Academic Personnel Manual 500 (APM-500) – Recruitment (Revised 3/11/2025)
Systemwide review of Academic Personnel Manual (APM) Section 500 distributed on February 13, 2025, has been rescinded. Enclosed for a new systemwide review period are updated proposed revisions to Academic Personnel Manual (APM) Section 500, Recruitment (APM - 500).
- APM - 500, Recruitment
Summarized below are the updated proposed key policy revisions that are being distributed for systemwide review.
The policy revisions respond to the need to address two new bills signed into state law that add and amend sections 92612.1 and 92612.2 of the California Education Code, effective January 1, 2025 (reference Senate Bill (SB) 791), Postsecondary education: academic and administrative employees: disclosure of sexual harassment, and California Assembly Bill (AB) 810, Postsecondary education: hiring practices: academic, athletic, and administrative positions). The new revisions are indicated below using bold and underlined text. The proposed technical revisions are intended to bring the University into compliance with sections 92612.1 and 92612.2 of the California Education Code by incorporating the following changes:
Misconduct Disclosure Form:
- All applicants who are identified as finalists for academic appointments are required to complete a misconduct disclosure questionnaire and disclose any final administrative or judicial decisions issued within the last seven (7) years from the date of submission of an employment application determining that the applicant committed misconduct, including sexual harassment. Applicants must be permitted to disclose if they have filed an appeal with the previous employer, administrative agency, or court, if applicable.
- A hiring unit may also elect to require misconduct disclosure questionnaires from all applicants who meet the minimum requirements of a recruitment. The hiring unit may not obtain a misconduct disclosure questionnaire unless the hiring unit determines that an applicant meets the minimum requirements for the position.
- In the event that an applicant discloses prior misconduct, the hiring unit shall obtain a signed release form from the applicant before contacting the previous employer.
Release Form:
- Applicants who are identified as finalists for a tenure-track/tenured position or a position in the Professor of Teaching Series are required to sign a release form authorizing the release of information by the applicant's previous employers to the University concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct in order to permit the University to evaluate the released information with respect to the criteria for potential employment. The hiring unit is required to obtain the release form for proposed appointees in these series and to engage in a reasonable attempt to obtain information from the previous employer when the applicant reaches the final stages of the application process.
- A hiring unit may request a release form from all applicants of a recruitment and may use the release form to engage in a reasonable attempt to obtain information from the previous employer when the applicant reaches the final stages of the application process.
- In the event that a previous employer discloses misconduct, the hiring unit shall follow-up with the applicant to give that individual an opportunity to respond.
Local Implementation Procedures:
Vice Provosts/Vice Chancellors who oversee academic personnel are responsible for developing implementing procedures for the confidential management and tracking of misconduct disclosure questionnaires and release forms, as well as confidential decision-making and communication processes involving applicants, previous employers, and University administrators. In order to protect a candidate's privacy, the misconduct disclosure form and any information pertaining to prior misconduct must be treated as confidential, retained per local procedures, and disposed in accordance with University of California records retention policy
The proposed revisions to the APM - 500 are posted to the Systemwide Academic Personnel website under the “Systemwide Review” tab. It may also be viewed at https://ucanr.edu/sites/PCPA/Revisions/.
If you have any questions or if you wish to comment on this policy revision, please contact Robin Sanchez at rgsanchez@ucanr.edu, no later than May 30, 2025. Please indicate “APM-500 Revised Distribution” in the subject line.
High-Containment Research
The University of California Office of the President invites comments on a proposed new Presidential Policy on High-Containment Research. The policy includes the following key issues:
- All high-containment facilities and research activities at all University-owned and/or -operated locations.
- The authority of the UC High-Containment Laboratory Oversight Committee is formalized.
- The required elements of a High-Containment Research Program are identified as the local High-Containment Laboratory Oversight Group, the designated High-Containment Laboratory Director, and the High-Containment Laboratory Plan, which details the management and operational safety plan for each high-containment facility.
The proposed revisions to the HCR can be viewed at https://ucanr.edu/sites/PCPA/Revisions/.
If you have any questions or if you wish to comment on this policy revision, please contact Robin Sanchez at rgsanchez@ucanr.edu, no later than June 5, 2025. Please indicate “HCR” in the subject line.