of a child, brother or sister, those intending to get married or cohabiting) in a single organizational unit or in work related organizational units is permitted, provided the employment will not involve a conflict of interest. Faculty are not permitted to hold positions that make recommendations or decisions that affect the appointment, retention, tenure, work assignments, evaluation, promotion, demotion, terms or conditions of employment, or salary of a related individual. The employment of related individuals in positions in a single organizational unit must be approved in advance in writing by the Vice-President for USF Health. For additional information, contact the Faculty Affairs Office at 813-974-5105.
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| The University of South Florida is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer that is committed to obtaining true diversity among all of its employees and students and to ending discrimination in the work-place. For additional information, contact the USF Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity at 813-974-4373.
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| Faculty are required to seek advance approval for any compensated employment from another State agency or from USF and are appointed at 1.00 FTE or are employed by another department/school or college as OPS (temporary). For information concerning such extra state compensation, contact the Office of Faculty Affairs.
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| Faculty members must not engage in any outside activity that interferes with the full performance of their institutional responsibilities and obligations.
"Conflict of Interest" means any conflict between private interests of the faculty member and public interests of the University or State of Florida. "Outside activity" means any employment, private practice, private consulting, service on boards or commissions, or any other activity, which is not part of the employee's University duties and for which the University does not provide compensation. A faculty member who intends to engage in any outside activity that the employee should reasonably conclude may create a conflict of interest, or in any outside compensated professional activity, shall report such activity and any information requested by the University about the outside activity to his/her supervisor prior to engaging in the outside activity. The supervisor will accept or reject the report and deliver it to the Vice President for USF Health. Reporting of Outside Activities as well as Use of USF Equipment, Facilities, and Service is now done online via the ROAD application. All such outside activity must be reported in sufficient detail to enable review prior to the faculty member engaging in it. An Outside Activity Report must be completed at the beginning of each new fiscal year and a supplemental Report filed thereafter for any activity that has not been previously reported. Faculty members may not use University or College personnel, facilities, equipment, supplies or services in connection with any outside activity without prior approval of the Vice President of USF Health. Faculty members must take reasonable precautions to assure that the outside employer or recipient of services understands that they are engaging in such outside activity as a private citizen and not as an employee, agent or spokesperson of the University. Refer to the USF Health policy on Conflict of Commitment and Conflict of Interest and USF Rule 6C4-10.107 Faculty Ethical Obligations: Conflicts of Interest and Outside Employment; Employment of Relatives; Seeking or Holding Public Office for the complete policy and process.
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| Information on Visa and non-US citizens policies and procedures may be obtained through the Office of International Students and Scholar Services at 974-5102.
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Employee Benefits for Faculty | |
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The University of South Florida offers a competitive faculty benefits package. Benefits available are: health, life, dental, and supplemental insurance; reimbursement accounts for medical and dependent care; retirement pensions and a tax deferral program for retirement; course registration fee waivers, paid holidays, paid sick leave, and paid vacation. Contact the USF Health Employee Benefits Office at 974-3870 for specific information regarding insurance and retirement programs and additional information on benefits referenced below:
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| Full-time faculty members earn 6.769 hours of paid leave biweekly (approximately 22 days of leave per year). Annual leave must be requested, then approved by the department Chairperson/School Director prior to taking leave. Annual leave may be accrued during the course of each calendar year with leave balances exceeding 352 hours (44 days) being transferred to sick leave at the end of each calendar year. Upon termination from the University, a maximum of 352 hours of accrued annual leave may be paid to the faculty member in accordance with applicable benefit and compensation policies and procedures.
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| In some situations, Faculty are eligible to receive a cashout (payout) of their unused annual or sick leave balances. USF Leave Records and accompanying Leave Request forms must be maintained and submitted in order to receive payment for accrued leave balances upon termination of employment. Contact the USF Health, Human Resources Office for details 974-3870.
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The University of South Florida offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for faculty and other employees at no initial charge. The program is designed to provide employees with specific assistance in resolving or reducing personal, family, financial, or workplace problems. All information is confidential. Referral to a specialist or extended sessions may involve a cost. For more information or an appointment, contact the EAP Office at 974-5469. College of Medicine Faculty have an additional Faculty Assistance Program (FAP) available to them. It provides similar assistance to the USF EAP, but is tailored to the needs of medicial faculty. Wood and Associates has a webpage for the program with contact information.
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| Faculty may also receive discounts for various goods and services. The specific discounts vary. Go to the USF Employee Perks Program website to see the current offerings. Faculty can also use the USF ID card for futher discounts. The list of current discounts is available at the USF Card Center website.
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| The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) is a Federal law which entitles eligible faculty members to twelve work-weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period for: (a) the birth or receiving a child by adoption or foster care, (b) to care for a spouse, parent, or child with a serious health condition, or (c) for the serious health condition of the employee. In the State University System, the 12-month period is July 1 to June 30 each year.
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Faculty currently enjoy nine paid holidays and two floating holidays designated by the University. These are:
Floating Holidays for 2008
If a holiday falls on a Saturday, the holiday is observed on Friday; if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the holiday is observed on Monday. The University is officially closed on these days. Faculty assigned clinical duties in one of the College of Medicine's affiliated institutions may be required to observe that institution's holiday schedule, if it differs from the above. USF Health faculty members should review the Delayed Holiday Policy on the USF Health Policies and Procedures page. | |
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Sick Leave, Sick Leave Pool, and Donation of Sick Leave Full-time faculty members earn 4 hours of sick leave biweekly. Unused sick leave may be accrued during a faculty member's employment. Upon separation from the University with at least ten years of continuous service, one-fourth of the accrued sick leave hours will be paid to the faculty member, with a maximum payout of 480 hours. The University of South Florida also administers a Sick Leave Pool to provide additional sick leave coverage during times of serious illness or injury for those who join it. Faculty with a minimum of one year of continuous state service may join during an open enrollment period, provided they are appointed to an established position and have an appropriate minimum sick leave balance. For further information, call the USF Attendance and Leave Administrator at 974-5717. USF also has a Donation of Sick Leave program. Contact the USF Attendance and Leave Administrator for additional information.
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| Faculty may purchase U.S. Savings Bonds through payroll deductions by contacting the USF Health Benefits Office and completing the form provided. Deductions begin on the first salary warrant of the month. Bonds are issued approximately six weeks after the amount required for the purchase of the designated bond has been collected.
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| All faculty members are covered by the Florida Unemployment Compensation Law. Unemployment Insurance provides temporary income payments to offset wages lost to workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own, and are able and available for work. For further information, contact USF Health Human Resources.
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| This program offers confidential support and practical assistance to faculty, staff and students who have been the victims of actual or threatened violence, including battery, assault, rape, sexual battery and stalking. Program staff can be contacted at 974-5756.
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| All faculty are covered by Workers' Compensation Insurance. If you are injured on the job, notify your supervisor immediately and participate in the completion of a Notice of Injury form. Supervisors authorize faculty members to seek medical treatment with approved physicians, if necessary. Failure to report job related accidents promptly may result in a loss of benefits and steep fines for the University. Contact USF Environmental Health and Safety Office.
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Other USF Policies | |
| The use of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in all USF facilities, unless specific approval has been obtained in advance for their use in connection with a specified social function. Refer to the USF Policy on the Use of Alcoholic Beverages or obtain a copy from the Office of Faculty Affairs.
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| The University of South Florida strives to ensure that all of goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages and accommodations are meaningfully accessible to qualified persons with disabilities in accordance with federal and state laws. For further information, contact the Office of Faculty and Academic Affairs.
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| Biohazardous wastes include all waste generated in human or animal research, or academic or healthcare activities that involve any of the following: (1) blood and body fluids, irrespective of source, (2) tissue specimens and body parts, irrespective of source, (3) syringes with needles or needles separated from syringes, regardless of source, (4) pipets, culture dishes, tubing and culture media potentially contaminated with pathogens, blood or body fluids, and (5) any other potentially contaminated items, such as gauze pads, cloths, clothing or bandages saturated with blood or body fluids.
All biohazardous waste must be disposed of in accordance with procedures developed USF Environmental Health and Safety at 974-4036. All College of Medicine personnel who are at risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens are required by law to have one hour annually of mandatory education about risk reduction. For further information, contact the Division of Environmental Health and Safety at 974-4036.
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Code of Ethics | |
| Faculty members are required at all times to perform their duties in an open and ethical manner in conformity with the Florida Code of Ethics for Public Employees. They may not use their position for private benefit or gain, other than their approved faculty remuneration, must avoid conflicts of interest that may affect their University duties, may not solicit or accept gifts of material value, may not accept unauthorized compensation, must comply with the requirements of the Florida Open Records law, may not use University property or facilities for non-university purposes, and may not in any other way violate the public trust that is essential to the operation of the University. Faculty are advised to seek an opinion from the University before entering into any arrangement that may raise potential ethical concerns. Further information or assistance may be obtained from the Office of Faculty Affairs.
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| The University is a drug-free workplace. This policy prohibits the unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession or use of alcohol or controlled substances on USF property or in connection with any of its activities. Faculty, staff or students may not report for work or class while under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol. Faculty and staff are also required to notify their Chair or the Dean within five days of any criminal drug statute conviction for a violation occurring in the workplace. Individuals who have been convicted in Florida since October 1, 1990 of a drug-related felony are disqualified from employment at USF unless they provide proof of completion of all related sentences and sanctions imposed upon them. Faculty with alcohol or drug problems are urged to obtain prompt professional help, either from their own health provider or by contacting the USF Employee Assistance Program (813-974-5469), COM Faculty Assistance Program (813-871-1293), Alcoholics Anonymous (813-933-9722), Narcotics Anonymous (813-879-4357), or Physician's Recovery Network (1-800-888-8776).
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| Faculty who intend to seek election to public office must notify the Vice President for USF Health in advance to determine whether their candidacy will interfere with the full discharge of their USF duties. Refer to Faculty Ethical Obligations: Conflicts of Interest and Outside Employment; Employment of Relatives; Seeking or Holding Public Office.
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| The USF Card is the official photo Identification Card of the University of South Florida. University policies require all students, faculty and staff members to carry the USF Card while on campus. The Card entitles faculty access to a number of additional University services. For more information regarding the USF Card, contact the Card Center at 974-2357.
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| If the President or representative believes that a faculty member is unable to perform assigned duties due to illness, disability or injury, the faculty member may be required to submit to a medical examination. If the examination confirms that the faculty member is unable to perform the assigned duties, the President or representative may place the faculty member on compulsory disability leave. Once the faculty member exhausts all accrued leave, (s)he will be placed on leave without pay status. When indicated, the faculty member may be required to successfully complete a specified program of treatment or rehabilitation while on this leave, after which, if medically cleared and released to perform assigned duties, the faculty member is permitted to resume his/her previous position. If not, the faculty member may be paced on permanent disability status if that benefit is available.
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| Faculty who intentionally act to impair, interfere with, or obstruct the mission, purposes, operations or functions of the University shall be subject to disciplinary action, according to USF Faculty Rule 6C4-10.112. Misconduct and Incompetence. Other actions that could be determined to be misconduct include, but are not limited to: (a) violence or threat of violence, (b) theft, damage or destruction of University property, (c) interference with the rights or freedom of others at the University, (d) non-compliance with authorized University requests or orders, (e) providing false information to University officials, (f) unauthorized possession of explosives, firearms or dangerous chemicals on campus, and (g) creating or in any way initiating a false alarm, (h) unauthorized interference with the freedom of movement of any member of guest of the University, and (i) misuse of, or interference with, firefighting alarm.
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| Discrimination is prohibited at USF against any employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religious creed, national origin, age, veteran status, handicap, political affiliation or marital status. Faculty members concerned about discrimination or sexual harassment should report their concerns to the department chair/school Director and/or the Office of Faculty Affairs. Formal complaints may be filed internally with the Office of Equal Opportunity Affairs or externally with state or federal agencies.
Faculty should be aware that relationships with students or staff whom they teach, evaluate or supervise should be avoided because they create the appearance or fact of an abuse of power or of undue advantage. Even when both parties in the relationship have initially consented to a romantic involvement, such consent does not preclude a subsequent charge of sexual harassment against the faculty member because of the inherent inequalities in status and power. See also Consensual Relationship Policy.
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| As a State agency, USF operates under Florida's Public Records Law. All documents of any form made or received in connection with the transaction of any University business, other than those specifically exempted, are considered to be Public Records open for inspection by anyone who requests them and are available for copying upon payment of the cost of duplication. University documents that are specifically exempt from these requirements include student records, medical records, academic evaluations of faculty members, certain personnel records, and certain sponsored research records. Additional information and advice about the University's Public Records Policies may be obtained from the Associate Dean for Administration or the office of the General Counsel.
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Faculty, staff and students at USF have a right to expect that the University will reasonably accommodate their religious observances, practices and beliefs. They may exercise their freedom of speech and distribute religious information, but should not violate the University's principles of academic responsibility or interfere with the academic freedom and religion of any other member or guest of the University or guest of the University. No student shall be compelled to attend class or sit for an examination at a day or time when he or she would normally be engaged in a religious observance and students absent for such reasons will be given reasonable opportunity to make up any work missed. | |
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