New UVic policy standards

University of Victoria policies are getting a facelift. A new document developed by the Office of the University Secretary sets out a framework and standards for university-level policies—those that guide the actions of the university at an institutional level.

A Policy on University Policies and Procedures was developed with input from the university’s governing bodies and approved by the senate and the board of governors in November.

The new framework separates policies from procedures, providing flexibility for revising procedures without having to rework the entire policy. To ensure accountability and provide a point of contact, all policies now fall under the authority of designated executive officers.

“This document sets out a consistent process for reviewing and revising policies,” says University Policy Review Officer Carrie Andersen. “The goal is to make university policies more current, relevant and user-friendly.”

In the future, policies that are out of date or no longer relevant may be rescinded, while others may be combined or made more comprehensive. Change is already under way, and a number of policies were rescinded by the board of governors in January. The policy website will also be revamped to make policies more accessible to the university community.

The new policy is available online. If you have questions or comments, please contact Carrie Andersen at policy@uvic.ca or 721-6144.