Chapter 20-200 University Policy and Authority

In a resolution approved on July 17, 1970, The Regents reaffirmed the importance of research conducted at the University. (See Chapter 1, Section 1-120.) One benefit was stated as follows:

...research carried out by the University of California makes a vital contribution to the defense of the United States,...

In furtherance of this goal, the University occasionally accepts federal extramural awards that are intended to make a contribution to the defense of the United States but whose purposes might be impeded if the research results were publicly available.

University publication policy (see Chapter 1, Section 1-410) provides that freedom to publish or disseminate results is a major criterion of the appropriateness of a sponsored project, particularly a research project, and that normally a contract or grant is unacceptable if it limits this freedom. Chancellors may make exceptions to this policy under specified conditions including the judgment that security considerations in the national interest warrant an exception.

There are no Universitywide policies prohibiting University personnel from engaging in sponsored research projects or consulting arrangements involving access to classified information. Nor are there Universitywide policies prohibiting campuses from accepting sponsored agreements involving access to classified information. (See Chapter 1, Academic Policy, for policies related to research.) Most campuses have developed local practices and policies that govern campus performance of classified agreements. The authority for Chancellors to develop campus practices and policies pertaining to performance of sponsored research in the interest of national security is derived from their authority to approve exceptions to the University's publication policy for work performed in the national defense (see Chapter 1, Sections 1-410 and 1-420).

See Section 20-310 for additional information on University classification authority.