Policy Development & Review
Looking to create, revise, or delete a policy in the Administrative Manuals? PRF assists with all stages of the process, including drafting, editing, review, approval, and publication. Follow the steps for development below:
Email policies@wsu.edu with a brief description of the proposed policy or change
- For significant policy changes, PRF may present the proposal to the Risk Management Executive Committee (RMEC) for input prior to moving forward
- Read over UPPM 10.38: Policy on Policies (previously BPPM 10.38: Policy on Policies)
- Review any existing University policies related to the subject to ensure consistency and avoid duplication
- PRF can assist with this review
- Consult the Policy Drafting Tips, Administrative Manuals Style Guide, and Digital Accessibility Guides
- If a policy has a potential impact on American Indian or Alaska Native Tribes, members, or land, also refer to UPPM 10.41 Policy on Tribal Engagement, Consultation, and Consent for Joint WSU-Tribal Research Activities and Projects
- Consider possible positive and negative impacts of the policy on various groups, communities, and individuals, including those from underrepresented populations, and ensure a broad range of input and views are solicited in the policymaking process
- Write an initial draft using the policy template
- You can also have PRF create the initial draft on your behalf
- Incorporate initial feedback from primary WSU stakeholders (those with the most interest/impact), while keeping PRF up to date
- This can be through tracked changes on the document, or via email with policies@wsu.edu copied
- Get permission from the responsible official to proceed
- PRF can help determine who this is
- Once the initial draft is ready, PRF may share it with the President’s designated policy advisory committee to ensure executive-level input at this stage
- For policy removal, skip to Step 4
PRF will route the draft for review and approval among relevant groups, which may include:
- Attorney General’s Office (AGO)
- Human Resource Service (HRS)
- Office of Internal Audit
- Compliance and Risk Management
- Office of Research
- Deans
- Office of the Provost
- Faculty Senate
- Applicable vice presidents, campus chancellors, vice chancellors, and/or designees
- Other members of system leadership
- WSU committees and advisory groups (e.g. Risk Management Advisory Committee, Financial and Administrative Officers Committee)
Feedback will be incorporated into the document, with new drafts being created as needed
Once the draft has been circulated with approval among the relevant groups and by the responsible official(s), PRF will get final approval from:
- The President or designee and the Board of Regents (for BORPM policies)
- The President or designee, typically upon the recommendation of the President’s designated policy advisory committee (for UPPM (previously BPPM)/SPPM policies)
- In some cases, Board of Regents approval may be required
PRF will:
- Publish the policy in the designated manual on the Policies website;
- Include the policy revision in the WSU Insider Notices and Announcements;
- Post the detailed revision announcement on the Policies website;
- Notify the policy owner of the publication; and
- Request that the policy owner review the published policy to ensure accuracy of content and links.
Minor Revisions
Responsible units may submit requests for minor revisions to PRF. PRF may also initiate minor revisions. PRF publishes the revisions upon the approval of the responsible official, area vice president, vice provost, or executive vice president (if applicable), and PRF. Presidential approval is not required. E-mail policies@wsu.edu for assistance with making minor revisions.
PRF corrects typographical and grammatical errors, formatting, broken hyperlinks, incorrect contact information, and similar errors without additional review or approval.