University of South Florida Faculty Handbook TABLE of CONTENTS

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA FACULTY HANDBOOK Revised edition: October 2017 1 University of South Florida Faculty Handbook TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE PREFACE 3 CHAPTER 1: ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA 4 CHAPTER 2: ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNIVERSITY 6 CHAPTER 3: UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE 14 CHAPTER 4: UNIVERSITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 17 CHAPTER 5: PRIVACY AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO INFORMATION 34 CHAPTER 6: INSTRUCTIONAL POLICIES 37 CHAPTER 7: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 47 CHAPTER 8: RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 54 CHAPTER 9: FACULTY EMPLOYMENT AND RELATED ISSUES 65 CHAPTER 10: UNIVERSITY SERVICES AND RESOURCES 78 The University of South Florida Faculty Handbook is maintained by the Office of the Provost. A multitude of people in various offices, too numerous to mention here, have contributed to the extensive revisions of this edition of the Handbook. All who have participated in this effort are due an appreciative note of thanks. Revisions to the current document will be made as needed and subsequent versions will be subject to review and revision. 2 PREFACE Welcome to the University of South Florida Faculty Handbook! The University of South Florida (USF) was formally established by legislation in 1955. Five years later, in September 1960, USF opened its doors to more than 1,900 students and 130 charter faculty. Located on a 1,700-acre site that was the former bombing range for Henderson Air Field, USF became the state's first metropolitan university and the first Florida public university to be developed in the 20th century. It is now part of a 12-institution State University System that spans the state. The University of South Florida is a high-impact, global research university dedicated to student success. The USF System has an annual budget of $1.6 billion, an annual economic impact of $4.4 billion, and is approaching serving over 50,000 students in separately accredited institutions located in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee. The central campus is in Tampa, and enrolls over 43,000 students. USF is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in the top tier of research universities, a distinction attained by only 2.5 percent of all universities. It is ranked 45th in the nation for total research expenditures among all universities, and 28th in total expenditures for public universities. It has achieved a top 50 ranking in a number of other national and world ranking systems. The University of South Florida Faculty Handbook is designed to provide information about the roles and responsibilities of faculty members at USF, as well as information about resources available to them. Given the size and scope of USF, as well as the complexity and fluidity of the times, former handbooks became obsolete at an increasingly rapid pace. Therefore, the current and future versions are presented in a web-based format that allows for occasional updating of pertinent information. Please note that there are a multitude of web links throughout this document; they were current as of its posting, but be aware that links can, and do, change with some regularity. Also, it is common for accessing a link to generate a generic warning about accessing computer links. All links included in this document have been determined to be safe for opening, at least at the time of the document’s posting. The University of South Florida Faculty Handbook is not intended to address all aspects of university life and specific circumstances that faculty members may encounter. However, it serves as a resource by which summary information about a wide range of topics may be accessed. Readers may find some overlap in coverage because certain topics are pertinent to inclusion in various chapters. Because of their differential missions, separate USF campuses, including USF Health, may have their own faculty handbooks that contain information specific to those campuses. NOTICE: The language used in the University of South Florida Faculty Handbook does not constitute legal terms and conditions of employment, and if any policy or practice described herein is inconsistent with federal law, state law, or existing Collective Bargaining Agreement, such policy or practice is superseded by the applicable law or agreement. 3 CHAPTER 1: ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA VISION The University of South Florida envisions itself as an ambitious, public research university with state, national and global impact, and positioned for membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU). In pursuit of this vision, the University of South Florida in Tampa was named in 2016 by the state of Florida as an emerging preeminent university, an important step toward being designated among the state’s preeminent universities, a status we anticipate achieving in the near future. MISSION As Florida's leading metropolitan research university, USF is dedicated to excellence in: Student access and success in an engaged, and interdisciplinary, learner-centered environment; Research and scientific discovery, including the generation, dissemination, and translation of new knowledge across disciplines; to strengthen the economy; to promote civic culture and the arts; and to design and build sustainable, healthy communities; and Embracing innovation, and supporting scholarly and artistic engagement to build a community of learners together with significant and sustainable university-community partnerships and collaborations. STRATEGIC PLANNING The USF Strategic Plan 2013-2018 sets the university’s course for the next five years through the articulation of USF’s vision, values, and goals. Some highlights of the plan can be access through the links below. Executive Summary Strategic Plan Booklet Performance Metrics Past Strategic Plans GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA The USF website provides information on a variety of topics regarding resources and services at the university. Some frequently used ones are: Alphabetical Index of Administrative Units About USF 4 Academics Admissions Athletics Calendars Communications & Marketing General Counsel Human Resources Information Technology Libraries myUSF Research & Innovation USF Directory USF Facts and Statistics USF Unstoppable (Fundraising Campaign) USF SYSTEM The USF System is an evolving multi-campus system of higher education with fiscally autonomous and separately accredited, yet complementary, campuses in Tampa (including Academic Affairs and USF Health), USF St. Petersburg, and USF Sarasota-Manatee. The USF System designation was approved by the USF Board of Trustees in October 2004. While increased campus autonomy and distinctive missions characterize the USF System, centralized, system-wide functions will continue to be provided by the Offices of General Counsel, University Audit and Compliance, Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunity, Research and Innovation, University Advancement, and Athletics. In 2009, USF St. Petersburg achieved separate accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). In 2011, USF Sarasota-Manatee received separate accreditation with SACSCOC, and in 2015, USF Tampa received full reaccreditation. 5 CHAPTER 2: ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF GOVERNORS FC ARTICLE 9, SECTION 7(D); SEC.1001.70 FS After the Florida Legislature abolished an existing Board of Regents in 2001, the Board of Governors (BOG) was established in 2002 through a successful citizen petition for a constitutional amendment. The Board has authority to establish missions for each Florida State University System (SUS) university and its articulation with free public schools and Florida community colleges, and to provide coordination in the operation of the SUS institutions. The Board of Governors consists of 14 citizens (appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate for staggered seven year terms), the Commissioner of Education, the chair of the state-wide advisory council of SUS faculty senates, and the president of the Florida Student Association. The BOG appoints a Chancellor who serves as the chief executive officer for the Board, and is its official spokesperson in relations with various external constituencies, especially the State Legislature and the Office of the Governor, as well as presidents, trustees, students and other organizations. BOARD OF TRUSTEES Each SUS university is governed by a Board of Trustees, established in 2001 at the time of the abolition of the Board of Regents. The duties and powers of these Boards are determined by Florida Statute (Sec. 1001.71 FS) and by the Board of Governors. Among their chief responsibilities are selection of a president and the determination of institutional rules. Where a collective bargaining agreement exists, such as USF, these rules may not conflict with the terms of a ratified contract. Each Board of Trustees is composed of 6 members chosen by the Governor and five members selected by the Board of Governors; these 11 members serve staggered five year terms. In addition, the heads of the university faculty senate and the student body are members of the Board of Trustees. PRESIDENT The President is the chief executive officer of the state university, is the corporate secretary of the university board of trustees, and is responsible for the operation and administration of the university. The President is the person ultimately accountable for every aspect of the university; the President or designees are

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