University leadership approved a new policy, several policy revisions and deletions . Please contact Angie Zirschky or the responsible party listed in the policy with questions.
Approved New Policies
Graduate Faculty Appointments (Policy 4710) – This new policy guides the determination of faculty roles and responsibilities in graduate education and ensures the university is fulfilling its responsibilities to our graduate students and our accreditation standards. In addition, many full-time faculty at the university are making substantial contributions to graduate education but were previously not eligible to vote on graduate education policies and procedures based on current practice. This new policy expands the graduate faculty membership category with voting privileges afforded to all full-time faculty with graduate education responsibilities bringing our graduate programs’ practices into alignment with accreditation standards for reviewing graduate faculty.
Approved Policy Revisions
Student Email Communications (Policy 2280) – This policy was revised under Section 3.1.a. changing the language to read that all active students will be provided a University student email account. Under Section 3.b., the language was changed to read that student email addresses may be deactivated after a specific amount of time away from the university. Lastly, the language was revised under Section 4.c. requiring pre-approval by the Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management for any mass email communication to students that is not related to a specific course or program (see University Policy 8100 – Institutional Messaging).
Control of University Equipment and Materials (Policy 6270) – This policy was revised updating the responsible parties, procedures, and additional authority references. The policy revisions also include general language updates throughout to provide clarity and consistency with other university policies.
Classified Employees Layoff and Reemployment Preference (Policy 7420) – This policy had not been revised since 1995 and was rewritten to provide more clarity. The conditions, determination, notification, and reemployment preference rules for classified employee layoffs have not substantively changed, so the underlying tenets of the policy remain the same. However, the retention point calculations were changed in the Rules of the Division of Human Resources and Idaho Personnel Commission and were updated accordingly. In addition, the previous policy did not adequately address voluntary demotions in lieu of layoffs and the university’s obligation to provide re-employment preference, both of which are now outlined in the policy.
Classified Employees Disciplinary Action (Policy 7430) – This policy had not been revised since 1995 and was rewritten to provide more clarity. A policy statement was added, and the definitions section was updated. In addition, the reasons for disciplinary action under IDAPA 15.04.01-190 were updated to reflect language updates to the Rules of the Division of Human Resources and Idaho Personnel Commission, and the section on progressive discipline was removed from the policy (supervisors should consult with Human Resources on progressive discipline measures on a case-by-case basis). Lastly, under Section 7, language was added on suspensions without pay for felony charges to bring the policy into alignment with the Rules of the Division of Human Resources and Idaho Personnel Commission.
Classified Employees Due Process and Appeal Procedures (Policy 7450) – This policy had not been revised since 1997 and was rewritten to provide more clarity on the procedures. A policy statement was added, and the additional authority references were updated. The definitions section was also updated, and the language was adjusted throughout to note that classified employees are also afforded due process rights for involuntary transfers.
Solicitation (Policy 1160) – This policy was previously located under the Human Resources’ section of the policy manual (University Policy 7460) and had not been revised since 1995. The previous version of the policy only applied to solicitation of employees but was rewritten to cover both employees and students. As such, the policy was moved to the Governance/Legal section of the policy manual. This policy was rewritten to provide clarity on “real world” situations and restricts coercive solicitation via University mail, e-mail, social media, and telecommunications systems, and inside University structures with exceptions outlined such as de Minimis sales of charitable or youth-related causes by an employee to colleagues within their work group.
Compensation – Section 13.3 (Policy 7650) – This policy revision increases the amount of on-call time for classified employees to five (5) hours of on-call time for a shift consisting of five (5) consecutive weekday nights (Monday through Friday) and two (2) hours of on-call time for each full 24-hour weekend day or holiday shift. The previous policy version provided ½ hour for each full weeknight shift and one (1) hour for each full 24-hour weekend day or holiday shift.
Approved Policy Deletions
Retirement of Faculty and Staff (Policy 7160) – Policy deleted. The policy contained procedural information which is currently listed on Human Resource’s website.