Every faculty member, including instructional faculty, coaches, counselors, and librarians has a Personnel Action File (PAF). It is the only official personnel file for employment information and information that may be relevant to personnel recommendations or actions. 

Article 11 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement covers the various rules about faculty Personnel Action Files. 

  • There is a designated office that holds the PAF for each faculty member. The actual location can vary depending upon your faculty classification.
  • The custodian of the PAF must keep a log of all who access the file.
  • If an administrator places materials in your PAF, you should be notified five days in advance of the placement.
  • You have the right to access all the materials in your file and it is a good idea to check your PAF at least once a year to make sure everything that is in the PAF is properly there.
  • You have the right to submit material to your file including the right to submit a rebuttal to any material others may put in your file.

It’s important for all faculty members to know where the PAF is located, what is included in the file, and their rights regarding the PAF (covered in Article 11).

With campuses closed and policies for accessing the campus varying across the CSU, you may need to contact your college (or supervising unit) office to inquire about how you can access your PAF. Anticipate the possibility that you won’t be able to view your file the same day you request it, as has been the case in the pre-pandemic past when campus offices were reliably open throughout the week.

If you have questions about your PAF, you should contact your local CFA Faculty Rights Representative.

Want to learn more? Become active with your local CFA chapter Faculty Rights team. Find your representative here.

  • Browse the faculty contract.
  • See an archive of Faculty Rights Tips.
  • If you have questions about a faculty rights tip or would like to suggest a tip, please write us with the subject line “Faculty Rights Tip.”
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