Faculty Handbook Committee – Academic Senate

Charge

The Committee on the Faculty Handbook shall receive proposed changes to the Handbook in matters of University governance, including faculty services, policies, and responsibilities. The committee reviews all statements to insure that the integrity and spirit of the Handbook language is maintained, and will propose to the senate such statements for incorporation in the new Handbook editions when so directed by the Executive Board. The committee is also responsible for codifying the records of changes in the Handbook; providing a record of the source, content, and approval authority of each revision; and monitoring and recommending policies and procedures for future Handbook revisions.

Specific Charge for the 2025-2026 Academic Year

The Faculty Handbook committee is tasked with the following four charges:

Continue to work with Human Resources to finalize the text of the policy on intimate relations between faculty and undergraduate students.
Rewrite and reorganize Chapter 4 so that it incorporates the 2017 policies on continuing appointments.
Recommend changes to the policies related to family leave and primary caregivers.
Work with the Task force on Academic Freedom and Responsibility to integrate Task force recommendations into the Faculty Handbook.

The committee will consult with administrators and faculty as necessary to guide its work.

Co-Chairs

John Matsusaka
Marshall School of Business
matsusak@usc.edu

Daniel Pecchenino
Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
dpecchen@usc.edu

Committee Members

Sami Assaf, shassaf@usc.edu, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Odilon Camara, ocamara@marshall.usc.edu, Marshall School of Business
Laura Ferguson, laura.ferguson@usc.edu, Keck School of Medicine
Eva Kanso, kanso@usc.edu, Viterbi School of Engineering
Julianna Kirschner, jjkirsch@usc.edu, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Morris Levy, morrisl@usc.edu, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Steve Schurman, schurman@marshall.usc.edu, Marshall School of Business
Michael Thom, mdthom@usc.edu, Sol Price School of Public Policy

Report

Handbook

Faculty Handbook

Resolutions

16/17 – 03: Changes in Faculty Handbook due to Academic Senate Resolution
- Changes to Handbook 16-17 table
- Faculty Handbook 2017-redline_Accepted Amendments
15/16 – 06: Changes in Faculty Handbook due to Academic Senate Resolution 15/16-03
- Draft – Faculty Handbook 2016: Passed at the May 11 Senate meeting
14/15 – 03: Proposed Changes to FH Chapter 6
- Approved changes ch 6 Faculty Handbook Amendments-04-09-2015_distribute 4_15 Senate meeting
14/ 15 – 05: Proposed Changes to FH all chapters except chapter 6
- Approved Faculty Handbook Amendments all chapters except chapter 6_04-23-15
14/15 – 06: Additional Minor Proposed Changes to FH Chapter 6
- Minor Changes ch-06-Amendments-for May-meeting
13/14 – 01: Proposed Changes to the Faculty Handbook
- Poposed Recommendations to Update University Policy on Faculty Evaluation
13/14 – 02: Proposed Changes to the Faculty Handbook
- CHAPTER 6: SUMMARY OF CHANGES AND RATIONALE – Redlined
- CHAPTER 6: SUMMARY OF CHANGES AND RATIONALE – Clean
11/12 – 03: Proposed Changes to the Faculty Handbook