The Governance Team is pleased to publish the University’s new Policy Framework. This has been produced as the first step of a wider project to ensure consistency and clarity in all policies across the University.
The Framework sets out a clear process for the development and approval of all University policies. It also provides an online space through which all published University policies can be accessed.
Colleagues should consult the Framework when developing or reviewing policies. Guidance is provided on the following process stages:
- Pre-Development - how to determine if a policy is needed and definitions of the different types of documentation used at the University.
- Development - descriptions of different areas that should be considered when developing a policy and their associated risks.
- Sign-Off and Approval - how to submit a policy for committee approval and the relevant Senior Managers/University Executive Board Sponsors to copy in.
- Post Approval - the steps to follow to publish the policy and guidance on when it should be reviewed.
The Framework also provides links to useful documents, including the new Policy Template which colleagues should use when developing policies. It also gives details on how to complete an Equality Impact Assessment and Sustainability Impact Assessment, which are required for all policies.
The new Framework will help ensure that an up-to-date schedule of all policies is maintained. Policy owners will be prompted by the Governance Team when a review of a policy is due.
If you have any queries about the Policy Framework or policies more generally, please contact governance@bath.ac.uk.