Technology Bolsters Training Compliance at UC Davis
Quick Summary
- Launched on July 1, 2026, UC Davis introduced a Mandatory Training Compliance program to help campus employees meet cybersecurity training deadlines.
- Employees who miss their training deadline are automatically redirected to the UC Learning Center upon logging into core university services.
- Once mandatory training is completed, the system automatically restores access to all affected services, resulting in a 10% jump in campus compliance rates shortly after launch.
When UC Davis set out to strengthen protections against a rising tide of cyberattacks in higher education, the challenge wasn't just getting employees to complete their required cybersecurity training, it was building a system to guide them there automatically.
The result, launched on July 1, 2026, is a Mandatory Training Compliance program, which helps employees to complete their cybersecurity training by their individual deadlines. Multiple teams across campus worked together to design a system that combines HR expertise with technical innovation, and augments the campus overall training compliance rates.
Only a few weeks after launch, the campus compliance rate climbed over ten percent from earlier in the year.
Email and Digital Reminders Meet Employees Where They Are
Rather than relying on employees to track their own deadlines, the system automatically sends email reminders at 30, 14, 7, 2, and 1 day(s) out, with login alerts appearing 14 days before deadline. Employees always know exactly where they stand and can use these reminders to plan ahead.
If a deadline is missed, the technology steps in with a built-in intercept: employees attempting to log into core services like Google Workspace, Box, MyInfoVault, or myucdavis are redirected to the UC Learning Center to complete their training.
Access Is Restored Within the Hour
Once an employee completes the training, their access to all affected services is automatically restored within the hour. For extensions or other special circumstances, employees can contact a designated HR representative in their unit.
A Cross-Campus Collaboration
Several units, including the Office of the Chief Information and Digital Strategy Executive, Human Resources, Academic Affairs, Information and Educational Technology and others, were actively engaged to ensure the success of this initiative. In addition of a technical solution, HR processes were updated to reflect the new requirements.
Looking Ahead
This launch is just the beginning. As the program expands, UC Davis will carry forward the same principle that made this rollout a success: using technology to enable efficiency and effectiveness, strengthen our overall cybersecurity posture and enhance the campus experience.