Draft Policies and Procedures Undergoing Review

Applies To: All campus affiliates (students and employees) and non-affiliates.

 

Brief Description: This proposed new UC 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.

Applies To: All campus affiliates (students and employees) and non-affiliates.

 

Brief Description: This interim UC Merced policy outlines implementing procedures of Penal Code Sections 626.4(a) and 626.6 on University Property for the University of California, Merced campus.

Applies To: UC community members who enter into a contract with Contractors/External Users which may include commencing work, providing goods, or using University facilities.

 

Brief Description: This UC policy establishes the required indemnification and insurance provisions to be included in contracts between the University and contractors or external parties.

Brief Description: This UC policy is outdated and no longer reflects current practices. The Responsible Office as well as UC locations have requested that the policy be rescinded and allowed to implement their own local policies and processes.

 

Detailed information regarding the rescission can be found on the following site: Review of Additions/Updates/Revisions to Presidential Policies | UCOP.

Applies To: All Personnel including faculty, staff, students, and visitors. All teaching and research conducted in academic settings, including research and teaching laboratories, research fieldwork, shared research support facilities, and machine shops used for teaching and research-related activities. This Policy does not apply to shops operated by Facilities Management, the UCM Central Plant, construction sites, or other non-academic operations.

 

Brief Description: This proposed UC Merced policy establishes a process for identifying and correcting safety deficiencies and issues of non-compliance to ensure a healthy and safe working environment in laboratories, shops, and other academic settings such as research in the field.

 

Applies To: All members of the university community, including staff, faculty, students, and non-affiliates.

 

Brief Description: This interim UC Merced policy is intended to clarify expectations and to support staff and faculty in avoiding professional conflicts of interest related to Consensual Relationships.

 

Applies To: All research, regardless of funding source, conducted at any UC Location (campus or Health Center, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), and the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR)) that may involve Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) or Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential (PEPP), which is life sciences research that can be reasonably anticipated to provide knowledge, information, products, or technologies that could be intentionally misused to pose a significant threat, with broad potential consequences, to public health and safety, agriculture, food security, economic security, or national security.

 

Brief Description: This UC policy revises the current UC Dual Use Research of Concern Policy with new and updated provisions, per the White House communication on dual use research issued May 6, 2024. Specifically, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issued the United States Government Policy for Oversight of Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential (PEPP) (USG Policy).

The proposed policy will implement the changes made by the new USG Policy, and it includes the following:

• Adoption of the USG Policy for the institutional review and oversight of research with biological agents or toxins categorized as DURC (Category 1) or PEPP (Category 2).
• The expectation that UC Locations review federally and non-federally funded research for DURC and PEPP. However, it allows UC Locations to develop a different oversight framework for non-federally funded research, provided that it is consistent with the principles of the USG Policy.
• A succinct description of the Compliance Responsibilities for Principal Investigators, UC Location Institutional Contacts for Dual Use Research, and Vice Chancellors for Research (and their equivalents at ANR and LBNL).
• A Procedures Section that provides high-level requirements for compliance with the USG Policy.

 

Applies To: All UC faculty, staff, and students who are conducting Animal
Activities (as defined in this Policy) within the course and scope of their University duties or studies, and to non-UC persons (such as volunteers or visiting scholars) participating in UC Animal Activities.

 

Brief Description: The proposed UC policy would update and replace the current policy, “Use of Animals in Research and Teaching”. The revised policy:

• Reiterates UC’s commitment to the responsible, humane use and care of animals in research and teaching.
• Updates the list of currently applicable laws and regulations.
• Aligns legal and UC systemwide requirements with campus practices.
• Includes considerations for wildlife and agricultural animals in research and teaching.

Applies To: All University Facilities of the University of California within California except 1) those under the regulatory authority of the Office of Statewide Hospital Planning and Development or 2) K-12 schools or community college facilities built after 2018 under the regulatory authority of the Division of the State Architect.

 

Brief Description: The purpose of this Policy is to provide an acceptable level of earthquake safety for students, employees, and the public who occupy University Facilities located in California. The policy is proposed to be revised and includes the following key issues:

• Replace the 2030 deadline with a continual improvement requirement for each location to achieve a minimum 4% per year reduction of non-compliant space above the established 2022 baseline square footage averaged over a three-year period. Note that any improvements completed in compliance with State-mandated requirements for critical care facilities will count towards the 4% reduction goal.
• All currently occupied Seismic Performance Rating VI facilities, shall be given the highest priority in capital planning and allocation decisions and brought into compliance with policy no later than December 31, 2037,
• Existing leases for certain non-compliant UC-occupied facilities may be extended through 2037.

Applies To: All University Employees, Students and Non-Affiliates, as well as all areas of university operations, programs, and facilities, including off-campus locations where university programs and business are conducted.

 

Brief Description: This policy is designed to protect and promote the rights of members of the university community, including the right to freedom of expression, to prevent interference with university functions or activities, to protect university facilities and to assure compliance with all pertinent laws and other applicable University policies. Updates align with mandatory directives issued by the UC Office of the President and include:

• Mandatory revisions required by California State Senate Bill 108, SEC. 219, 34 implemented under UC Merced’s Campus Climate Initiative.
• Technical updates to owner, contact information, and resources.
• Clarifications around disruptions of a university activity, proximity of activities, signage, unauthorized structures, and consequences.