Policy Statement Development, Approval, Revision and Rescindment

Policy Formatting Guidelines

Purpose

This document provides procedural guidance for policies specifically applicable to Louisiana State University (LSU).

Definitions

Functional Classification: gives insight into the nature of a Policy Statement; the functional classification can be one of the following:

• Institutional Governance & Administration
• Auxiliary & Enterprises
• Faculty & Staff Employment
• Facilities Operation & Maintenance
• Health & Safety
• Instruction
• Information Technology
• Research
• Student Services

Monitoring Unit: the administrative unit charged with the responsibility for the ongoing and periodic review of a specific Policy Statement. The monitoring unit shall provide for such revision and other modifications as required.

Policy Statements (PS): represent standard operating policies and procedures of LSU. They are not binding upon other institutions within the LSU System and are subordinate to policies of the LSU System issued as Permanent Memoranda, to the Bylaws & Regulations of the LSU Board of Supervisors, and to state and federal regulations and statutes. Typically, Policy Statements originate with the monitoring unit to address policy issues that are campus wide in nature. Policy Statements may also be issued to interpret and implement Permanent Memoranda and Bylaws & Regulations of the Board or pursuant to the requirements of state and federal law.

General Policy and Disclaimer

University Policy Statements are established for the purpose of institutional governance. Policy Statements serve to implement or interpret various laws, rules, regulations, policies, and/or to reflect the university’s chosen method of managing its affairs. The university takes due care to assure that Policy Statements, when issued, are in compliance with applicable controlling laws, rules, and regulations. However, it is recognized that changes in such laws, rules, and regulations may result in all or a portion of a Policy Statement becoming null or incorrect until a necessary revision is made. In such cases, those portions of a Policy Statement that are contrary to or in conflict with any controlling law, rule, or regulation are invalid. To the extent that the remainder of the Policy Statement is unaffected by a change in controlling laws, rules, and/or regulations, that remaining portion of the Policy Statement will remain valid and in effect.

Procedures

1. Initiation of Proposed Policy Statements:
   
   
   1. New Policy Statements: Proposals for new Policy Statements shall be submitted through or by the monitoring unit through administrative channels to the appropriate vice president, who will provide for review within their division and assign a monitoring unit. Should the proposal warrant further consideration, the vice president will forward the results of their divisional reviews to the Office of Academic Affairs and will recommend any other units external to the division that should review the Policy Statement.
      
      
   2. Policy Statement Revisions: Proposed revisions to an existing Policy Statement shall be submitted through or by the monitoring unit through administrative channels to the appropriate vice president, who will provide for review within their division. The vice president will forward the results of their divisional reviews to the Office of Academic Affairs and will recommend any other units external to the division that should review the Policy Statement.
      
      
   3. Summary of the Matter: To aid in the approval process, monitoring units must provide a summary of the proposed changes or new content; this will include rationales as well as any other pertinent information.
      
      
2. Campus Approval:
   
   
   1. In the case of both new and existing policy statement proposals, the Office of Academic Affairs will provide for review, comment, and action, within a reasonable amount of time, regarding the proposed Policy Statement. Should review by legal counsel be necessary, the proposed new or existing Policy Statement will be forwarded by the Office of Academic Affairs. Comments by legal counsel will then be forwarded to the Executive Vice President & Provost.
      
      
   2. The Executive Vice President & Provost will review materials related to the proposed new or revised Policy Statement, provide for such modifications as may be indicated, and will forward the Policy Statement to the Council of Vice Presidents for review.
      
      
   3. After each vice president has commented on the proposed Policy Statement, the Executive Vice President & Provost will forward the proposal, with recommendation, to the President for final action.
      
      
   4. Upon approval by the President, the new or newly-revised Policy Statement shall be distributed and published accordingly by the Office of Academic Affairs.
      
      

3. Rescinding Policy Statements:
   
   In the event that a Policy Statement is recommended to be rescinded, the monitoring unit must provide justification and forward to the appropriate vice chancellor. If the vice chancellor agrees, the Policy Statement should then be routed for administrative approval as outlined above.

Source

Article IX. of the Bylaws of the Board of Supervisors of LSU