The University of South Florida has moved to fire its former director of the Zimmerman School of Advertising and Mass Communications.

  • Former USF professor Samuel Bradley has officially been let go
  • USF report says major gaps surrounded his hiring
  • Bradley says he plans on fighting the decision

Samuel Bradley was under investigation at his prior school, Texas Tech, after allegations of misconduct with more than one of his students. USF was unaware of that investigation until Bradley was already hired as a visiting professor at the school.

USF placed him on paid administrative leave earlier this year after those allegations came to light, but notified Bradley of plans to terminate him this June.

A new report released Thursday detailed gaps in USF’s hiring practices. For example, Bradley’s references were not properly checked, the report states.

His position was also not advertised as required by USF policy.

Now, a USF system-wide policy will go into effect regarding all new employee hires.

New hires must have 'satisfactory reference checks as a condition of employment,' the school says. Hiring managers must contact at least three references for potential employees, including the applicant’s current immediate supervisor before making a hiring decision.

The policy will also require the same reference checks for current employees applying for a transfer or promotion.

Those requirements are in addition to criminal background checks and other requirements. Dr. Eric Eisenberg, Dean of USF’s College of Arts and Sciences, says a  national search for a new director will begin immediately.

Bradley responded to USF’s plans to terminate in a letter where he wrote he would continue to fight to keep his job as a professor at USF. Bradley wrote he never mislead the University in any way, and was 'unaware that the Texas Tech report existed' when he was hired.

“I have always been a loyal and dedicated servant to USF," wrote Bradley, "and I remain so, and I believe that I deserve to remain a tenured associate professor."