Posts Tagged: policy
COVID-19: Vaccination Program Policy comment period extended
On Aug. 30, 2022, the Policy on Vaccination Programs – With Interim Amendments was issued, with an effective date of Sept. 1, 2022. On Sept. 16, 2022, the University of California Office of the President distributed a draft policy for Systemwide Review with a comment deadline of Dec. 15, 2022. Based on feedback received from the Systemwide Review thus far and discussions with leadership, updated interim amendments were made to the policy to include an option for members of the University community to opt out of COVID-19 boosters as well as technical edits. On Dec. 12, 2022, the Policy on Vaccination Programs – With Updated Interim Amendments was issued.
In light of these updated interim amendments, the Office of the President is distributing an updated draft policy and extending the comment deadline for the formal Systemwide Review and consultation process from Dec. 15, 2022, to Jan. 31, 2023, to finalize this Presidential Policy.
Key revisions from the updated interim amendments include the following:
- The Primary Series of the COVID-19 vaccination will remain mandatory for all incoming faculty, staff, students, and trainees who are Covered Individuals subject only to religious, medical, and disability exceptions and temporary deferral due to pregnancy or recent COVID-19 diagnosis or treatment. (Health care workers will continue to be eligible for fewer exceptions due to a California Department of Public Health order.)
- Covered Individuals must be up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccination boosters. However, those who prefer to opt out of COVID-19 boosters will be permitted to do so by signing a declination statement after receiving education and subject to non-pharmaceutical interventions specified by their locations (for example, masking). Please note that health care workers may not decline their first booster under a California Department of Public Health order unless they are eligible for one of the order's limited exceptions or deferrals.
- If a Covered Individual prefers to defer the COVID-19 bivalent booster for more than 90 days after being diagnosed with or treated for COVID-19, they can do so by declining the booster after receiving education. When they do receive the booster, they will again be considered Up-to-Date.
- Locations will ordinarily set an annual compliance deadline between July and December for existing faculty, staff and students to participate in the COVID-19 vaccine program. This year Locations may set that deadline as late as Feb. 1, 2023.
The version of the policy distributed on Sept. 16, 2022, renamed the policy “Policy on Vaccination Programs” and consolidated the University's existing systemwide vaccination requirements other than the Student Immunization Policy into a single document. Key revisions that were distributed for Systemwide Review at that time include the following:
- The COVID-19 Vaccination Program Attachment incorporates language from the July 15, 2021, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program policy with a focus on reorganization and simplification of existing policy language. Those updates were not intended to institute substantive changes in policy regarding existing COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
- In alignment with CDC guidance, the deadlines for completion of the primary COVID-19 vaccination series have been extended to allow for a longer interval period between doses.
- Locations are encouraged to evaluate COVID-19 Vaccination Program Participation, but Healthcare Locations are not required to do so.
- The COVID-19 Vaccination Program corrective action/discipline language for policy-covered academic appointees has been clarified.
- The Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Program Attachment incorporates language from the President's past flu vaccine Executive Orders. The Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Program is an Opt-Out program, which means Covered Individuals may decline vaccination after receiving vaccine education. The program has an annual compliance date of no later than Dec. 1. Locations may choose an earlier compliance date. The first compliance date for new employees depends on when their first date of employment is in relation to the flu season.
- The language has been updated throughout consistent with current public health usage.
The draft policy is posted on UCNet, and can also be accessed at https://ucanr.edu/sites/PCPA/Revisions/.
If you have any questions or if you wish to comment, please contact Robin Sanchez at rgsanchez@ucanr.edu, no later than Jan. 25, 2023. Please indicate “Vaccination Programs Policy” in the subject line.
Human Resources: Vaccination reminders
Influenza: As you may have heard, in 2021 President Drake issued an Executive Order requiring all covered UC students, faculty, other academic appointees, and staff to get vaccinated against influenza or opt out by submitting a vaccine declination statement. The Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Program policy has been updated for AY 2022-23 and we encourage all employees to visit this webpage and/or the UCOP website updates. The deadline for the flu vaccination is December 1, 2022.
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19): For the safety and well-being of the entire university community, UC has implemented the COVID-19 vaccination policy. This policy requires, with few exceptions, that all students, faculty and staff be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, including appropriate boosters.
What's next? All employees shall comply with the Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines and boosters as appropriate. Save your records and we will reach out soon to let you know how to document your vaccination status, safely and securely.
Employee comments sought on vaccination program policy
On August 30, 2022, the Policy on Vaccination Programs – With Interim Amendments was issued, with an effective date of September 1, 2022. The University of California Office of the President invites comments on revisions from the interim amendments to finalize this Presidential Policy.
This policy is renamed “Policy on Vaccination Programs” and primarily consolidates the University's existing systemwide vaccination requirements other than the Student Immunization Policy into a single document. Key revisions that are being distributed for systemwide review include the following:
- The COVID-19 Vaccination Program Attachment incorporates language from the July 15, 2021, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program policy. This is primarily a reorganization and simplification of existing policy language and is not intended to institute substantive changes in policy regarding existing COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
- In alignment with CDC guidance, the deadlines for completion of the primary COVID-19 vaccination series have been extended to allow for a longer interval period between doses.
- Locations are encouraged to evaluate COVID-19 vaccination program participation, but healthcare locations are not required to do so.
- The COVID-19 Vaccination Program corrective action/discipline language for policy-covered academic appointees has been clarified.
- The Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Program Attachment (Program Attachment #2, page 48 of the policy) incorporates language from the president's past flu vaccine executive orders. The Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Program is an opt-out program, which means covered individuals may decline vaccination after receiving vaccine education. The program has an annual compliance date of no later than December 1. Locations may choose an earlier compliance date. The first compliance date for new employees depends on when their first date of employment is in relation to the flu season.
- The language has been updated throughout consistent with current public health usage.
The following groups are Covered Non-Affiliates instead of Covered Individuals: “K-12 students and children enrolled in day-care programs and camps sponsored by the University or operated at a University facility or location; as well as individuals enrolled in UC extension programs, continuing education, lifelong learning, seminars, workshops and other non-degree-granting educational programs.” For clarity, individuals enrolled in professional development and recreational programs are also included in the definition of “Covered Non-Affiliates.” This provides locations with flexibility on local program implementation as locations define the requirements for Covered Non-Affiliates.
The draft policy is posted on UCNet and can also be accessed at https://ucanr.edu/sites/PCPA/Revisions.
If you have any questions or if you wish to comment, please contact Robin Sanchez at rgsanchez@ucanr.edu, no later than December 9, 2022. Please indicate “Vaccination Program Employee Comment” in the subject line.
2022 Annual Whistleblower Notification
The University of California is committed to maintaining the highest standards of conduct in the fulfillment of its education, research, public service and patient care mission. The university's whistleblower policy provides multiple avenues for employees to bring forward concerns of potential employee misconduct. The University encourages faculty and staff to report concerns about possible improper governmental activity directly to their supervisor, department head, Locally Designated Official (LDO) or other appropriate university offices or officials, or to make reports through the whistleblower hotline.
The systemwide whistleblower hotline is independently operated to receive calls or web-based reporting from faculty, staff, students or members of the public. The hotline allows for anonymous reporting, forwarding reported concerns to appropriate University officials for processing. This hotline is staffed seven days a week, 24 hours per day and is capable of receiving reports in a number of different languages.
Reports can be made through the web-based form at http://universityofcalifornia.edu/hotline or by calling 1-800-403-4744.
More information about the whistleblower process can be found on the UC Whistleblower website, the UC ANR website and on posters displayed in various employee areas. The university's whistleblower poster identifies other channels for reporting improper governmental activity, including the California State Auditor, the California Attorney General and federal whistleblower programs.
The California Government Code requires every state agency, including the University of California, to annually distribute to its employees a message from the California State Auditor that provides an explanation of the California Whistleblower Protection Act. Please find the 2022 message attached.
2022 CSA Whistleblower Brochure
Employee comment sought on revised direct-costing procedures policy
The University invites comments on a proposed revision to Presidential Policy BFB-A-47: Direct Costing Procedures. The revised policy went through a technical review and revisions by the identified stakeholders: Campus' Costing Policy Directors, Managers and Analysts, the Extramural Fund Managers, and Campus Controllers. The technical revisions reflected the proposed changes: change in CAS policy regarding refunds and rebates on P-card purchases to the definition of Applicable Credits and removal of Appendix I.
The draft policy may be viewed at https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/Administration/Business_Operations/Controller/Administrative_Policies_-_Business_Contracts/Policy_and_administrative_handbooks/ANR_Administrative_Handbook/Recent_Updates/. It can also be viewed at https://policy.ucop.edu/policy-changes/policy-updates.html.
If you have any questions or if you wish to comment, please contact Robin Sanchez at rgsanchez@ucanr.edu, no later than June 17, 2022. Please indicate “Direct Costing Procedures Employee Comment” in the subject line.