Templates & Resources

Policy: A policy is a formal written statement that defines, restricts, or requires specific behaviors and decisions to support the university's mission, ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, improve operational efficiency, and minimize risk. Policies establish mandatory expectations and provide the foundation for institutional governance.

Standard: Standards are mandatory rules that provide the specific requirements needed to support and enforce policies. They translate policy principles into measurable and technical specifications, such as defined configurations, timelines, or processes, ensuring consistency and enabling effective compliance.

Procedure: Procedures are detailed, step-by-step instructions that describe how to implement and comply with a policy. They specify roles and responsibilities, outline required actions, and indicate where to find additional information or resources. Procedures are maintained separately from policies to allow clarity and operational flexibility.

Guideline: Guidelines are advisory in nature and provide recommended practices, interpretations, or operational guidance to support policy implementation. They are not mandatory but help promote consistency, efficiency, and best practices. Guidelines may be updated more frequently to adapt to evolving institutional needs.

Directive: A directive is a formal, authoritative instruction issued by university leadership to mandate specific actions, priorities, or outcomes. It is binding and often time-sensitive, used to ensure alignment with strategic objectives or to address urgent matters. Directives may lead to the creation or revision of policies, standards, and procedures to support their implementation.