General Counsel
General Counsel
The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) provides legal advice, accurate information, and timely services to Florida Polytechnic University, its Board of Trustees, and the Florida Polytechnic University Foundation, Inc. As the University’s central legal resource, the OGC provides proactive support in many areas, including:
- Business Transactions: contracts, gift agreements, delegations of authority, international exchange agreements
- Employment & Labor: collective bargaining, immigration law and visas, risk management, human resources
- Governance: Board of Trustees matters, ethics and conflicts of interest, Sunshine Law, public records
- Finance & Administration: procurement, construction, technology services, real estate, environmental health and safety
- Research & Intellectual Property: patents, trademarks, copyrights, research compliance
- Student Affairs: admissions, financial aid, student government, FERPA compliance, tuition and fees
- Dispute Resolution: litigation, subpoenas, service of process
Note: Attorneys in this office cannot provide personal legal advice to faculty, staff, administrators, or students.
Florida Polytechnic University Offices on Polk State College Campus
3425 Winter Lake Road, LTB-2121
Lakeland, FL 33803
General Counsel Team & Service Areas
Vice President & General Counsel
Associate General Counsel
Assistant General Counsel
Executive Assistant & Paralegal
Service Areas
The areas below outline the primary areas of responsibility for each attorney in the Office of the General Counsel. Use this guide to determine the appropriate contact for your legal matter.
Questions related to University Policies, Regulations, and Rules, or Public Records Requests, contact Sherri Pavlik at 863-874-8412 or spavlik@floridapoly.edu.
If you are unsure whom to reach, contact the Office of the General Counsel at 863-874-8412 or ogc@floridapoly.edu. Notes: most written communications are public records.
Active Assailant Emergency Information
The University Police Department offers the following steps to take in the event of an active assailant incident.
Secure Immediate Area:
- Lock and barricade doors.
- Turn off lights.
- Close blinds.
- Turn off radios and computer monitors.
- Keep people in the room calm, quiet and out of sight.
- Keep yourself out of sight and take adequate cover and protection (i.e. concrete walls, thick desks, filing cabinets). Cover may protect you from bullets.
- Silence all cell phones.
- Place signs in exterior windows to identify the location of injured persons.
Un-Securing an Area:
- Consider the risks before un-securing rooms.
- Remember, the shooter will not stop until he/she is engaged by an outside source.
- Attempts to rescue people should only be made if it can be accomplished without further endangering the people inside a secured area.
- If the safety of individuals inside a room is at risk, the area should remain secured.
Contacting Authorities:
- Emergency: 911
- University Police: (863) 874-8472
What to Report:
- Your specific location, including building name and office/room number
- Number of people at your specific location
- Injuries – number of injured and types of injuries
- Assailant(s):
- Location
- Number of suspects
- Race
- Gender
- Clothing description
- Physical features
- Additional Information:
- Types of weapon(s) (e.g. long gun or handgun)
- Shooter’s Identity (if already known)
- Explosions
Police Response:
Here are the priorities of responding police:
- Immediately isolate/engage assailant(s)
- Evacuate victims
- Facilitate follow-up medical care, interviews, counseling, etc.
- Investigation
Sexual Offender Procedure
Notification/Publication Procedure
Federal and state law requires a person designated as a sexual predator or offender to register with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). FDLE is then required to notify the local law enforcement agency where the registrant lives, or attends or is employed by an institution of higher learning.
The University shall include in its publications to students and employees information that will advise the campus community on how to obtain information on sexual predators or offenders from the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction for the particular campus, by calling the FDLE hotline or by visiting the FDLE website.
When a law enforcement agency notifies the University that a sexual predator or sexual offender is enrolled, planning to enroll, or carrying on a vocation at the University, such notification shall be delivered to the attention of the President, who shall then deliver it to the Provost or designee and Director of Human Resources. The Provost or designee will notify the Chief of Police, who will in turn initiate an information check on the student or employee.
The University will take the following action after receiving notification from law enforcement:
- If the offender is a student, the Director of Student Affairs will meet with him/her with the understanding that the conference will be conducted in private. The student sexual offender will be advised of the need to comply with the student conduct and rights and responsibilities provisions consistent with all students. Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action. The Director of Student Affairs will consult with the Provost as to whether further action or notification is needed.
- If the offender is an employee, the Director of Human Resources will advise the employee that he/she is required to comply with the law and university rules and procedures. Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action in accordance with University Policy.
- Further, formal actions shall provide that for any on-campus disciplinary action wherein there is an allegation of sexual misconduct, (1) the accuser and the accused are entitled to the same due process as other campus disciplinary proceedings; and (2) both the accuser and the accused shall be informed of the outcome of any campus disciplinary proceeding brought alleging sexual misconduct.
Any person who materially alters or distributes this public records information with the intent to misrepresent the information, including documents, summaries of public records information provided by law enforcement agencies, or public records information displayed by law enforcement agencies on websites or provided through other means of communication, shall be subject to college disciplinary procedures.
The University shall, from time to time, provide occasional programs to promote the awareness of rape, acquaintance rape and other sex offenses.
For more information visit Florida Sexual Offenders and Predators or call one of the following information lines:
Toll-free: 1-888-357-7332 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., EST)
Main Line: (850) 410-8572
Hazing Prevention & Reporting
Florida Poly is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive campus community. As part of this commitment, all new students are required to complete an online Hazing Prevention course before the start of classes each August.
This 45-minute course equips students with the knowledge to recognize, prevent, and report hazing. It can be accessed using your Florida Poly username and password and is mandated by Florida state law and University Policy 3.0062P: Anti-Hazing Policy.
Report Hazing
Hazing has no place at Florida Poly. Any individual—whether a student, faculty or staff member, parent, friend, or community member—can report suspected hazing.
If you have witnessed or have knowledge of a potential hazing incident, please report it immediately using the Hazing Reporting Form. The accuracy and detail of your report help us take appropriate action to protect students and uphold our community standards.
Note: While anonymous reports are accepted, the University may be limited in its ability to respond unless sufficient verifiable information is provided.
Lightning Prediction Siren
Florida Poly has a Thor Guard Lightning Prediction System, which sounds ONE 15-second blast of horns. A yellow strobe will begin to flash until safe conditions return. You should immediately seek an appropriate, safe shelter. You may resume activities only after THREE five-second blasts of the horn are sounded and the yellow strobe light stops flashing.
Public Records
Public Records Requests
Florida Poly is committed to full compliance with the Florida Public Records Law.
FPU-1.0123P Public Record Policy
To request public records:
Email: ogc@floridapoly.edu
Phone: 863-874-8412
By Mail:
Florida Polytechnic University
Attn: Office of the General Counsel / Custodian of Public Records
4700 Research Way
Lakeland, FL 33805-8531
Service of Process
Personal Service must be delivered in person to the Office of the General Counsel currently located at the Florida Polytechnic University offices on the Polk State College Campus:
3425 Winter Lake Road, LTB-2121
Lakeland, FL 33803
May be submitted by mail (only when permitted by law):
Florida Polytechnic University
Attn: Office of the General Counsel
4700 Research Way
Lakeland, FL 33805-8531
Contact Us
863-874-8412 | ogc@floridapoly.edu
