Develop an interim policy process for extenuating circumstances

**The views expressed in this blog are my personal views and do not represent the official position of Metropolitan State University of Denver or ACUPA.**

When I drafted the expedited policy clause in Metropolitan State University of Denver’s “policy on policy,” which allows the MSU Denver president to enact interim policies “to address legal requirements or a significant institutional risk,” I did not have a worldwide, coronavirus pandemic in mind. However, as the daughter of two Vietnam vets and the wife of a military historian, I knew that an organizational threat might come from somewhere (or something) unexpected.

Balancing Inclusivity and Operational Effectiveness

MSU Denver’s policy process is designed to be inclusive and transparent. New and revised policies are reviewed by MSU Denver’s President’s Cabinet, by students and employees who serve on the Policy Advisory Council, by the shared governance groups, and by the university community at-large during an open review period. The inclusive process balances efficiency with effectiveness, in that publishing a policy quickly might not mean that a policy is communicated and implemented effectively.

Some circumstances, however, require quick, decisive action when it comes to policies. To address the current situation, MSU Denver’s leadership has instituted several interim policies related to moving courses online, working remotely, and allowing flexible grading options for students for the spring 2020 semester. Policies that were already in the works, such as a new social media policy, are still moving through the inclusive process, with meetings and document review occurring online.

Full Process

• Decision maker: Board of Trustees, president, or provost
• Review/Input:
  • Board of Trustees (for governance policies)
  • President’s Cabinet
  • General counsel
  • Policy Advisory Council
  • Student Government Assembly
  • Faculty and staff senates
  • University community open comment period
  • Ad hoc work groups based on expertise and operational area
• Documentation: Formal policy statement published online in University Policy Library

Interim Process

• Decision maker: President or provost
• Review/Input: Key constituents at president’s or provost’s discretion (in this case, a cross-functional taskforce, including the provost, general counsel, senior leadership team, and others was formed to address all things COVID-19)
• Documentation: Informal policy statements published online in the employee newsletter and MSU Denver’s COVID-19 Updates and Resources webpage

Staying Flexible

Including some flexibility in the policy process has saved me a great deal of stress during this time, as it allows me to focus on ongoing operations as senior leaders within the organization address current developments.