Posts Tagged: policy

Employee Comment: Proposed revisions to APM Section 016, University Policy on Faculty Conduct and the Administration of Discipline

The University invites comments on proposed revisions to the following Academic Personnel Manual policy: 

• APM - 016, University Policy on Faculty Conduct and the Administration of Discipline

Summarized below are the proposed key policy revisions that are being distributed for systemwide review.   

Key policy revisions

The policy revisions respond to the need to revise APM - 016 to address the handling of simultaneous academic misconduct investigations and personnel actions and include: 

• Pause on Academic Personnel Review Actions: At the beginning of a formal investigation of alleged misconduct by a faculty member, if the Chancellor (or Chancellor's designee) finds that any of the alleged misconduct is relevant to the assessment criteria for academic personnel review actions, the Chancellor (or Chancellor's designee) may impose a no-fault pause on any current or future academic personnel action (e.g., for merit, promotion, or advancement) of that faculty member. Locations are responsible for developing implementation procedures that address at what stage in existing local procedures the pause occurs and that identify the offices that have responsibility for providing written confirmation of the pause to the respondent, giving a respondent periodic updates on the status of the investigation, and for notifying relevant administrators of the beginning and end of the pause. 
• Conclusion of the pause: The pause will end when the investigative and disciplinary processes are concluded. In the event of a disciplinary process following a formal investigation, the pause will end when a final decision is made whether to impose disciplinary sanctions. The academic personnel process may then proceed according to campus procedures.

Assistant Professors in Year 8: If the investigative and disciplinary processes are not concluded by the beginning of the faculty member's eighth year of service at the rank of Assistant Professor (or a combination of equivalent titles), the Chancellor is authorized to recommend to the President that the appointment be extended beyond the eighth year, in accordance with Regents Bylaw 40.3(c). 

The proposed APM - 016 is posted to the Academic Personnel and Programs website under the “Systemwide Review” tab. It can also be reviewed here: 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 July  1, 2024. Please indicate “APM-016 Revision” in the subject line. 

Employee Comment: Proposed revisions to APM-710, leaves of absence/sick leave/medical leave

The University of California Office of the President invites comments on the following proposed policy:

• APM - 710, Leaves of Absence/Sick Leave/Medical Leave

The policy is proposed to be revised and includes the following key revisions:

• Proposed effective date of the policy revision is January 1, 2025.
• Policy title updated to clarify the policy applies to paid sick leave. 
• Policy updated to provide paid medical leave to Agronomists, Astronomers and Curators who have a full-time appointment for at least a full academic year. 
• Policy updated to permit paid sick leave accrual and usage to certain academic appointees who have a paid appointment of at least thirty (30) calendar days, and to those with less than 50% appointments.
• Policy updated to provide a paid sick leave bank to all faculty, Agronomists, Astronomers and Curators who have an appointment of at least thirty (30) calendar days.
• Policy updated to provide a paid sick leave bank to academic appointees in university extension who do not accrue sick leave who have an appointment of at least thirty (30) calendar days.
• Policy updated to include protected paid sick leave.
• Policy updated to extend the period during which accrued and unused paid sick leave may be reinstated if an appointee is reemployed after a separation from employment and to address reinstatement of unused days from a paid sick leave bank.
• Policy updated to allow use of paid sick leave for additional reasons, including preventive care and for specified purposes for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
• Policy updated to provide notice requirements for an academic appointee to use paid sick leave.
• Policy updated to include recording of paid medical leave, paid sick leave bank, and paid sick leave accrual and use.

The proposed APM - 710 is posted to the Academic Personnel and Programs website under the “Systemwide Review” tab. It can also be reviewed here: 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 April 22, 2024. Please indicate “APM-710 Revision” in the subject line.

New presidential practices and policy on anti-discrimination

UC ANR is deeply committed to supporting our community and building a positive work environment that is welcome, accessible and inclusive to all. We are pleased to announce, that in collaboration with the entire UC system, there has been a strategic evaluation of initiatives and activities in relation to the prevention, detection and response to harassment and discrimination.  As a result, President Drake shared in his letter to the UC community that a Presidential Workgroup has reviewed and recommended a number of systemwide initiatives including a new policy and procedural framework that will offer enhanced protection, support and resources to the entire UC community.

• The Systemwide Office of Civil Rights:  This new umbrella office has just been launched to provide systemwide leadership, uniform guidance and support on issues related to protecting civil rights at UC locations. It will encompass the existing Systemwide Title IX Office, a new Systemwide Anti-Discrimination Office and a new Systemwide Disability Rights Office.
• Systemwide Policy: Effective February 20, 2024, President Drake, has implemented a new consolidated policy on Anti-Discrimination.  
• Reporting an Incident: Should any member of our community wish to discuss or share an incident, please continue to utilize the Harassment & Discrimination Assistance and Prevention Program (HDAPP). HDAPPserves as the central office for receiving, maintaining and evaluating harassment, discrimination and Title IX complaints. They provide support in prevention of harassment and discrimination from occurring and by educating the communities about the issues and assisting individuals and units to resolve conflicts and complaints related to harassment, discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual violence and hate and bias.

For more information, please contact humanresources@ucanr.edu. For concerns of harassment or discriminatory activities, please reach out to hdapp@ucdavis.edu.

Bethanie Brown
Interim Executive Director of Human Resources

Employee Comment: BUS-50 Controlled Substances Use in Research and Teaching

The University of California Office of the President invites comments on a proposed Presidential Policy BFB-BUS-50: Controlled Substances Use In Research and Teaching. The policy is proposed to be revised and includes the following key issues: 

• Clarify in detail the scope of duties of the Campus Controlled Substances Programs and the Controlled Substances Program Officers;
• Define the Campus Designation form of Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Registration and address requirements applicable to DEA Registrations other than Campus Designation, such as individual schedule I DEA Registrations;
• Provide more specific procedures regarding Powers of Attorney;
• Provide additional guidance as to import, export, interstate and intrastate use, transfer and transport of Controlled Substances, as well as Controlled Substances Analogues and DEA-exempt chemical preparations; and
• Establish responsible units and individuals for patient care and clinical Controlled Substances Program.

The proposed revisions to the policy may 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 April 5, 2024. Please indicate “BUS-50 Revision” in the subject line.

Employee comment: Vaccination programs policy

On Aug. 16, 2023, the University of California's Policy on Vaccination Programs – With Interim Revisions was issued. The interim revisions move the university's COVID-19 vaccination program to a systemwide opt-out program for all covered individuals. The university's seasonal influenza vaccination program remains an opt-out program. The University of California Office of the President invites comments on changes from the interim revisions to finalize this Presidential Policy.  

As background, there have been significant changes in federal and state public health guidance regarding COVID-19 since the last Systemwide Review period for this policy. The federal Public Health Emergency ended on May 11, 2023, along with the COVID-19 vaccination requirements for federal employees and federal contractors. California's COVID-19 State of Emergency ended on February 28, 2023, and the California Department of Public Health rescinded its health care worker vaccination requirement effective April 3, 2023. 

The draft policy is virtually identical to the policy with interim revisions that was issued on Aug. 16, 2023.  Key revisions include: 

• Policy will require covered individuals to either be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccination or to opt out of COVID-19 vaccination.  In the event applicable law or public health orders impose stricter vaccination requirements, such as for healthcare workers, the policy will continue to require compliance with those stricter requirements. 
• As policy will no longer require covered individuals to either be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccination or receive a university-approved exception, model forms and other content regarding the exception process were removed.
• COVID-19 vaccination program implementation guidelines were removed. Relevant language regarding vaccination data moved to main policy. Policy noncompliance language added to main policy, including citations to relevant university policies.  
• Removed content regarding rescinded California Department of Public Health (CDPH) health care worker vaccine requirement.
• Updated language consistent with current public health usage. Removed outdated deadlines and content.

The proposed revisions to the policy may 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 Dec. 11, 2023. Please indicate “Vaccination Programs Policy” in the subject line.

 

 

 

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