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What We Do

The Academic Affairs Policy Office (AAPO) manages and ensures the integrity of all policies and regulations for which the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs is a policy officer and makes sure these policies are compliant with state law and Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) policies.

The AAPO provides the following resources for Academic Affairs policy owners, as well as for anyone on campus who may have questions regarding Academic Affairs regulations:

  1. A broad understanding of the University Regulations Library, with a particular focus on how Academic Affairs regulations intersect with other policies and regulations.
  2. Collaboration with the University Regulations Office.
  3. General consultation regarding Academic Affairs regulations.
  4. Drafting and revision support, which includes:
    1. putting Academic Affairs regulations on template;
    2. ensuring contradictions are eliminated or do not emerge within Academic Affairs regulations and the entire University Regulations Library;
    3. participating in the writing and revision process; and
    4. strategizing and problem-solving regarding Academic Affairs policies under revision or development.
  5. Collaboration with other Academic Affairs policy owners to brainstorm ideas and provide feedback.

Our Mission

The Academic Affairs Policy Office (AAPO) supports Academic Affairs Policy Owners with the development, proposal, and approval of academic regulations through:

  • partnering closely with policy owners through brainstorming, frequent feedback, and consultation processes;
  • engaging stakeholders with multiple viewpoints which strengthen regulation outcomes;
  • streamlining regulation development, consultation, and review processes to promote communication and reduce administrative burden; and
  • maintaining clear communication and accessible documentation that foster transparency and trust.

The AAPO values feedback and will strive to continually improve services provided for the benefit of all Academic Affairs Policy Owners. We value the relationships with and the shared goals of the Policy Owners and Policy Officers as we strive to continually improve the policy process in the Academic Affairs area.

Our Process

If a regulation needs to be revised or created, reach out to our office to start the process. Consulting with the Executive Vice President on the proposed updates is recommended.

  • Executive Vice President Consultation: Discussion with the Executive Vice President regarding goals and intent of your regulation project is an important first step.
  • Start the Process: When you're ready to revise or create your regulation, reach out to our team to strategize, including plans for drafting and a timeline for completion. We will also notify the University Regulations Office of your regulation proposal.
  • Collaborate with the Academic Affairs Policy Group (AAPG) and Other Stakeholders: Policy owners in the AAPG will collaborate and give feedback on each other's regulations. This group is a great resource to get a variety of perspectives related to their areas of responsibility. Once the proposed regulation reaches a point where it is ready for stakeholder feedback and approval, the AAPO will review it and consult on the polished draft before it can move forward through the approval process.
  • Ready for Formal Approval: In collaboration with the University Regulations Office, the proposal is ready to go forward for the formal approval process (i.e., Academic Senate, Board of Trustees, etc.).