Hi Rachel, The University of Washington appears to be an outlier in the numbering issue. I currently use 6 different numbering systems for our rules, policies, orders, codes, and other materials. And, that's down from a few I've consolidated over the years. But, unlike your college, some of these policy systems have been in place since the 1950s and earlier.
But what I've found is some people like the numbers and use them as short hand for their limited scope of policy, rule, order, or whatever. Other folks pay no attention to the numbering and use the UW Policy Directory's search engine that brings up the relevant information no matter what it's titled or numbered. I find that each numbering system has its pros and cons. However, reusing numbers only after a dormant period is critical when using a numbering system. So, if "Chapter 4," "Order No. 4," or "Policy 16.4" etc. is repealed or rescinded (and we use each of those descriptions depending on what's being recalled :)) that number is not reissued for a new policy/topic for some number of years. We have a dormant period of 10 years for some materials; 5 years for others. So, your numbering system needs to be flexible in that way. If you're looking at using any numbering system in particular - let me know - I've probably been there. My best, Rebecca Rebecca Goodwin Deardorff Director of Rules Coordination Office of the President Box 351210 Seattle, WA 98195 206-543-9219 www.washington.edu/rules [http://www.washington.edu/marketing/e-communications/wsignature.gif] From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Rachel Grace King Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2015 6:02 AM To: Association of College and University Policy Administrators Subject: [acupa-l] Policy Numbering System Good Morning, I am in the beginning stages of working on a policy library for my college. Currently, we don't have a specific numbering system for our policies and I wanted to get that down first before trying to incorporate them into a library. There are so many varieties on policy numbering systems, so I would like to know if you could share your thoughts on yours, specifically the following: 1. What numbering system do you use for your policies? 2. Why do you feel it was best for your policies? (do you have several policies under one main topic, etc.) 3. Have you found that it's easy or difficult to add new items to your policy numbering system (example, a new volume, chapter, etc.) with your current numbering system. I'm concerned about incorporating a new numbering system at the same time we are reformatting our policies because they may move from the current chapters they are in. I appreciate your thoughts and time on this. Thanks, Rachel _______________________________ Rachel King, M.A. Policies and Procedures Manager Adjunct Instructor, Office Systems Technology Wake Technical Community College 9101 Fayetteville Road Raleigh, NC 27603 (919) 866-5603 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> _______________________________ Email correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records law and may be disclosed to third parties by an authorized state official (NCGS. ch. 132). Student educational records are subject to FERPA. ATTN: Please be aware that when you respond to an ACUPA-L e-mail, the reply will be distributed to the ENTIRE list of members. If you do NOT want to send an e-mail to everyone, please reply directly to the individual who initiated the query (their e-mail address appears in the "From" line of their original e-mail). If you wish to remove yourself from the ACUPA e-mail list, please go to the following website and complete the form. We will remove you from the list within 24 hours, during normal business hours. http://www.acupa.org/MembershipForm_Discontinue.html If you have questions about the ACUPA e-list, please contact Jamie Parris at [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]?subject=ACUPA%20e-list%20assistance> or 607-255-6837.
