SUBJECT:

Extension of Probationary Period for Assistant-Level Academic Appointees

Dear Colleagues,

As we navigate the developing COVID-19 crisis, many are concerned about the potential impact on scholarly and creative work during the Spring quarter due to issues such as inability to use on-campus facilities to conduct teaching or research activities, limited ability to travel to conferences or to conduct research and/or creative activity in remote locations, reduced access to human subjects, and limited interactions within instructional cohorts or research groups and in studios and laboratories.

In recognition of these issues, and in consultation with the UC San Diego Division of the Academic Senate, Academic Personnel Services is implementing the following protective/proactive measures, effective immediately.

EXTENSION OF THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD FOR FACULTY AND OTHER ACADEMIC APPOINTEES SUBJECT TO AN EIGHT-YEAR LIMITATION ON SERVICE AT THE ASSISTANT LEVEL:

The COVID-19 pandemic is a significant event beyond the control of any member of the UC San Diego community, disrupting our academic enterprise. Policy provides that campus may accord an assistant-level academic appointee subject to an eight-year probationary clock up to two one-year extensions to the probationary period; any request for an exception to allow a third one-year extension requires approval by the UC Office of the Provost.

Therefore, in accordance with the provisions of APM 133 and PPM 230-15, effective immediately,

   • UC San Diego will automatically extend the probationary period by one year for each assistant-level appointee whose appointment began on or before June 30, 2020 and who is subject to an eight-year clock, provided that the individual has not previously been granted two such extensions. Appointees who have already submitted their file for promotion review may be eligible on a case-by-case basis.

   • If an assistant-level appointee whose appointment began on or before June 30, 2020, who is subject to an eight-year clock, and who has previously been granted two one-year extensions would like to request a policy exception in order to obtain a COVID-19-related extension to their probationary period, they should address the exception request to the Executive Vice Chancellor and submit it to Academic Personnel Services via the Department Chair and Dean. UC San Diego will support the exception request and forward it for additional review by the UC Office of the Provost.

In accordance with PPM 230-15, an extension of the probationary period will not prevent an appointee from requesting consideration of promotion sooner than is required. Assistant-level appointees should be proposed for promotion whenever they are deemed ready for such advancement.

An appointee may decline to have a COVID-19-related automatic extension applied to their probationary period. A request to decline a COVID-19-related automatic extension may be addressed to the Executive Vice Chancellor and submitted to Academic Personnel Services via the Department Chair and Dean.

A toolkit and updated FAQ for implementation of probationary period extensions is forthcoming.

"BARRIER REVIEW" CASES (PROMOTION TO FULL, ADVANCEMENT TO STEP VI AND ADVANCEMENT TO ABOVE SCALE):

Senior faculty and academics whose scholarly work has been affected by the COVID-19 crisis may choose to defer their academic review for one year. This deferral will not impact established departmental expectations for achievement during a normal two-, three-, or four-year review cycle. Academic review following a deferral will not be considered off-cycle. Appointees who have one or more consecutive deferrals should contact Academic Personnel Services to determine eligibility.

We will continue to provide updates and guidance as the situation evolves. Please contact AVC Cindy Palmer (c5palmer@ucsd.edu) with any questions.

With best regards, Pradeep K. Khosla Chancellor Elizabeth H. Simmons Executive Vice Chancellor