Policy updates for September 2025

Policy updates will now follow a regular schedule of once per month, typically toward the end of the month, with the understanding that updates will only be shared when there are meaningful changes to communicate. To support this process, each department will create a Policy Action Coversheet at the beginning of the drafting stage, which will then accompany the policy throughout its development. This coversheet is designed to help departments track progress, clarify actions and ensure smooth coordination as policies move forward.

Approved policy revisions

• Student Code of Conduct (Policy 2020): The policy was revised to include several updates. In section 4.O - Hazing (page 17), the definition of hazing was updated to clarify that student organizations also include those not officially recognized by the university, aligning with the Stop Campus Hazing Act. In section 7.C - Faculty Processes and Sanctions to Address Student Academic Misconduct (pages 36-37), the process language was rewritten to provide greater clarity, though the process itself remains unchanged. Finally, in section 10.D - Early Expungement of Alumni Records (page 52), new language was added to specify that an expunged record is not typically disclosed during a standard background check, while noting that a confidential record may still be retained by the university for internal reporting and compliance purposes.

• Faculty Sabbatical Leave (Policy 4400): The policy was revised to clarify the conditions under which faculty may pursue outside employment during sabbatical leave. The update addresses longstanding confusion about how conflict of interest rules apply in these situations and ensures alignment with related university and State Board of Education policies. Because practices differ across disciplines-some sabbatical projects include external compensation while others involve opportunities for unrelated full-time employment-the revision provides clearer guidance for both scenarios. This ensures consistency, supports faculty in competitive fields, and aligns university policy with common practices at peer institutions while referencing applicable policies on conflict of interest, supplemental pay, consulting, and faculty workload.
  
  Key changes include the addition of a new subsection, "Conditions Related to Grants, Awards, and Outside Employment," which distinguishes between employment related to a sabbatical project and employment not related to it. Employment tied to a sabbatical project must align with its stated purpose and be approved by the dean, with full-time outside employment requiring presidential approval. Compensation from external sources may be combined with university sabbatical pay but is capped at 110% of base salary (110% of university institutional base salary =/< 100% university institutional base salary + outside employment (10% of university compensation)). Employment not related to the sabbatical project may be approved for up to one day per week during the contract period and must comply with disclosure requirements under the university's conflict of interest policy. Faculty who fail to comply are subject to sanctions outlined in Policy 1110.

• Faculty Absences from Assigned Responsibilities (Policy 4420): This policy revision, the first since 1995, is being proposed to clarify expectations for faculty absences in light of modern teaching modalities such as online and hybrid instruction, and to resolve ongoing misunderstandings about allowable types and numbers of absences during the faculty contract period. The update aims to provide clearer guidelines and procedures for requesting and approving absences, align provisions with related university policies on various forms of leave, and support department chairs and supervisors in ensuring accountability. Key changes include expanded language to address online and hybrid teaching, updated references to related leave policies, clarification that 9-, 10-, and 11-month faculty cannot take vacation during their contract period, distinctions between formal leave types and shorter or emergency absences, defined procedures for absences due to personal or family emergencies or professional activities, and new approval requirements for extended absences. The revision also establishes clearer responsibilities for faculty to notify supervisors, provides provisions for adjunct faculty regarding salary continuation, and specifies consequences for unauthorized or excessive absences.

• Fees for Non-Traditional Academic Programs (Policy 6320): The revisions will align Policy 6320 with the University's Budget Modernization project. Most notably, the revised policy specifies that the academic college's share of revenue from nontraditional academic programs will now flow to accounts set up in the academic colleges. In addition, every program and its college must now identify their reserve fund account in the program's MOU and any terms for the program to contribute to the reserve fund (see sections 5.d. and 6.c.).

• Emergency Notification (Policy 12110): This policy was reviewed as part of the four-year review cycle and to ensure compliance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act, with general edits made throughout to improve clarity and readability. Substantive changes include updates to section 4.2, where the list of individuals authorized to assess and approve an Emergency Notification was revised, and the final paragraph was modified to allow the authorizer of an Emergency Notification to consult with the AVP for DPS rather than the University President or Vice President.

• Pedestrians & Bicycles, Skateboards, & Other Personal Conveyance Vehicles (Policy 12170) : This policy was reviewed under the four-year cycle, with general edits made for clarity and readability, and several substantive changes added. Section 3.3 clarifies that personal assistive mobility devices used by individuals with mobility impairments are not considered Personal Conveyance Vehicles. In section 4.1, parking garages were added to the list of prohibited riding areas, and a new "Directional Travel" provision requires riders to follow the designated lane direction. Section 7 adds requirements that University-approved scooters be parked in marked scooter corrals and personal scooters in official bicycle racks. Section 8 introduces rules requiring eBikes, eScooters, and other battery-powered vehicles to be charged only at designated outdoor stations, prohibiting charging inside buildings to reduce fire and electrical hazards. Finally, section 9.b specifies that riders may be held civilly or criminally liable for damage to university property.

Approved new policies

• Workers' Compensation (Policy 7670): This new policy provides employees and supervisors with the process required to report work-related injuries or illnesses and occupational exposures. The policy also defines who is considered a covered insured, which includes employees, work-study students, and volunteers. Finally, the policy outlines the processes for ensuring proper medical care if a covered insured is injured, lost time from work, timesheet coding, and returning to work.

Share This

• Share on Facebook
• Share on X
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share through Email