Policy governance framework

Introduction

The Policy Governance Framework provides the structure for describing, ordering, developing and maintaining the University's policies, procedures, standards and guidelines. The Framework is constituted through three principal documents, namely:

All other policy documents are subject to the requirements of the Policy Governance Framework.

The University Policy Manager (in the Corporate Governance & Risk Office) is available to provide advice and guidance to policy practitioners on the development, approval, implementation and review of policy documents. The University Policy Manager can review drafts of policy documents that are under development or under review. It is the role of the University Policy Manager to provide quality assurance to the University Executive on all new and revised policy documents.

Policy document development & review

The policy governance framework must be followed when developing new and reviewing and revising existing policy documents. The aim is to have all University policy documents in a consistent format and drafted in a consistent manner, thereby making it easier for everyone to understand and implement them. Policy practitioners who are developing new, or revised exisiting, policy should make use of the templates provided on this page. These templates are designed to help ensure consistency of presentation and are also technically compatible with the requirements of the Policy Library.

Detailed flowcharts explaining the entire Policy Governance process are available here.

 

Endorsement and approval

The following table is a guide to the endorsment and approval signatures required from specific officers for a new, amended or repealed policy documents before they can be uploaded to the Policy Library.

Policy document Proposal Policy Manager Service Division Director Approval Authority
Policy

New document

Yes Yes Vice-Chancellor
  Major amendment Yes Yes Vice-Chancellor
  Minor amendment* Yes Yes Service Division Director
  Repeal Yes Yes Vice-Chancellor
Procedure / Standard

New document

Yes

Yes

DVC / DVC IC

 

Major amendment

Yes

Yes

DVC / DVC IC

 

Minor amendment*

Yes

Yes

Service Division Director

 

Repeal

Yes

Yes

DVC / DVC IC

Guideline All Yes Yes

Service Division Director

Form All Yes Yes

Service Division Director

* Minor amendment means a change made to a policy document to correct or update a title, name, numbering, hyperlink, metadata or a reference to law, another policy document, a delegation, or other relevant document, or to correct document formatting, spelling, grammar, or clarity of language, which does not otherwise affect the document content and intent.

Deadlines for endorsement/approval of administrative policy documents

Administrative policies, procedures and standards that are new or major amendments require the endorsement of the Senior Management Group (SMG) or Service Division Director/College General Managers meeting before they can be approved by the Delegate. Submission of such policy documents for endorsement should be through the Policy Manager (policy@anu.edu.au).