By Jack Jeffery
Staff Writer
The Policy and Procedures Task Force is working with departments on revisions to the University's Policy and Procedures with the goal of completing the entire revision by the start of fall quarter.
The task force, which was formed in April 2001, has been charged with reviewing all 236 of the University's policies, with an emphasis on major changes that have broad implications.
"We are emphasizing major, substantive revisions," said Special Projects Coordinator Robert Hynes, who is shepherding the task force's work. "In a number of instances, the task force has recommended to departments that changes be made in the interest of greater subject clarity and precision of language. Ultimately, the ownership of policy rests with individual departments."
Nancy Prichard Crist of the Office of the President is chair of the 15-member committee, which includes a broad cross-section of University interests: Legal Affairs, Finance, Human Resources, Institutional Equity, various University senates and AFSCME Local 1699.
One outcome of the committee's efforts has been the revision of Policy 01.001, which concerns the development, revision and elimination of policies and procedures. "The revised policy allows for the departments to continue to initiate changes but provides broader oversight," Hynes said.
With the updated parameters of policies and procedures, a department, planning unit or constituency group affected by a given provision can suggest revisions. Policy creation, revision and elimination are to be approached as an interactive process. Recommended changes will be forwarded to the Policy and Procedure Committee, then to the senior officer of the appropriate area, before going to the provost for his approval to become official policy.
To streamline matters, University policies and procedures will be posted on the Web instead of being printed as hard copy. An archival hard copy will be available to students and staff.
The Policy and Procedure Committee is a standing committee that will take the lead in ensuring that each policy is reviewed every three years. Its composition and the constituencies it represents will mirror those of the task force, whose work will be completed with the current revisions.
