 Responsibilities
The Ombuds has two major responsibilities - first a
responsibility to the USFSP campus to promote positive community
and collegial relationships, and second, a responsibility
as the primary liaison between the St. Petersburg campus
and the USF Ethics and Compliance Program.
For the USF St. Petersburg campus, the Ombuds provides
leadership by convening roundtable discussions and other
opportunities to encourage faculty, administration and staff
to create a better learning community. In addition, the
Ombuds will provide active, reflective listening to individuals
who are contemplating alternatives for dealing with concerns.
However, the Ombuds is not an agent of the administration
and has no authority to intervene or offer advice on behalf
of USF. Instead, the Ombuds functions as a supportive
colleague, acknowledging the power of the concerned individual
to choose methods of redress offered at USFSP and to advocate
on his or her own behalf.
The
Ombuds
also serves
as the
St. Petersburg
representative
for the
USF University-wide
Ethics & Compliance
Program.
The University
operates
within
a complex
environment
subject
to many
laws,
rules
and regulations.
The Ombuds
will
assist
in the
identification,
coordination
and/or
provision
of educational
opportunities
to the
campus
regarding
compliance
topics
in collaboration
with
the Office
of University
Audit & Compliance.
Violations of law, rule or policy should be reported directly
to the appropriate office, if possible. Certain offices
within the USF System have been assigned the responsibility
of investigating concerns:
- Unlawful discrimination, or sexual harassment must
be reported to the Office
of Diversity and Equal Opportunity (813) 974-4373;
- Allegations of research misconduct involving externally
funded projects should be reported to the Associate
Vice Chancellor for Research and Community Partnerships
(727) 553-4811;
- Whistleblower Act
issues,
fiscal
misconduct,
conflicts
of interest
or other
misconduct
should
be reported
to the Office
of University Audit & Compliance (813) 974-2705 or the USF anonymous information-line
(813) 974-8411. ( Florida Statute
Section 112. 3187)
The University has a strict policy prohibiting retaliation
against employees who report, in good faith, what they
believe are violations of law, rule, policy or other
misconduct. Improvements to our University community
can happen only when we encourage an atmosphere of open
dialogue and expression and an underlying commitment
to the highest ethics in our practices.
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