There exists a hierarchy among the law, UC Regent policies, UCOP policies, the Academic Personnel Manual (APM), campus policies, UCEAP policies, and procedures, as illustrated below. If a conflict arises, understanding which supersedes can help you decide which to rely upon. Federal, state, local, and international laws hold supremacy over institutional rules, regulations, and policies. If institutional guidance is in conflict with the law, the law controls and supersedes. Correct interpretation of laws can be highly nuanced and may require knowledge of recent court cases holdings. As such, it is always a good idea to contact the Office of General Counsel for guidance.
Directly below the law are UC Board of Regents Policies. These govern every UC institution and organization. Next in line are UC Office of the President Policies and the Academic Personnel Manual (APM), which are narrower in scope than Regent policies, but also govern all UC institutions and organizations. The next level of the hierarchy further divides into discrete Campus Policies, which only govern that specific campus. Among these are the UC Santa Barabara Policies. UCEAP is a unique organization that is hosted by UC Santa Barbara, and so in some cases, particularly in the areas of HR, Finance, and IT, UCEAP follows UC Santa Barbara Policies closely. Campus policies are derived from the mission, values, and strategic objectives particular to that campus, as well as the law. UCEAP Policies are derived from our organization's novel mission within the UC system, as well as our own vision, values, and strategic objectives. Lastly, UCEAP and each campus has Procedures, which describe the cyclical, day-to-day tasks necessary to satisfy the policies, fulfill the strategic objectives, and carry out the mission of each University.
Questions? Please contact us at privacy@uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu.