– Policy 1100: Development and Approval of Administrative Policies

Date Originally Issued: October 21,2019

Authorized by RPM 3.1 (“Responsibilities of the Rector”)

Process Owner: Director, University Policy and Administrative Planning

  1. General

 

The policies in the University Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual (UAP) have broad application throughout the University. They help ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, enhance the University’s mission, promote operational efficiencies, and reduce institutional risk. Each of the policies includes two important elements: institutional policy and any procedures necessary for a comprehensive understanding of the intent and application of the policy. To develop effective policy, the MTU Policy Office seeks input from both subject matter experts and from individuals affected by the policy. The MTU Policy Office administers the UAP and reports to the Executive ViceRectorfor Administration.

This policy describes the process used to develop or revise policies, solicit input, and obtain approval of policies.

  1. Development of Policy

 

Individuals wishing to propose or revise a policy should send their request to the MTU Policy Office.  The MTU Policy Office will work with subject matter experts and individuals representing areas impacted by the policy to develop a preliminary draft. The draft is then circulated for review and comment to major campus constituent groups, such as the Faculty Senate Operations and Policy Committees, Staff Council Executive Committee, and Deans’ Council. At the same time, the Office of University Counsel reviews the policy for legal sufficiency. Based on the received comments, the policy draft is refined and prepared for subsequent review.

 

 

 

 

  1. All-Campus Review of Policy

 

The refined policy draft is posted on the MTU Policy Office website for a 30-day, all-campus review and comment period. Comment periods may be shorter or longer if there is a compelling legal, administrative, or business need. The comment period is announced on the MTU Policy Office website, in the MTU News Minute, and on the MTU Policy Office listserv. The MTU Policy Office, typically in conjunction with the core group involved in the development of the draft, reviews the comments received and, as appropriate, drafts additional changes to the policy.

 

3.1. Process Owner

 

The MTU Policy Office will assign a position to serve as the process owner for the functions covered by the policy. The process owner is responsible for policy implementation and for notifying the MTU Policy Office of any proposed changes in practice that will require a policy change prior to implementing such a change. In addition, the Director of University Policy and Administrative Planning may ask process owners to periodically review applicable policies and report any necessary changes.

 

  1. Approval and Distribution of Policy

 

All new and revised policies in the UAP must be endorsed by the Executive ViceRectorfor Administration and approved by the UniversityRectorin writing. Upon approval by the University Rector, policies are issued on the MTU Policy Office website, , and announced on the MTU Policy Office website, in the MTU News Minute, and on the MTU Policy Office listserv.

 

4.1. Dean, Director, and Department Head Responsibilities

 

Deans, directors, and department heads, or their designees, are responsible for:

  • informing their employees of new policies or changes to existing policies; and
  • ensuring that all related departmental processes, procedures, and documents are updated to reflect new or revised policies.

Instead of maintaining printed copies of the UAP, departments and other units should refer to the online version of the manual on the MTU Policy Office website, to ensure that they refer to the most recent versions of the policies.

 

  1. Minor Changes or Corrections to Policy

 

5.1. Minor Changes

 

If the Director of University Policy and Administrative Planning determines that proposed changes are minor in nature and either required by regulatory changes or necessary to conform to current practices, an abbreviated policy revision process may be used. Such changes to policy are not sent to the campus for a 30-day, all-campus review and comment period, but must still be endorsed by the Executive ViceRectorfor Administration and approved by the UniversityRectorin writing. Minor changes are announced on the MTU Policy Office website, in the MTU News Minute, and on the MTU Policy Office listserv.

5.2. Corrections

 

Without requesting written approval of each change, the MTU Policy Office may revise affected policies to correct departmental or other unit names, position titles, grammatical errors, typographical errors, Uniform Resource Locator (or URL) links, or other similar occurrences.

 

  1. Policy Archive

 

The MTU Policy Office maintains an archive of historic versions of administrative policies that are available upon request.