Presidential Interim Policy for the University of California’s Use of Online Program Management Companies
The University of California Office of the President invites comments on an interim Presidential Policy for the University of California’s Use of Online Program Management Companies. The policy, issued as interim effective June 26, 2025, includes the following key issues:
- Instructor Transparency for Online Courses
- Course Evaluation Process and Student Feedback
- Prohibition of Incentive-Based Compensation for Recruitment, Admissions, or Awarding of Financial Aid
- Compliance with Regulations on the Use of Non-Accredited Entities
The proposed revisions may be viewed at https://ucanr.edu/site/policy-compliance-and-programmatic-agreements/systemwide-policy-revisions-employee-comments.
If you have any questions or if you wish to comment, please contact Robin Sanchez at rgsanchez@ucanr.edu, no later than November 7, 2025. Please indicate “Use of OPM” in the subject line.
Academic Personnel Manual 015 (APM-015) – The Faculty Code of Conduct
Academic Personnel Manual 016 (APM-016) – University Policy on Faculty Conduct and the Administration of Discipline
The University invites comments on proposed revisions to the Academic Personnel Manual (APM) as follows:
- APM - 015, The Faculty Code of Conduct
- APM - 016, University Policy on Faculty Conduct and the Administration of Discipline
In addition, the following systemwide guidelines are subject to systemwide review:
- Faculty Respondent Disciplinary Sanction Guidelines for Misconduct Related to Expressive Activity
- Companion Document – Faculty Disciplinary Sanctions Guidelines re Expressive Activity
- Non-Senate Academic Appointee Respondent Corrective Action/Disciplinary Sanction Guidelines for Misconduct Related to Expressive Activity
- Guidelines on Good Cause Factors re Extensions of Time
The proposed policy revisions and guidance documents respond to a request from The Regents to reduce the time that it takes to resolve faculty discipline cases, promoting consistent application of discipline across the system, and remaining fundamentally grounded in joint governance.
Key Policy Revisions
The proposed policy revisions include the following changes:
- Timelines for Faculty Disciplinary Process: The proposed revisions implement timelines for completion of the initial assessment of allegations of misconduct, the completion of the investigation and submission of the investigation report, the filing of disciplinary charges, and the appointment of a hearing panel.
- Systemwide Network Privilege and Tenure (P&T) Committee: The Systemwide Network P&T Committee will be comprised of members from the campus P&T committees who are available to hear cases if a campus P&T hearing panel is unable to be appointed within 14 calendar days of the administration filing disciplinary charges.
- Single-Investigation Model: Each campus shall develop procedures for a single formal investigation.
Systemwide Calibration Guidelines on Expressive Activities and Guidelines on Good Cause Factors for Extensions of Time
The following guidance documents are also being distributed for systemwide review:
- Faculty Respondent Disciplinary Sanction Guidelines for Misconduct Related to Expressive Activity: These guidelines provide advisory committees and decisionmakers with benchmarks for recommending and approving disciplinary sanctions based on several factors.
- Companion Document - Faculty Disciplinary Sanctions Guidelines re Expressive Activity: This document provides additional context and guidance, relevant language from the Faculty Code of Conduct (APM - 015) and other policies, links to the campus Time, Place, and Manner (TPM) policies, and describes the interplay of the policies and extramural speech.
- Non-Senate Academic Appointee Respondent Corrective Action/Disciplinary Sanction Guidelines for Misconduct Related to Expressive Activity: This document is intended to provide advisory committees and decisionmakers with benchmarks for recommending and approving disciplinary sanctions for non-Senate academic appointees, based on several factors.
- Guidelines on Good Cause Factors re Extensions of Time: This document provides a framework for good cause assessment to determine if a good cause extension is warranted.
The proposed revisions may be viewed at https://ucanr.edu/site/policy-compliance-and-programmatic-agreements/systemwide-policy-revisions-employee-comments.
If you have any questions or if you wish to comment, please contact Robin Sanchez at rgsanchez@ucanr.edu, no later than November 21, 2025. Please indicate “APM-015-016” in the subject line.