Questions Regarding Policies and Procedures

What are policies and procedures?

By definition a policy is...    

  • A law, standard, or rule.    
  • A principle, plan, or course of action.    
  • Derived from the word "police" (i.e. the enforcement of laws). By definition a  procedure is...    
  • The method or manner of proceeding in some action.    
  • A sequence of steps to be followed.    
  • Derived from the word "proceed" (from the Latin "to go forward")

Why do we have policies and procedures?

Organizational policies and procedures function as:    

  • Guiding documents to set forth key rules and regulations of the institution.    
  • Guiding documents to direct employee attitudes and behaviors.    
  • A legal resource which holds people accountable for certain attitudes and behaviors.    
  • A source of information for employees on oft-repeated and complex processes. 

What is our responsibility regarding the campus' policies and procedures?

As an  employee, your responsibility with regards to campus policies and procedures is to:    

  • Read and understand the campus policies and procedures.    
  • Follow the campus polices and procedures.    
  • Make recommendations for policy and procedure changes through appropriate channels. 

As a  supervisor, your responsibility with regards to campus policies and procedures is to:    

  • Read and understand the campus policies and procedures.    
  • Follow the campus polices and procedures.    
  • Help the employees that you supervise to understand the campus polices and procedures.    
  • Enforce the campus policies and procedures with the employees that you supervise.    
  • Make recommendations for policy and procedure changes through appropriate channels.