Queen’s University’s first comprehensive “policy on policies” has been approved the Vice-Principals’ Operational Committee (VPOC) and is now in effect.

Introduced in April, the new policy entitled “Creating, Reviewing and Administering University Policy” establishes a consistent process for the development and approval of university policies.

“The new procedures for policy approval will see all university-wide policies go through the same, consistent processes for development, approval and review,” says Lon Knox, University Secretary. “The new process will be better co-ordinated and will provide increased transparency and consultation.”

This new policy approval process applies only to policies that cover the university as a whole, such as those relating to health and safety, security or human rights. It does not apply to academic regulations, such as those contained in academic calendars, or regulations and policies originating from the Board of Trustees, Senate or individual faculties and schools.

A new policy subcommittee of VPOC is responsible for managing the policy process. The first proposed university policy to go through the new approval process is the Research Initiation Grants Policy, which has been posted to the University Secretariat’s website.

The Research Initiation Grants Policy, and its associated procedure, would establish a grant program to support new faculty at the early stages of research projects, when funding from typical sources has not yet begun to flow. Comment on the policy and its associated procedure is invited from the Queen’s community by email until June 13.