How to Assess and Develop Policy: An Overview 

  1. Assess and Identify Need and Purpose of New Policy or Policy Edits

• Policy Needs Assessment Form

  2. Review Relevant Policies: SUU and USHE

• SUU Policies
• USHE Policies
• Identify relevant policies
• Avoid conflicts and duplicates

  3. Determine Purpose of Policy

• USHE directive or legal requirement?
• Does it promote operation efficiency and effectiveness?
• Does it mitigate risk?
• Does it standardize processes across units?

  4. Determine Who at University is Responsible for What in the Policy

• Create Policy Outline
• Helps avoid passive policy language
• Involve relevant offices and departments

  5. Draft the Policy or Edit the Existing Policy

• Use Template Format
• Use consistent language
• Use active voice
• Policy Style Guide & Writing Manual

  6. Assess Need for and Create Forms and Approval Processes

• These may include checklists, agreements, or other documents/forms that can be linked from Policy, streamline policy implementation, and/or reduce policy language needed

  7. Submit through Policy Review and Approval Process

Understanding what needs to happen next will help you plan your timeline better. Here is a summary of the approval process. Review the Policy on Policies in whole. Overall, unless the policy is submitted as a temporary/emergency policy, plan on 3-6 months before the policy is officially enforced if it is new or has a substantive revision.