University Policy Impact Statement

How new policies get started

Any NAU employee may propose a new or revised University Policy. The process begins by drafting a University Policy Impact Statement, which must be returned to the Office of the President. Next, the Director for Policy will confirm the adequacy of the information provided and will forward the proposal to the prospective Responsible Executive(s) and Responsible Office(s) with subject matter jurisdiction for their review and consideration.

To officially advance, University Policy ideas must be officially “sponsored” by the prospective Responsible Executive, who assigns the proposal to the appropriate Responsible Office for investigation and review. This is accomplished by completing the University Policy Proposal Responsible Executive Sponsorship Form. The Responsible Office will then study the policy idea’s benefits or drawbacks and will consult with potential stakeholders. The Director for Policy is available to assist with these efforts. After this initial investigative phase, policy ideas found to be meritorious are translated into draft policy text.

At this stage, the draft policy must be circulated among the affected parties and made available to campus via the University Policy Library for public review and comment. The text is improved and refined through successive drafts. The President’s Executive Team and other groups, such as the Provost’s Academic Leadership Council may be consulted. When the drafting process is complete, the Responsible Office and Responsible Executive jointly submit the recommended text to the President for final consideration and approval.

Approved University Policies are published in the University Policy Library. The Responsible Executive and Responsible Office have the responsibility to notify, educate, and train the University community as appropriate.

Questions? Contact the Director for Policy via the contact information above.