What is UC OATS?

UC OATS (Outside Activities Tracking System) is the University of California’s system for documenting, reviewing, and certifying faculty outside professional activities. UC OATS helps ensure transparency, compliance with UC policy, and appropriate management of potential conflicts of commitment while supporting faculty engagement in professional, academic, and service-related activities outside their UC appointment.

Faculty use UC OATS to enter and maintain records of outside activities, request prior approval when required, report time and earnings from outside activities (requirements vary by policy), and complete their Annual Certification. These actions enable the University to verify that outside activities are conducted in accordance with the Academic Personnel Policy (APM-025, APM-671, APM-240, APM-246) and do not conflict with faculty responsibilities to the University.

How Faculty Engage in UC OATS

Faculty engagement with UC OATS occurs throughout the academic/fiscal year and typically includes the following responsibilities:

• Enter outside professional activities (preferably before you engage in the activity)
• Request prior approval for Category I activities, Student Involvement, Requests to Exceed Threshold, etc.
• Report time and earnings associated with outside professional activities
• Provide Summer Salary information (required for APM-025 Academic-year faculty)
• Complete Annual Certification each year, even if you did not participate in outside professional activities

Faculty are responsible for ensuring their UC OATS information is accurate, current, and that Annual Certification is submitted each year.

Who do I contact if I need help?

For guidance on how to use and navigate UC OATS, refer to the UC OATS training knowledge base, which provides step-by-step instructions and helpful resources.

For questions related to policy interpretation or requirements, contact your campus UC OATS administrator.