Policy creation and update process

A new policy may be initiated after identifying that a need exists to address a gap or meet compliance standards. The Senior Policy Advisor should be consulted at this point.

All new policies must be created using the approved template - UCPL Document template (this is also available under the Templates and exemplars webpage).

An existing policy review will be initiated by the scheduled review date, but may also undergo a review prior to that date.

This step has several components:

• The new or existing policy is developed by an individual or committee using the official UC template and guidelines and supported by the Policy Unit;
• A draft is widely promulgated amongst relevant persons for comment/input;
• A quality control checklist should be applied to a new policy draft (see Appendix A of the Metapolicy). The Senior Policy Advisor will assist with this check. For an existing policy, the Policy Unit will undertake a review.

Following a rigorous development and consultation stage (Step 2), the appropriate Approval Authority must take the policy to the Senior Management Team (SMT) for information, unless the Policy Unit direct otherwise.

The Approval Authority must formally approve a new policy, or a policy that has undergone a major review, in writing, prior to moving to Step 4.

Delegations for approval are identified in Appendix B of the Metapolicy.

The approved policy is then lodged with the Senior Policy Advisor, who is responsible for its deposit in the UC Policy Library and notification of its existence on this website.

The copy of the policy that exists in the UC Policy Library is the official University version and may be accessed on a read only basis by anyone viewing the site.

The Contact Person identified for each policy or procedure will be asked to identify an on-going review date. Normally, this will be three years but in some instances, it will be appropriate to review annually or biennially.

All reviews will be initiated by the Policy Unit three months (90 days) before the review date with an automated email to the Contact Person. Follow-ups will be made as necessary to ensure the policy or procedure is reviewed by the anniversary date.

The Policy Unit will provide any assistance required to facilitate the review and will undertake to publish the document including any new amendments as soon as practicable. 

Ad hoc reviews and amendments may also occur. It is the responsibility of the Contact Officer to ensure these are forwarded to the Senior Policy Advisor.