The University Secretariat is inviting feedback from the Queen’s community on a proposal that would create a consistent and coordinated process for developing all future university-wide policies.

“It’s a policy on policy,” says Lon Knox, University Secretary. “The goal is to ensure, going forward, all university policies go through the same, coordinated process of development and approval. It’s about consistency, consultation and transparency.”

The proposed policy, entitled “Creating, Reviewing and Administering University Policy”, outlines a clear process, from policy development to approval. It also calls for a new University Policy Subcommittee of the Vice-Principals’ Operations Committee to ensure consistent management of the policy process.

The proposed policy would affect university policies like Health and Safety, security or human rights that apply to the university as a whole, crossing faculties, schools and administrative units. It would not apply to academic regulations, such as those contained in academic calendars, or regulations and policies originating with the Board of Trustees, Senate or individual faculties and schools.

The proposed policy also tasks the University Secretariat with establishing an authoritative repository of all university policies and ensuring that policies are reviewed on a regular basis.

The proposed policy, and its accompanying procedure for creating and revising new policies, is posted to the University Secretariat’s policy website. Comments from the Queen’s community are invited by email, no later than April 15, 2013.