Policy Development Process

This graphic serves as a visual representation of how changes to the University Handbook are often proposed and presented to the Handbook Committee for review. This graphic cannot cover all possible pathways, but it should serve as the primary recommendation for presenting revisions for consideration.

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Policy Development Process

Expedited Handbook Approval Process

(Approved by Faculty Senate 6/10/2025)

To streamline minor updates to the University Handbook, an expedited approval process is established for the following eligible changes:

  1. Correction of textual misspellings.
  2. Updates to names of offices, departments, colleges, etc.
  3. Changes in titles of university officers or employees.
  4. Organizational restructuring primarily impacting Section B: University Structure, with potential minor implications elsewhere.

Procedure for Expedited Changes:

  1. For Misspellings: Faculty Affairs Committee (FAC) or University Handbook and Policy Committee (UHPC) members will submit corrections using the standard approval form, indicating affected sections and providing a strikethrough version in track changes.
  2. For Name, Title, or Organizational Changes: The affected department or office shall submit proposed updates, including the current and revised information, to the UHPC chair. UHPC members will ensure all references are updated, and the provost’s office will finalize changes post-approval.

Approval Process:

  1. Approval by the UHPC Chair.
  2. Approval by the FAC Chair(s).
  3. Final approval by the Faculty Senate (FS) President.

Communication to Faculty Senate:

Expedited changes will be included in the Faculty Senate Consent Agenda with a summary, a brief description of each change and a hyperlink to the full text of the changes.