Regents Policy 7104: Policy on Selection of Laboratory Directors

Approved November 17, 1972
Amended January 20, 2011 and November 15, 2018

POLICY SUMMARY/BACKGROUND

Policy 7104 outlines the procedures prescribed for the selection of Directors of University-affiliated National Laboratories.

POLICY TEXT

A. Procedure for the Appointment of Directors of National Laboratories Managed Directly by the University

1. This procedure shall apply so long as the University directly holds the contract to manage and operate the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) or other University-affiliated National Laboratory. This policy shall not apply to short-term appointments of a Laboratory Director in an acting or interim capacity.
2. The President shall engage in succession planning for the position of Laboratory Director in support of the systematic nationwide search that will be undertaken each time a vacancy occurs.
3. When a vacancy occurs or is imminent in the position of Laboratory Director, a Committee shall be appointed to advise the President of the University. The Committee shall consist of five Regents appointed by the Chair of the Board, five or more members appointed by the President of the University from the University's faculty, research scientists, and research administrators (including one employee of the respective National Laboratory and one Academic Senate member selected from a slate of faculty with appropriate expertise that is proposed by the Chair of the Academic Senate), and the Chair of the Board and the President of the University, ex officio. The President of the University shall convene the Committee.
4. The President of the University shall submit to the Committee for evaluation an appropriate list of highly qualified candidates (typically not fewer than five or more than fifteen). The Committee will evaluate these nominations of the President and may consider or suggest other names. It may interview candidates. It may solicit the opinions of other interested groups in whatever manner it considers appropriate.
5. Both the Committee and the President shall be mindful of the University’s firm commitment to diversity.
6. After the Committee has completed its evaluations and advised the President of the University, the President shall make a recommendation to the Regents through the National Laboratories Subcommittee for consideration and approval.

1. This procedure shall apply so long as (1) the University participates as a member of a limited liability company or other business entity holding the contract to manage and operate the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, or other University-affiliated National Laboratory and (2) the respective entity’s operating agreement provides that the University appoints the Chair of the entity’s governing board and allocates responsibility for executing the Laboratory Director search and selection process to the University or the University-appointed Chair. This policy shall not apply to short-term appointments of a Laboratory Director in an acting or interim capacity.
2. The Chair of the entity's board shall engage in succession planning for the position of Laboratory Director in support of the systematic nationwide search that will be undertaken each time a vacancy occurs.
3. When a vacancy occurs or is imminent in the position of Laboratory Director, the University-appointed Chair of the entity's board and the President of the University, shall appoint a Committee to advise the Chair of the entity's board. The Committee may consist of members drawn from the entity's board, Regents, members of the University of California faculty, and others with appropriate expertise and experience, and shall include one employee from the respective National Laboratory and one Academic Senate member selected from a slate of faculty with appropriate expertise that is proposed by the Chair of the Academic Senate. The Chair of the entity's board will convene the Committee.
4. The Chair of the entity's board will submit to the Committee for evaluation an appropriate list of highly qualified candidates (typically not fewer than five or more than fifteen). The Committee shall evaluate these nominations and may consider or suggest other names. It may interview candidates. It may solicit the opinions of other interested groups in whatever manner it considers appropriate.
5. Both the Committee and the Chair of the entity's board shall be mindful of the University’s firm commitment to diversity in the employment of women and minorities in seeking out the most qualified candidates.
6. After the Committee has completed its evaluations and advised the Chair of the entity's Board, the Chair of the entity's Board will make a recommendation to the Chair of the National Laboratories Subcommittee and the President of the University for consideration and concurrence.

NO RIGHT OF ACTION
This policy is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the University of California or its Board of Regents, individual Regents, officers, employees, or agents.]