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 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, & 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.
Academic Affairs
Subject Matter
General Counsel
Academic Affairs Agreements
Academic Policies & Procedures Committee
Dual Enrollment Agreements
Industry Partnership Agreements
International Exchange Agreements
Internship Agreements
Intellectual Property Matters (patent, trademark, copyright)
Employees
Subject Matter
General Counsel
Collective Bargaining
Employment & Labor
Garnishments
Human Resources
Immigration Law & Visas
Risk Management
Finance & Administration
Subject Matter
General Counsel
Business & Auxiliary Enterprise Matters
Construction Matters
Environmental Health & Safety Matters
Finance & Administration Matters
Technology Services Matters
Procurement Matters
Real Estate & Land Use
University Police Matters
Florida Polytechnic University Foundation, Inc.
Subject Matter
General Counsel
Contracts
Gift Agreements
Policies & Governance
Governance
Subject Matter
General Counsel
Board of Trustees
Delegations of Authority
Ethics & Conflicts of Interest
Governance
Government Relations
Non-Academic Policies Committee
Public Records Requests
Retention Law
Sunshine Law
University Relations Marketing
University Regulations, Policies, Rules, and Procedures
Dispute Resolution
Subject Matter
General Counsel
Litigation
Service of Process
Subpoenas
Research & Intellectual Property
Subject Matter
General Counsel
Intellectual Property Matters (patent, trademark, copyright)
Research Matters
Student Affairs
Subject Matter
General Counsel
Admissions & Enrollment Areas
Financial Aid Matters
Immigration Law & Visas
International Exchange Agreements
Residence Determinations
Student Government Association
Student Records & FERPA
Student Affairs Matters
Tuition & Fees
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
Regulations & Policies
The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) manages the posting and maintenance of all University Policies, Regulations, and Rules to ensure accuracy, transparency, and compliance with governing authority. These documents establish the standards that guide University operations and the conduct of the campus community.
Recent Notices
Florida Poly adopts policies, regulations, and related procedures to support effective governance. Regulations—adopted by the Board of Trustees—are statements of general applicability that provide direction for the University community and the public.
Before any regulation is adopted, amended, or repealed, a notice of intended action is posted. Each notice contains a summary of the change, the full text, and instructions for submitting comments.
Subscribe to Regulation Updates
Stay informed when Florida Polytechnic University posts notices of proposed, amended, or repealed regulations. Subscriptions are managed individually, so you can choose the updates you want to receive and may unsubscribe at any time by emailing ogc@floridapoly.edu or clicking the unsubscribe link in any notification.
Resources
Florida Board of Governors
The Florida Board of Governors is a 17-member governing board that serves as the governing body for the State University System of Florida, which includes all public universities in the state of Florida.
Florida Statutes
The primary purpose of the Florida Legislature is to enact new laws and amend or repeal existing laws. View Florida Statutes.
Florida Attorney General’s Office
The Florida Attorney General is the statewide elected official directed by the Florida Constitution to serve as the chief legal officer for the State of Florida. The Attorney General is responsible for protecting Florida consumers from various types of fraud and enforcing the state’s antitrust laws.
Florida Commission on Ethics
The Florida Commission on Ethics is a nine-member Commission that serves as the guardian of the standards of conduct for officers and employees of Florida and its political subdivisions and functions as an independent commission responsible for investigating and issuing public reports on complaints of breach of the public trust by public officers and employees.
Polk County Clerk of Courts
The Polk County Clerk of Courts performs a wide range of administrative functions and duties, including official record keeping and information management for the judicial system and Polk County government.
Public Policy Events
Florida Poly is committed to fostering civic education and engagement. In accordance with Florida law, the University hosts public policy events that allow students, faculty, staff, and the community to hear diverse viewpoints on important political and social issues.
Contact Us
863-874-8412 | ogc@floridapoly.edu
