Tracking Compliance Issue 2 August 2026

Newsletter & Resource Guide

Welcome to this issue of Tracking Compliance, a Newsletter & Resource Guide published by the UC Merced Ethics & Compliance Office to share helpful information, essential guidance, and timely updates with UC Merced employees.

We want to hear from you! Complete this brief survey to provide your feedback on this Newsletter & Resource Guide. Your feedback will help guide future issues.

This issue includes:

On the Trail: Resources to Keep You on Track

Privacy 101 Seminar

Join the UC San Diego Privacy Office on September 9 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. for a fun and informative session on privacy issues and recently enacted privacy laws. This training is ideal for anyone who handles personal data, IT professionals, managers, researchers, or any UC students, faculty, or staff who want to learn how to protect their own data.

See the Privacy 101 calendar page for more information and link for registration.

UC Cybersecurity Summit: Resilient Together

Save the date for the 2026 UC Cybersecurity Summit, which will be held virtually on October 6 & 7, 2026, from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. This is your chance to learn more about cybersecurity and cyber-risk management from the experts. Learn about practical day-to-day security tips and dig deeper into why cybersecurity can be so complex. Learn more on the UC Cybersecurity Summit webpage.

Bobcat Brief: Staying Sharp on Compliance

The Bobcat Brief features topics that highlight UC Merced employees’ shared responsibility to uphold the highest standards of ethics and compliance with laws, policies, and procedures. When we commit to ethical practices, we build a culture of accountability and trust, which strengthens both individual and institutional success.

In this issue, we continue our series on employee obligations to report misconduct by doing a deep dive into Child Abuse & Neglect (CANRA) reporting. We cover who should report, what to report, and how to make CANRA reports.

We have also added a Reporting Obligations web page to help you navigate the various reporting requirements under UC policy.

Employee Reporting Series

Look for these reporting topics in future issues:

  • Abusive Conduct
  • Campus Hazing
  • Clery Reportable Crimes
  • Discrimination Claims
  • Sexual Violence & Sexual Harassment Complaints
  • Workplace Violence

Child Abuse & Neglect Reporting

UC Merced is committed to protecting the safety and welfare of minors who visit our campus or who participate in University-sponsored programs and activities. Employees who are designated as CANRA Mandated Reporters must report any observed or reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect of a child under the age of 18 years. Most UC Merced employees whose work brings them into direct contact with children on a regular basis are CANRA Mandated Reporters. In addition, employees who supervise programs that involve direct contact with children on a regular basis are also CANRA Mandated Reporters.

Separate from CANRA, California Penal Code requires any person who reasonably believes they observed murder, rape, and lewd or lascivious acts against a child under the age of 14 years to notify a peace officer of the potential crime.

Who Must Report

All employees who have observed or suspect child abuse or neglect while working within the scope of their University employment are encouraged to make a report. Employees who are designated as CANRA Mandated Reporters must report any observed or reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect of a child under the age of 18 years.

If you are a supervisor or senior administrator, see the CANRA Reporting for Supervisors section on the next page of this issue for your additional reporting responsibilities.

What To Report

Report any observed or reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect. This includes:

  • Physical injury or death
  • Willful harm or injury
  • Sexual abuse, assault, and exploitation*
  • Endangerment
  • Unlawful corporal punishment or injury

*Must also be reported to the Office for the Prevention of Harassment & Discrimination

How To Report

Immediately

  • Notify your supervisor.
  • Call local law enforcement. If the conduct occurred at UC Merced, call 911 or (209) 228-2677 (CAT-COPS).
  • Call County Child Protective Services (CPS).

Within 36 Hours

Where To Find More Information

For more information and resources, visit the Protecting Minors on Campus website.  

Supervisor Den: Lead the Pack and Stay on Track

Supervisor Den features guidance for supervisors that support your critical role in shaping the ethical culture of our campus. Employees look to their leaders for guidance - not just in job performance, but in navigating challenging situations with integrity. By modeling ethical behavior, supporting open communication, and responding appropriately to concerns, supervisors help create a workplace where trust, accountability, and compliance are embedded in our daily work.

In this section of the newsletter, we’ll highlight supervisory responsibilities and resources that support you in leading your team with the values that define our Bobcat community.

Human Resources Supervisor Resource Hub

Supervisors at UC Merced play a vital role in fostering a respectful, supportive, and compliant workplace. Whether you hold a formal supervisory title or have oversight responsibilities, you are expected to respond to employee needs with care, consistency, and accountability. Supervisors aren’t expected to be experts in every policy, but they are expected to know when to ask for help.

To support you with these responsibilities, Human Resources created a Supervisor Resource Hub for new and experienced supervisors. The Supervisor Resource Hub includes accessible, self-service tools that help you lead confidently and effectively at UC Merced.  It was developed to provide guidance and resources to support you in managing situations commonly faced by supervisors. The Supervisor Resource Hub includes a quick reference matrix that includes common scenarios where HR consultation is recommended to ensure alignment with University policy, employee well-being, and legal compliance.

Visit the Supervisor Resources Hub to learn more about this vital resource for supervisors.

CANRA Reporting for Supervisors

As we covered in the Bobcat Brief section, all employees are encouraged to report certain instances of child abuse and neglect and CANRA Mandated Reporters have additional reporting obligations. Supervisors and senior administrators have additional reporting responsibilities under the UC Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect Policy.

Supervisor & Senior Administrator Reporting Responsibilities

Supervisors and senior administrators* are required under the UC CANRA Policy to promptly forward to the UC Whistleblower Hotline any internal reports they receive of observed or reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect. If you receive an internal report from an employee, confirm whether they have already submitted a report to the Hotline. If they have not, or if you are unsure whether they have, you are required to submit the internal report yourself with as much information as possible. Do not be concerned about submitting a duplicate report – the LDO’s Office would rather have a duplicate report than risk not receiving any report.

*Senior Administrators

For CANRA purposes, a senior administrator is defined as any employee holding the title of Director or above. Senior Administrators include:

  • Chancellor, Vice Chancellors, Associate Vice Chancellors, and Assistant Vice Chancellors;
  • Provost, Vice Provosts, Associate Vice Provosts, and Assistant Vice Provosts;
  • Deans, Associate Deans, Assistant Deans, and Department Chairs;
  • Chiefs of Staff, Chief Administrative Officers, Executive Directors, and Directors.

More CANRA Info Coming Soon

Look for a deeper dive into additional supervisory responsibilities related to CANRA in a future issue of this newsletter.

Ethics in Action Standards of Ethical Conduct

Ethics in Action Series Roadmap

In this series, we review the University of California Statement of Ethical Values and Standards of Ethical Conduct and identify actions you can take to contribute to an ethical workplace culture.

The Standards of Ethical Conduct were adopted by the Regents in May 2005. Pursuit of the University of California mission of teaching, research and public service requires a shared commitment to the core values of the University as well as a commitment to the ethical conduct of all University activities. In that spirit, the Standards of Ethical Conduct are a statement of our belief in ethical, legal, and professional behavior in all of our dealings inside and outside the University.

Fair Dealing

“Members of the University community are expected to conduct themselves ethically, honestly, and with integrity in all dealings. This means principles of fairness, good faith, and respect consistent with laws, regulations and University policies govern our conduct with others both inside and outside the community. Each situation needs to be examined in accordance with the Standards of Ethical Conduct. No unlawful practice or a practice at odds with these standards can be justified on the basis of customary practice, expediency, or achieving a “higher” purpose.”

Fair Dealing

  • Builds Trust: Ethical conduct in all dealings fosters trust within the campus community. Whether you are interacting with students, staff, or external partners, trust is the foundation of effective collaboration and success.
  • Protects the University’s Reputation: Fair and ethical behavior upholds UC Merced’s reputation both internally and externally. Unethical practices can lead to loss of credibility, legal consequences, and damage to relationships with stakeholders.
  • Encourages Ethical Decision-Making: By committing to fair dealing, you set an example for others to follow. This helps reinforce a culture where ethical decisions are prioritized over shortcuts or expedient choices.

Key Actions to Promote Fair Dealing

  • Treat All Individuals Fairly: Ensure that decisions and interactions are unbiased and impartial. Avoid favoritism or making decisions based on personal relationships or external pressures.
  • Act with Integrity: Be transparent about your intentions and actions, ensuring your conduct reflects your ethical commitments. Resist the temptation to justify unethical actions based on expediency or the desire to achieve personal or organizational goals.
  • Communicate Clearly & Transparently: Communicate openly and honestly, ensuring that all parties understand the context and rationale behind your actions.

Navigating Difficult Situations

If you face pressure to compromise the Standards of Ethical Conduct, take a step back to pause and reassess the situation and seek advice from a trusted colleague or leader. If you are directed to violate a federal, state, or local law or regulation, make a whistleblower report to the Locally Designated Official. See reporting options on the Whistleblower Reporting page.

Policy Pawprint: Policy & Procedure Updates 

Identifying policies that apply to your role or function

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.

About the Ethics & Compliance Office

Thank you for reading Tracking Compliance Newsletter & Resource Guide published by the UC Merced Ethics & Compliance Office. Ethics & Compliance reports to the Office of the Chancellor and partners with all campus divisions and compliance functions to review and evaluate compliance risks. Our office oversees the campus Ethics & Compliance Program, which convenes committees that address compliance risks and advises leadership on compliance matters. Our office also oversees the Administrative Policy Office and the Delegation of Authority programs, and responds to complaints under the UC Whistleblower and Whistleblower Protection policies.

Please visit the Ethics & Compliance website for additional information about how our work enhances an ethics and compliance-based campus community.