As a UC Merced employee, you are responsible for conducting university business in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. This may feel overwhelming, but you are not expected to know everything by memory. Your responsibility is to understand which requirements apply to your role, where to find guidance, and when to seek assistance.
Start with Your Job Responsibilities. Consider whether the duties you perform regularly involve supervising employees, approving expenses or managing budgets, conducting or supporting research, handling confidential or sensitive information, working with students, or having workplace health and safety responsibilities. These responsibilities often determine which laws and policy requirements are relevant to your work.
Identify Your Functional Area. Determine whether your work falls within areas such as Human Resources, Finance, Research, Information Technology, Student Affairs, Facilities, or Academic Affairs. This will help narrow your search and focus your attention on the policies most likely to affect your responsibilities. Most policies are organized by subject matter or business function.
Review Systemwide and Local Policies. Once you have identified the relevant functional areas, review UC Presidential Policies, which establish systemwide requirements for all UC locations, and UC Merced policies and procedures, which provide campus-specific guidance and requirements. You can also find information related to your job responsibilities and functional area on UC Merced and sister UC campus websites.
Use available resources and ask questions. Supervisors, policy owners, Ethics and Compliance professionals, Human Resources partners, and campus training programs can help you understand how policies apply to your day-to-day work. Seeking clarification before making a decision is often the best way to prevent compliance issues and ensure you meet university expectations.
Stay Current. Policies and procedures evolve as laws, regulations, and university operations change. New assignments, promotions, supervisory duties, or operational changes may introduce additional policy obligations. Review updates periodically, complete required training, and stay informed about changes that may affect your responsibilities. Regular review helps ensure ongoing compliance and strengthens your ability to make informed decisions.
Policy awareness enables you to carry out your responsibilities with confidence. By proactively identifying and understanding the requirements that apply to your role, you contribute to a culture of integrity, accountability, and excellence.
