Resources for Policy Writers
Compiled by the Policy Coordination Office, the following documents are designed to assist policy and procedure owners as they navigate the process of formulating, documenting, and gaining approval for administrative policies and procedures at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Guide to Writing Policies and Procedures
Written in 1994, this guide is designed to explain the campus' policy and procedure framework, to help policy and procedure owners organize their written documentation, and to act as a resource as they navigate the approval process. Writing policies and procedures is not a difficult as one might think ... information in this "how to" guide is intended for individuals who are responsible for formulating or documenting new or existing policies and procedures.
Campus Policy and Procedure Formulation This draft policy statement (December 1994) provides an overview of the campus policy affecting the formulation and approval of campus administrative policies and procedures, a description of the documentation requirements, an outline of the responsibilities of policy and procedure "owners", and an outline of the role of the Policy Coordination Office.
Approval of Campus Policies and Procedures This draft procedure (December 1994) outlines the areas of responsibilities for all those involved in the approval process for campus policies and procedures, the steps required to formulate and revise new or existing policies and procedures, and defines the major components of written University policy and procedure documents.
- Policy and Procedure Transmittal Sheet This transmittal sheet helps policy and procedure owners document the review and approval process of new and revised policies and procedures.
These guidelines resulted from the work of a Policies and Procedures Team that concluded that improvements in the campus' process for documenting policies, procedures, and delegations of authority were desirable. Their report, University Policy and Procedure Formulation, Approval, and Dissemination (October 1994), articulated the need for clear authority for policy formulation (e.g., campus delegations of authority); provided specific guidance concerning the responsibilities of policy owners and how policy is formulated, approved, and disseminated; and recommended the creation of a Policy Coordination Office.
UC Systemwide Policies
Coordination & Review (C&R) in the Office of the President is the office of record for Presidential delegations of authority and Presidential policies. The process of development, coordination, review and issuance of these documents is the responsibility of that office; legal review is the responsibility of the General Counsel of The Regents. Presidential policies may be issued in the form of letters, statements, delegations of authority, or as policy manuals. On this website, policies, guidelines, and procedures that originate from UC Office of the President are marked with a 
symbol; those that originate from another UC campus are marked with a 
symbol.
Non-UC Resources
Occasionally this site site provides a link to an important non-UC resource (e.g., Federal regulations). Such links are marked with a 
symbol.
Policies and Procedures Definition: Principles:
Policy. A University policy is a written statement that meets all four of the following conditions:
1. It has general applicability to members of the University community (and is not specific to a particular division, department, or office).
2. It addresses basic values of the University, or supports the teaching, research, and public service mission of the University, or promotes efficient operations, or ensures compliance with laws or regulations, or
reduces institutional risk.
3. It mandates or constrains certain actions and may contain specific requirements for compliance.
4. It requires formal approval by the highest executive or academic authorities of the institution (e.g., The Regents, the UC President, the Chancellor, an officer of the University specifically designated by the President or Chancellor, or the Academic Senate).
Procedure. A procedure is a set of guidelines or a description of a set of steps or a process which, if followed, implements policy.
UC Santa Cruz' on-line policy and procedures system was developed and designed to assist the campus in its goal of providing tools needed to effective move decision-making to more appropriate levels within the campus' organization and to streamline its processes.
Delegations of Authority Definition: Principles:
Delegation of authority letters assign formal authority and responsibility for actions and activities to specific campus administrators. This authority is usually originated by the President of the University. In addition, campus administrators have certain responsibilities inherent to their job responsibilities.
Align authority with effective organization levels of responsibility. I.e., place delegation (authority) where actual decision responsibility, financial accountability, and the most information necessary to make decisions rests.
Localize decision-making as much as is reasonably possible within the constraints of the Presidential delegation. I.e., place authority at lowest reasonable level consistent with campus decentralization philosophy.
Ensure consistency. I.e., ensure that delegations are consistent with current policy; place authority for decisions that affect a unit's budget--such as personnel actions--at the same level as authority for management of resources, whenever possible.
Policy Coordination Office The Policy Coordination Office (pco@ucsc.edu, x9-2666), on behalf of the Chancellor's Office, is responsible for coordinating campus delegations of authority and policy development. The Office is also responsible for maintenance of this web site and for serving as a central consulting resource to campus administrative officers and policy and procedure owners.
Office of Record The Office of the Chancellor is the office of record for the official version of all campus delegations of authority and of all campus administrative policies.