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AKA: Better Than Letterman The Top 10 Policy Issues and Best Practices The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development ACUPA Technology is reshaping.

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Presentation on theme: "AKA: Better Than Letterman The Top 10 Policy Issues and Best Practices The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development ACUPA Technology is reshaping."— Presentation transcript:

1 AKA: Better Than Letterman The Top 10 Policy Issues and Best Practices The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development ACUPA Technology is reshaping our educational and business operations. This session will introduce the Top 10 Policies most needing development or update because of technology and the Top 10 Best Practices for a process that keeps policies current and accessible as developed by the Association of College and University Policy Administrators (ACUPA). CACUBO 2001 Annual Meeting Tuesday, October 9, 2001 1:45 - 3:00 Presented by: T. Michael Ford, Indiana University Virginia Rezmierski, University of Michigan Pat Spellacy, University of Minnesota

2 T. Michael Ford T. Michael Ford is Special Assistant to the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Indiana University in University Administration. He has been with Indiana University since 1995 and prior to that was with the California State University, Office of the Chancellor from 1989 in the business and finance division. Before his career in higher education administration he worked in the Wall St. sector with Chase Manhattan Bank, N. A. and Data Resources, Inc. He received his Bachelors degree in business administration from Howard University and a Masters degree in general administration from the University of Maryland. Virginia E. Rezmierski, Ph.D. Dr. Rezmierski served for almost 20 years as Director of the Office of Policy Development and Education at the University of Michigan, where she led a team of policy analysts researching and analyzing information technology related policy issues. She has published numerous articles regarding information technology and ethics, privacy, security, and community building. She continues to speak nationally and locally on these issues as well and has led several national research projects to examine the costs associated with information technology related abuse incidents Virginia completed a BA in Sociology and Political Science from the Maxwell School of Citizenship at Syracuse University and a MA in Psychopathology and Special Education from Syracuse University. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Michigan, with a research specialization in non-verbal communication and aggression. In June, 2000, Virginia retired from her administrative responsibilities at the University of Michigan. She continues, however, to hold teaching appointments in three of the colleges at the University of Michigan. For the Ford School of Public Policy she provides a graduate course entitled: "Technology, Emerging Law, and Applied Policy". For the School of Information she provides a graduate course entitled: "Ethics and Values". She also holds an appointment at the School of Education. She is currently directing a National Science Foundation research project designed to examine the interface between systems logging and monitoring activities and student record privacy protections. Pat Spellacy Pat Spellacy, CPA, is Director of Policy and Process Development at the University of Minnesota. He has been in that position since 1993. He was Director of Audits at Minnesota for eleven years. Prior to coming to the University he was with the Minnesota Office of Legislative Auditor, last serving as the Deputy Legislative Auditor for Financial Audits. He is a graduate of St. John's University in Minnesota. ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development Presenters

3 Summary of Presentation Association of College and University Policy Administrators (ACUPA) Policy & Procedure Definitions Top 10 Policy Development Best Practices Top 10 Policy Issues Who We Represent The Wisdom of ACUPA Our Institutional Perspective This Session Will Test... Your Knowledge of Minnesota How Normal You Are ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development Welcome

4 What is the state bird? A) Cardinal B) Common Loon C) Robin D) Ring - Necked Pheasant What is the state flower? A) Peony B) Apple Blossom C) Pink & White Ladys Slipper D) Wild Prairie Rose Who is the state governor? A Visual Test... ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development Your Knowledge of Minnesota

5 The Association of College & University Policy Administrators ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development The Association of College & University Policy Administrators Mission The mission of the group is explore both the "policy process" on college and university campuses as well as to discuss specific policy issues. The mission will be fulfilled through periodic meetings, special events, outreach activities, and electronic communications among the membership. Members Auburn UThe Catholic University of America Cornell UCentral Missouri State University Georgetown UIndiana U Juanita College Johnson Technical Institute Mississippi State UMassachusetts Institute of Technology The Ohio State U National Assoc. of Colleges & Employers Penn State UniversityQueensland Rail, Australia Temple UniversityU of Arkansas UCLAU of California System U of Cal. - BerkleyU of Iowa U of Maryland U of Mass. at Amhearst U of MemphisU of Michigan U of MinnesotaU of New Mexico U of PittsburghVirginia Commonwealth U Yale Web Site http://www.inform.umd.edu/CampusInfo/Committees/Assoc/ACUPA/ To join: email HWSamuel@MIT.edu

6 ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development ACUPA Web Site

7 ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development The Importance of Terminology

8 What is a Policy? They state an institutional position. They describe mandates, community beliefs and boundaries. They should include why and who. What is a Procedure? They tell us how. They often include who, what, when and where. They are the customary or standard practice way of handling situations. Why Are Policies and Procedures Important? They establish responsibilities and accountability. They help ensure compliance and reduce institutional risk. They may be needed to establish and/or defend a legal basis for action. They provide clarification and guidance to the community. ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development The Basics

9 Another Test Policy and procedures are not clearly written, sometimes contradict each other, dont state the rationale, or whom to call for questions. People cannot always find policies when they need them. There are too many manuals and loose memosan information flood. People dont know whats important. The community is confused about what is and is not a University policy, and about who can issue policy. Those directly affected do not always receive new or revised policies and procedures while others receive multiple copies. Policies arent always kept up to date; new policy is sometimes implemented before people are notified. People are uncertain of who owns policies and who to contact for changes. Policy users dont get prompt consistent, accurate answers when trying to resolve policy problems. Policy user and policy makers are confused about some aspects of the current policy formulation and approval process. People do not want more policies, they want clarity about who has authority to make decisions on specific topics. ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development Are You Normal?

10 The Top 10 Best Practices Just Got Better – Now There Are 14! ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development The 14 Best Practices Predevelopment (4) Development (6) Maintenance (4) Key Points on the Process Diagram Predevelopment (4) BEFORE You Start, Get Authorization and Support. Decision - Do We Have a Policy? Identify Owners. Development (6) Use Common format Maintenance (4) Plan Maintenance

11 ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development An Overview

12 ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development Best Practices

13 1. Be Proactive in Issue Identification It is usually better to anticipate a problem than to be surprised. This may especially be true for policy development because the timeframe from the start to the finish can be long. The more you are able to identify issues that will affect your institution, the less time will be spent in emergency mode. This is especially true for important policies that are enterprise wide in scope, involve budget changes or training efforts. Perhaps joining ACUPA would help you stay on top of the current important policy issues! 2. Identify an Owner for Each Policy A specific individual needs to have responsibility for the content and accuracy of information within the policy. Different offices can own pieces of the policy or procedures, but one individual should be designated with the overall responsibility to create and maintain the information. The owner should push and track policy development. If disputes arise this individual is the one who ultimately decides the outcome or the process that will be used for resolution. Consider publishing the names and addresses of the policy owners in a table with their policies and procedures. 3. Determine the Best Policy Path Often, determining the owner of a policy will dictate the development path for the policy. However, that is not always the case. Institution-wide policies can be formulated by many different authorities including legislative bodies, trustees, senior officers, faculty or departments. Determining the best level can be more art than science. When choosing, consider topic significance, internal and external reactions, number of approvals necessary and ongoing maintenance. 4. Assemble a Team to Develop Policy Policies and procedures will often be used by a wide variety of groups. To develop accurate and complete documents, consider the expertise needed to develop a well informed policy. Depending on the issue, consider involving staff, faculty and students from human resources, financial, governance, auditor, information technology and legal officers. Including representatives from groups that will use the policy and be affected by it will greatly improve the quality and may assist with buy-in. ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development Best Practices - Predevelopment

14 ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development Best Practices

15 5. Agree on Common Definitions and Terms This seems simple but truly important. Not everyone will agree on what constitutes a policy or procedure. Throw in terms like rules, regulations, standards, guidelines, laws, recommendations and the picture gets even cloudier. This is not an easy task but it will provide a great deal of clarity during the policy process. These definitions should be readily available to those preparing policies. 6. Use a Common Format Coordination by those who manage and produce policies is needed to establish a common format. The payoff will be easier to find information for those accessing information but it will also help those creating policies be consistent. When developing policy the common format speeds development and will often force questions to be answered that might not ordinarily come to light. The format helps to break up policies into digestible chunks. Consider having a "Contacts" section for policy interpretation and or a FAQ to capture the answers. 7. Obtain Approval at Owner and Senior Levels Throughout the process there should be periodic reviews and agreement with the officers who must ultimately approve the new policy. Before the process begins there must be agreement on the overall purpose and the outcome of the work. A review of draft policy statements through the process can be critical to avoid misunderstandings about scope, timing, responsibilities and ownership. Consider periodic updates for stakeholders. A comment period may be appropriate in some circumstance. Finally, be sure all approvals are secured before publication. 8. Plan Communication, Publicity, and Education When policies are approved communicate results to those needing the information. This can vary widely. Determine various core interest groups and devise practical communication options. Include new and revised policy information in existing publications. Some issues may require special mailings and or training efforts. Establish a regular communication channel for all policies and institute special communication plans for those that are critical, complicated or time-sensitive. For critical issues, the importance of being proactive, cannot be overstated. ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development Best Practices - Development

16 9. Put Information Online and Accessible From One Location Having information online is the most effective way to make the information available. Getting all policy information in one location may be more difficult. Different offices often own policies and procedures. Coordination between these different groups is necessary if the end users are to achieve easy access. Creating one unified site will also assure your community that the policy list is complete. Consider setting up information in a database to facilitate search and sort capabilities. Active server pages enable fast updating of data on the web site. 10. Provide Search Capability People look for information in different ways. Some will remember it is a Human Resources policy while others the title or number. Others still recall a key word or the form number associated with the policy. The search tools should provide as many options as possible. When your users can do a full text search on all polices and procedures, you will know you have arrived at the highest level of policy accessibility. ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development Best Practices - Development

17 ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development Best Practices

18 11. Develop a Plan for Active Maintenance and Review Owners of policy may not have the time or inclination to keep the information current. A methodology and training process needs to be in place to assist them. New developments in document management software can help in this area. Audits can often identify information that needs updating. There is no quicker way to lose the confidence of your users than to have information that is obsolete and no longer applicable. 12. Encourage Users to Provide Feedback The people who use the policies can help keep them accurate. Users are often the first to notice that information is outdated. Having an easy and visible way to invite feedback will assist in the maintenance process. User involvement will also help communicate the message to users that their help is welcomed and that they have an opportunity and perhaps even an obligation to keep information current. Users know what works and what doesn't. They can often offer suggestions for improvement. 13. Archive Changes and Date New Releases with an Effective Date Members of your community need to know what's new. However, there are times when it is important to know and be able to retrieve the "old information". For legal and administrative purposes it is critically important to provide access to a historical file of the texts of older policies that accurately reflects the dates when changes were made, the changes that were made to the wording, and who authorized the changes. Consider making policies "effective" at a future date if you are not ready for implementation. 14. Measure Outcomes by Monitoring or Testing Why have a policy that no one follows? There are many factors that encourage people use a policy such as proper training and it being easy to read, find and understand. Making sure policies are accurate and up-to-date will increase confidence and use. Consider developing a measure to quantify the usefulness of the policies, such as the number of hits on the web site or logging phone calls on questions or suggestions for improvement. For critical issues, an internal or external audit may provide feedback on the extent of compliance with the policy or procedures. ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development Best Practices - Maintenance

19 Topics Substituted at EDUCAUSE Security of Surveillance Information Online Privacy Intellectual Property Online Research, Fair Use & Human Subjects What Are Your Policy Issues? The ACUPA Top Ten Policy Issues Financing Technology Electronic Audit Trails/Approvals Computer Disposal Outsourcing Technology Delegation of Authority E-Commerce Procurement of Goods & Services Use of Fees for Technology Long Term Viability of Records/Preservation Students and Entrepreneur Activities Online Commercial Use of Institutional Web Sites RAP Sheets for Policy Issues Comments/Questions ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development Top 10 Policy Issues

20 POLICY MAKING A FULL BODY EXERCISE VIRGINIA REZMIERSKI, Ph.D. ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development

21 EAR TO THE WHATS HAPPENING LEARNING WHAT THE ISSUES ARE AND WHERE THE STAFF AND COMMUNITY ARE RESTLESS ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development

22 HEAD IN THE CROWD DETERMINING THE NEEDS AND VALUES OF THE COMMUNITY WHAT DO THESE MEAN FOR POLICY? ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development

23 HANDS ON THE PEN FIGURING OUT THE RIGHT WORDS AND THE RIGHT ENFORCEMENTS ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development

24 SEAT OF PANTS SUPPORTED ENSURING THAT YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING OF EXECUTIVES AND ARE IN LINE WITH YOUR MISSION ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development

25 FEET RUNNING IN CIRCLES REVIEWING HOW THE POLICY IS WORKING AND IF IT IS ENDORSED AND UNDERSTOOD BY THE COMMUNITY ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development

26 POLICY MAKING A FULL BODY EXERCISE POLICY MAKERS ARE FUNNY LOOKING PEOPLE WITH FEET AND EARS CONNECTED GOING IN CIRCLES ACUPA The Effects of Technology on Policy Planning & Development


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