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Normandale Community College Policies and Procedures

1.4 Policy on Policy

Related Minnesota State Board Policy: None

Related Minnesota State Board Procedure: None

Purpose: To provide a framework through which college policies are created, revised and approved and that policies are properly and timely conceived, drafted and vetted. To govern the operation of the College, consistent with the Board policies and System policies and procedures. Policy procedures are outlined in Procedure 1.4.1.

Part 1: Policies are statements of institutional positions on various topics. They meet criteria in one of the following categories:

  1. Supports the college's mission and values
  2. Ensures the institution's compliance with external mandates
  3. Assures efficient use of resources
  4. Reduces risks
  5. Promotes consistency by those acting for the institution

College policies impact the entire institution, and their applicability is not limited to a single institutional unit. They are developed to guide institutional decisions or actions.

Subpart A: Minnesota State policies are those approved by the Minnesota State Board of Trustees. Campus policies may be required by Minnesota State policies or may be developed to meet the specific needs of the campus. Campus policies may not be in conflict with Minnesota State policies.

Subpart B: Procedures are written statements of specific processes initiated to implement a policy. Procedures are subject to regular change to improve the manner in which a policy is administered. Procedures are not policies. Procedures are the methods for implementing policies.

Subpart C: Operating Instructions are instructions approved by the Policy Owner giving explicit direction, instructions or guidance on internal forms, processes, and other administrative or managerial matters, consistent with Normandale policy and procedure.

Part 2: Policy Action

The Cabinet acts on all policy matters.

  1. The Cabinet considers submitted policies as they are received. There are no established deadlines. Policies should be submitted using the standard college format.
  2. Administrative support for non-academic policy creation and revision is provided by the Office of the President.
  3. The Academic Affairs and Standards Council (AA&SC) reviews on all policy matters related to courses (new courses, changes to existing courses regarding course title, number, credits, prerequisites, catalog description, contact hours, goals, including course deletions) and other academic matters (college grading policies, degree credit waivers, additions, changes, and deletion of programs, certificates, or degrees and subcommittee charges).
  4. The Chair of AA&SC establishes deadlines for policy proposals submitted to the committee and provides a standard form and guidelines for submissions.
  5. Administrative support for the business of AA&SC is provided by the Office of Academic Affairs. Indexing of proposals, publication of committee agendas and a record of committee actions are the responsibility of Academic Affairs.

Part 3: Policy Approval, Revision, and Repeal

Subpart A: New policies, changes to existing policies approved by the AA&SC are subject to posting for all campus public comment, approval by the President and Cabinet before they are final.

Subpart B: Policy proposals regarding topics outside of AA&SC are subject to posting for all campus public comment, submitted to the appropriate campus committee and then reviewed by Faculty Shared Governance Council for recommendation to the President and Cabinet.

Subpart C: The Student Senate is the official representative of the students and shall be consulted regarding policies that have student impact.

Subpart D: Policy development is an inherently interactive process and there may be multiple feedback loops in the course of drafting and revising policies. All new or proposed revised activities will be posted and available for review by the campus community prior to their final approval by the President and Cabinet.

Subpart E: Communication and training relative to new or substantially revised policies will be the responsibility of Policy Owner.

Subpart F: Designated committees or Policy Owners are charged with regular review of existing policies, recommending the need for new policies, proposing the elimination of existing policies and developing related procedures. This review shall happen at least every four years.

Policy History:

Date of Adoption: 9/2012

Department / Owner: President’s Office

Date and Subject of Revisions:

11/16/2021 Added mention of related procedure in the purpose. Added Repeal to Part 4. Updated the review cycle language.

8/08/2019 Updated MnSCU to Minnesota State. Updated policy to include items (Policy Approval And Revision section) from old procedures that should have been included here.

Next Review Date: 2025