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> MSU Policy and Procedures > Operating Policies and Procedures for Montana State University Campuses
Operating Policies and Procedures for Montana State University Campuses
January 2002
Introduction and Purpose
Montana State University shall have an Operating Policy and Procedure system for the development, identification,
distribution, review and revision of operating policies, procedures, and rules. The policy will offer governing
principles that guide action in response to an issue or circumstance likely to surface repeatedly. It will be
consistent with relevant federal and state laws, rules and regulations, and the Board of Regents policies and
procedures. This policy will apply, based on the policy definition below, to each campus and agency individually
and to Montana State University entity-wide. For the purpose of this policy, each individual agency of Montana
State University will be referred to as "campus" and all campuses collectively will be referred to as the
"University." University policy may be developed when consistent action is desired across the campuses. Each
campus will have a central repository for policy maintenance; MSU Legal Counsel will maintain MSU's entity-wide
policies.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
100.00 Policy
110.00 Policies and Procedures Template
200.00 Procedure
210.00 Development of an Operating Policy/Procedure (OP)
220.00 Review and Revision of an OP
230.00 Format
240.00 Policy Retention, Access and Copies
Montana State University's operating policy shall be characterized by the following criteria:
It is a governing principle that mandates or constrains actions. It has campus-wide or University-wide application. It helps ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, enhances the university's mission,
promotes operational efficiencies, and/or reduces institutional risk. It changes infrequently and sets a course for the foreseeable future. It will be broad enough to permit discretionary action in resolution of day-to-day situations yet be
specific enough to provide clear guidance.
110.00 Policies
and Procedures Template
210.00 Development of an Operating Policy/Procedure (OP)
210.10 Anyone at Montana State University may propose a new or revised OP by routing the suggestion through
the administrative channel to the accountable Executive Officer.
210.20 The steps for developing an OP are:
210.21 The individual submits the proposal to his/her department head.
210.22 The department head reviews and recommends an action to the next higher level within the division's
administrative channel until the proposal reaches the Executive Officer (Vice President, Provost, Chancellor or
Division Administrator) to whom he/she is accountable. Before the policy reaches the Executive Officer, the
drafted policy should:
- Have a sponsor
- Reflect the Montana State University mission
- Define the proposed policy and procedure
- Outline evaluation procedures
- Be reviewed for internal control implications
- Be reviewed for financial implications
- Be reviewed for legal implications
210.23 Each campus shall provide a forum to notify the policy's constituent groups of the proposed policy
and facilitate collection of comments from these groups. The comments shall be disseminated to both the policy's
sponsors and the appropriate Executive Officer(s).
210.24 After an adequate period of time to allow comments from constituent groups, the policy's sponsor(s)
and Executive Officer should consider comments and adjust the policy as warranted.
210.25 At least annually, the Executive Officers shall consider pending policy matters. The CEO of the
campus if an institutional policy or the President if a University policy shall refer the policy for review by
the appropriate committees and institutional officials. The policy/policy review sponsor and constituent parties
will be allowed and/or may be asked to forward comments to the decision makers.
210.26 The Executive Officer(s) will approve the policy, refer it for further investigation or dismiss it
from further consideration.
210.27 Upon approval, the Executive Officer(s) shall clearly stipulate who is responsible for
implementation. That person shall implement the policy at the suitable organizational level(s) in a manner
consistent with this policy.
210.28 The President or CEOs may adopt an interim policy without
dissemination and review if necessary. The policy will remain an interim
policy until reviewed and approved. Any interim policy will be disseminated
for comment as soon as practicable and will automatically expire six months
after adoption if not reviewed and approved as outlined in this policy.
220.00 Review and Revision of an OP
220.10 To maintain an effective set of operating policies and procedures, all OPs must have a regular
schedule of review and revision (at least every three years) as established by the person responsible for
implementation of the policy. The reviewing entity and the date (year, month and day) of the review shall be
specified upon incorporation of the policy in the appropriate policy manual(s).
220.20 Each person responsible for the review of an OP will send recommended revisions, if any, through the
administrative channel of the Executive Officer(s) to whom she/he is accountable.
220.30 An OP can be revised at any time, not just during its normal review process. Anyone wishing to
recommend revisions should forward the information through proper channels to the appropriate Executive Officer.
220.40 Anyone may suggest updating, revising, or canceling an OP by sending a written suggestion through the
administrative channel to the Executive Officer who represents his/her division. If an OP should be revised or
canceled before the regular review cycle, the memorandum for the suggestion should indicate clearly why the author
suggests the review should be undertaken immediately.
220.50 When revision is necessary, the responsible Executive Officer will follow the process set forth in
section 1, "Development of an Operating Policy/Procedure (OP)."
220.60 When an OP is revised, it is reissued with a new date; however, portions of an OP may be revised
without changing the entire OP. When single pages are revised, the pages will have a notation "Revised (date)"
placed in the lower right corner below the OP number.
220.70 Minor or routine changes to policy or changes mandated by state or federal law or the Board of Regents
may be made after consultation with and approval by the individual who is responsible for review of the policy as
indicated in the Review section of the policy. The procedures outlined in Section 1, "Development of an Operating
Policy/Procedure (OP)," need not be followed. Minor or routine changes include items such as updating of a title
or department name listed in a policy or correction of typographical errors.
230.10 Underlying the OP system is the philosophy that all policies, procedures, and rules are approved
by the accountable Executive Officers and will be available via the Web. An appropriate format shall be adopted
and used consistently. The following major sections should be considered in the order listed for each OP:
- Introduction and Purpose (background and rationale for the OP).
- Policy (the guide to decision making).
- Procedure (sequential steps necessary to carry out the policy).
- Internal control considerations, if applicable (how to ensure adequate safeguarding of assets, e.g.,
segregation of duties, safeguards against misuse or fraud, etc.)
- Effective date and Review [identify who is responsible for review of the OP and the date (month/year) the
review shall occur].
Some OP may not require all of these sections. Judgment is called for in the type and degree of headings used.
Each OP number should appear in the lower right corner with the approval date placed immediately below it.
240.00 Policy Retention, Access and Copies
240.10 Each campus will have a central repository for original policies approved by the Executive Officers.
Legal Counsel maintains MSU's entity-wide original policies signed by the Executive Officers.
240.20 OP shall be available to all students, faculty, staff and others through a Web page.
240.30 Periodically, a broad university announcement of the availability of OP will be made. The
announcement will include a brief explanation of policy and where it is published.
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