Establishing and Creating University Policies and Procedures Policy

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Policy:  
The Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) community will have ready access to well-articulated and understandable University policies and related procedures. 
University policies and procedures will be: 

• presented in a common format, 
• formally approved, 
• centrally maintained, 
• kept current within the framework of an organized system of change control, and 
• distributed to all relevant units in a timely manner. 

University policy is established by university officers in order to administer the University in accordance with state and federal legislation, reasonable practice, and the delegation of authority by the Board of Trustees. University policy helps the University accomplish its mission; maintain accountability; provide faculty, staff, and students with clear, concise tools; and clarify how the University does business. 
 
Policy Requirements: 
An Institution-wide Policy satisfies all the following criteria: 

1. It is a governing principle that mandates or constrains actions. 
2. It has institution-wide application. 
3. It will change infrequently and set a course for the foreseeable future. 
4. It helps ensure compliance, enhances the University’s mission, or reduces institutional risk. 
5. It is approved at senior levels of the University. 

A Board of Trustees Policy satisfies all the following criteria: 

1. It is a governing principle that mandates or constrains actions. 
2. It applies specifically to the duties and actions of the Board of Trustees. 
3. It will change infrequently and set a course for the foreseeable future. 
4. It helps ensure compliance, enhances the University’s mission, or reduces institutional risk. 
5. It is approved by the Board of Trustees of the University. 

A Local Policy satisfies all the following criteria: 

1. It is a governing principle that mandates or constrains actions. 
2. It applies to a specific unit or units (e.g., division, department, office, college, or program) and/or group(s) (e.g., students, vendors, or visitor). 
3. It will change infrequently and set a course for the foreseeable future. 
4. It helps ensure compliance, enhances the University’s mission, or reduces institutional risk. 
5. It may not be inconsistent with institution-wide or Board of Trustee policy. A local policy that is contrary to institution-wide or Board policy will be considered void until revised to concur with institution-wide and Board of Trustee policy. 
6. Policies with institution-wide stakeholders are approved at the senior levels of the University. 

An unformatted policy must be revised to meet university formatting criteria. 

Approved University policies are available on the University policy site. The location of associated procedures is indicated in the policy. 

Any party that does not comply with this policy may face corrective action. 
 
Responsibilities: 
Board of Trustees—Monitor, discuss, advise, or take action on Board of Trustees policy and appropriate institution-wide and local policy and policy issues. 

President’s Advisory Council—Monitor, discuss, advise, or take action on appropriate institution-wide policy and on policy issues. 

Policy Coordinator—Serves as a policy resource to responsible units, University officers, and policy initiators. Assists with policy development questions, reviews draft policy (content, flow, grammar, formatting), routes and coordinates draft policy, ensures header and accreditation requirements are accurate, posts policies for comment, and assist with dissemination. Maintain the master list and final copies of policies.  Works to ensure all policies are reviewed within the time period designated within the Policy Development and Approval Procedure. 

Responsible Unit— Maintains subject matter expertise related to the policy. Review/revises policy following the required review schedule. Consults with stakeholders in review of policy. Sends draft policy to executive Liaison. Works with OIIE and other members of the community during the thirty-day posting period to resolve any questions/concerns. Finalizes revisions, sends a copy for final review to executive liaison, and then back to OIIE to initiate the final review/approval/posting process. Communicates new or newly changed policies and procedures to the University community. 

Stakeholders – provide input when requested to policy initiator/responsible unit on new policies or policies needing to be revised. Review policy in the public posting site and provide professional comments/feedback. 

Definitions:  
Board of Trustees Policy: Policy designed for organizational governance that sets direction for the institution, defines, and guides appropriate relationships between the board of trustees and the chief executive, and sets the duties and responsibilities of the board.  

Local Policy: Policy that applies to a unit or units (division, department, office, college, or program) and/or group(s) (e.g., students, vendors, or visitors) rather than institution-wide. 

Institution-wide Policy: Policy that has institution-wide application. 

Policy: Broad yet concise statement intended to be an enduring principle that facilitates compliance with internal or external standards or requirements. It requires action or states constraints, articulates desired outcomes, and typically contains notice of consequences for non-compliance. 

Policy Coordinator: An individual identified to assist with policy development questions, coordination, and dissemination. 
 
Procedures: Documented steps or activities that accomplish the goals and directives of a related policy, standard, or regulation. 

Responsible Unit: The unit that generated or maintains the policy and its associated procedures. 

Executive Lead The president, provost, or chief officers. 

Procedure:  
Policy Development and Approval is found in MyPNWU University Procedures and in the Resource section on the PNWU.edu Policy page 

Related Documents: 
Policy Development and Approval Procedure Diagram  
Policy Template 
Procedure Template 
Policy Justification Form 

Policy Resources

• Policy Development and Approval Training
• Establishing and Creating University Policies and Procedures (Policy)
• Policy Development & Approval Procedure
• Policy Development & Approval Diagram
• Policy Justification Form
• Policy Template (password protected)
• Procedure Resources (password protected)
• PNWU Alumni Association Bylaws
• COM Bylaws
• PNWU Bylaws

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For assistance with policies and procedures contact:

Lori Fulton
lfulton@pnwu.edu