Search exemption guidelines can be found here.
The University of California’s commitment to diversity, equal opportunity and anti-discrimination recognizes that a diverse academic employee workforce enhances our academic mission of teaching, research, and service. The University also recognizes that a diverse workforce is essential for maintaining our standing as a public university dedicated to serving the needs of an increasingly diverse state. Contributions in all areas of achievement that promote equal opportunity and diversity should be given due recognition in the academic recruitment process.
As an employer and federal contractor, the University of California is required to provide equal employment opportunity and to identify and address underutilization of protected classes, including women, underrepresented minorities, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans in our academic job groups. Conducting full and open searches for academic employment positions supports the University of California in fulfilling these requirements under federal and state laws.
In rare circumstances, and on a case-by-case basis, the requirements of conducting an open search prior to review for appointment may be waived. UCI waiver guidelines are provided below.
Senate Faculty
| Waiver Category | Definition | Campus Program | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Career Partner (Spousal/Partner Hire) | A search waiver may be considered if the successful recruitment or retention of a senate faculty member is ultimately dependent on an academic appointment for his or her spouse/partner. | Career Partners Program — Senate Faculty Appointments | Indefinite |
| Target of Excellence | A search waiver may be considered for cases where there is an unusual opportunity to hire an individual whose distinctive qualifications and extraordinary promise or accomplishments will contribute significantly to the excellence of the academic mission of the University. | Not applicable | Indefinite |
| President’s & Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Recipients | A search waiver may be considered if the candidate is a current or former recipient of a UC President’s or Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship. | President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Chancellor’s ADVANCE Postdoctoral Fellowship | Indefinite |
Non- Senate Faculty & Other Academics
| Waiver Category | Definition | Campus Program | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency Hire | There is an urgent and unanticipated need to fill a position, there is not enough time to conduct a search, and the candidate has the expertise and is available to begin immediately. | Units are encouraged to use pool ads to ensure qualified candidates are available for unforeseen situations. If necessary, a 15-day search is permissible for Specialist, Project Scientist, Academic Coordinator, and Teacher-UNEX series positions. | Emergency search waivers are made for a limited period of time, not to exceed 6 months. If the position is to be filled beyond the duration of the waiver, an open search must be conducted. Requests for up to 12 months will be considered for individuals who are working toward their graduate degree at another institution and will be working on collaborative research with a faculty at UCI. The request will need to specifically address this in the memo in order for the exception to be considered. |
| Urgent Patient Care Need | The appointment would alleviate a critical, unforeseen, and ongoing need in a specific area of patient care. | An approved search waiver for urgent patient care need can be of indefinite duration. | |
| Career Partner (Spousal/Partner Hire) | The successful recruitment or retention of a senate faculty member is ultimately dependent on an academic appointment for his or her spouse/partner. | UCI Career Partners Program—Interim Funding Assistance | A spousal/partner search waiver can be of indefinite duration (i.e., Senate positions not dependent upon funding) or term-limited subject to availability of funding (i.e., non-Senate positions) |
| Continuation of Training* | The candidate is a trainee of the campus (e.g., undergraduate or graduate student, interim postdoctoral scholar) who remains for a short period of time to complete a research project begun while in student or trainee status, or for a trainee who is hired by the campus to complete a clinical training program. | Continuation of training search waivers are made for a limited period of time, not to exceed 6 months (not to exceed 11 months for interim postdoctoral scholar). | |
| PI/Co-PI/Leadership Status | The candidate will be paid 50% time or more of their total effort from extramural funds awarded to the candidate and for which the candidate is named as PI/Co-PI or holds an equivalent leadership role on the extramural funds. | A search waiver based on PI/Co-PI/leadership status may be granted for the duration of funding; however, appointments can be made for a shorter period of time. Waivers remain in effect as long as funding continues; this may encompass multiple awards. | |
| Research Team | A candidate is part of the existing research team of a new faculty member. | A search waiver may be granted, but the waiver is only valid for an individual team member as long as they remain with the same research team and in the same series. | |
| *For represented positions subject to a collective bargaining agreement, refer to the current collective bargaining agreement regarding appointment length and whether additional documentation is required. | |||