Professor Series | Delegation of Authority Chart


Related Policy: CAPM 400.220 | Professor Series

Delegations of authority refer to the assignment of decision-making responsibilities to a specific individual or group of individuals at UCSC. The chart on this page lists the level of review and authority for each of the indicated titles and actions. If you encounter an accessibility issue with information presented in a table, please contact us at apo@ucsc.edu for assistance.

Delegations for Professors

Acting Professor

Authority and CAP review for all actions affecting appointees in the Acting Professor titles corresponds to the Professor Series titles of equivalent rank, except for regularization

Actions CAP/DCAP Review Authority Notes
Regularization of Acting Assistant Professors None Dean None
Regularization of Acting Associate Professors and Acting Professors upon demonstration of successful university teaching CAP CP/EVC None

Assistant Professor

The campus off-scale limit for the Professor series is the annual salary rate for Step 9, plus 11 percent

Appointment

Actions CAP/DCAP Review Authority Notes
Appointment to Steps 1-3, up to the annual salary rate for Professor, Step 3 None* Dean *CAP review required when there is greater than 25% dissenting votes by the Bylaw 55 voting faculty. See 4/8/22 memo.
Appointment to Steps 1-3, if annual salary rate is more than Professor, Step 3 CAP CP/EVC None
Appointment to Steps 4-5 CAP CP/EVC None

Merit Reviews, Reappointments, & Non-Reappointments

Actions CAP/DCAP Review Authority Notes
Reappointment and merit increase when the salary increase does not exceed one and two-thirds steps CAP Dean Refer to CAPM 803.620 regarding expectations at the campus salary limit
Reappointment and merit increase if the salary increase exceeds one and two-thirds steps CAP CP/EVC Refer to CAPM 803.620 regarding expectations at the campus salary limit
Reappointment and accelerated merit CAP CP/EVC None
Reappointment only CAP Dean None
Non-reappointment CAP Chancellor Ad hoc review is normally required, but after consultation with CAP, the CP/EVC may determine that it is not. In cases of non-reappointment, the candidate is entitled to notice or pay in lieu of notice; see CAPM 404.220.C.3.d

Mid-Career Appraisal

Effective with the 2012-13 review year, solicited external letters shall not be part of the mid-career appraisal

Actions CAP/DCAP Review Authority Notes
Mid-career appraisals typically include review for reappointment and merit increase; in any event, CP/EVC authority CAP CP/EVC Ad hoc review is not required, except in cases involving non-reappointment

Promotion with Tenure

Actions CAP/DCAP Review Authority Notes
Promotion to Associate Professor, with positive recommendation from department and dean CAP Chancellor None
Promotion to Associate Professor, with department and/or dean recommending acceleration of two or more steps CAP Chancellor Ad hoc review is required
Promotion or denial of promotion to Associate Professor, with negative recommendation from department and/or dean CAP Chancellor Ad hoc review is required. If promotion to tenure is denied, the candidate is entitled to 12 months’ notice or pay in lieu of notice

Associate Professor

The campus off-scale limit for the Professor series is the annual salary rate for Step 9, plus 11 percent

Appointments

Actions CAP/DCAP Review Authority Notes
Appointment (any step) CAP CP/EVC Ad hoc review is required where
1) the department and/or dean does not support the appointment, or
2) the department and dean do not agree on proposed rank and/or step

Merit Reviews and Promotions

Actions CAP/DCAP Review Authority Notes
Merit increase when the salary increase does not exceed one and two-thirds steps CAP Dean Refer to CAPM 803.620 regarding expectations at the campus salary limit
Merit increase if the salary increase exceeds one and two-thirds steps CAP CP/EVC Refer to CAPM 803.620 regarding expectations at the campus salary limit
Accelerated merits CAP CP/EVC None
Promotion to Professor rank CAP CP/EVC Ad hoc review is required if:
1) Department and/or dean recommend acceleration of two or more steps (i.e. advancement of three or more steps; or
2) Department and/or dean recommend denial of promotion

Salary Increase Only Reviews

Actions CAP/DCAP Review Authority Notes
Salary increase actions for candidates at Step 4 that do not exceed the equivalent of two-thirds of a step CAP Dean Refer to CAPM 803.620 regarding expectations at the campus salary limit.
Salary increase actions for candidates at Step 4 in excess of two-thirds of a step CAP CP/EVC* *Effective 7/1/21 – 6/30/27 Deans have authority for salary increase up to a full step.

Professor

The campus off-scale limit for the Professor series is the annual salary rate for Step 9, plus 11 percent

Appointments

Actions CAP/DCAP Review Authority Notes
Appointment to Steps 1-9, up to the UC Salary Threshold CAP CP/EVC Ad hoc review is required where 1) the department and/or dean does not support the appointment, or 2) the department and dean do not agree on proposed rank and/or step.
Appointment to Above Scale, up to the UC Salary Threshold CAP Chancellor Ad hoc review is required where 1) the department and/or dean does not support the appointment, or 2) the department and dean do not agree on proposed rank and/or step.
Appointment to Steps 1-9 or Above Scale, above the UC Salary Threshold CAP Provost – Academic Affairs, UCOP None

Merit Reviews

Actions CAP/DCAP Review Authority Notes
Merit increase to Steps 2-5 and 7-9 when the salary increase does not exceed one and two-thirds steps CAP Dean Refer to CAPM 803.620 regarding expectations at the campus salary limit
Merit increase to Steps 2-5 and 7-9 if the salary increase exceeds one and two-thirds steps CAP CP/EVC Refer to CAPM 803.620 regarding expectations at the campus salary limit
Accelerated merits CAP CP/EVC None
Merit to Step 6 CAP CP/EVC None
Merit to Above Scale, up to the UC Salary Threshold or above Indexed Compensation Level with merit increase of 10% or less CAP Chancellor None
Merit to Above Scale, above the UC Salary Threshold with merit increase greater than 10% CAP Provost – Academic Affairs, UCOP None
Merit to further Above Scale, up to the UC Salary Threshold CAP CP/EVC None
Merit to Further Above Scale, above the UC Salary Threshold but with merit increase of 10% or less CAP Chancellor None
Merit to Further Above Scale, above the UC Salary Threshold with merit increase greater than 10% CAP Provost – Academic Affairs, UCOP None

Salary Increase Only Reviews

Actions CAP/DCAP Review Authority Notes
Salary increase actions for candidates at Steps 5 and 9 that do not exceed the equivalent of two-thirds of a step CAP Dean Refer to CAPM 803.620 regarding expectations at the campus salary limit.
Salary increase actions for candidates at Steps 5 and 9 in excess of two-thirds of a step CAP CP/EVC* *Effective 7/1/21 – 6/30/27 Deans have authority for salary increase up to a full step.

Career Equity Review

Actions CAP/DCAP Review Authority Notes
Career Equity Review CAP Authority follows the type of review None

Deferral of Review

Actions CAP/DCAP Review Authority Notes
Deferral of Review None Unit Head Assistant Professors are not eligible for deferrals

Mandatory Review

Actions CAP/DCAP Review Authority Notes
Mandatory Review only* CAP Dean *If combined with another review (e.g., mandatory merit review and another review type) authority follows the type of review

Retention

Actions CAP/DCAP Review Authority Notes
Retention Action CAP CP/EVC A retention review does not impact the faculty member’s regular eligibility for review or the associated review period.

Career Equity Review

ActionCAP/DCAP ReviewAuthorityNotes
Career Equity ReviewCAPAuthority follows the type of review

Deferral of Review

ActionCAP/DCAP ReviewAuthorityNotes
Deferral of Review None Unit HeadAssistant Professors are not eligible for deferrals

Mandatory Review

ActionCAP/DCAP ReviewAuthorityNotes
Mandatory Review onlyCAPDean 
If combined with another review, e.g., mandatory merit review and another review typeCAPAuthority follows the type of review 

Retention

ActionCAP/DCAP ReviewAuthorityNotes
Retention ActionCAPCP/EVCA retention review does not impact the faculty member’s regular eligibility for review or the associated review period.

Last modified: Oct 22, 2025