201 - Policy on Policy Development

• Policy Number: 201
• Policy Title: Olympic College Policy on Policy Development
• Policy Owner: Project and Quality Management Office
• Date Approved: Feb. 23, 2026
• Date Revised: NA
• Date Reviewed: NA 

Scope 

This Policy applies to all college departments and all college policies. Intra-department policies that are purely administrative in nature are not in scope of this document; however, intra-department policies must use the same format. 

Purpose & Background 

The college’s mission and values are expressed in and supported by its policies. They inform our community and promote compliance with laws and regulations. Policy on Policy provides the process for policy creation, approval and management. Policy on Policy promotes consistency, efficiency, and transparency in college policy management 

Definitions 

• Policy: A statement of management philosophy and direction that changes infrequently and imposes requirements regarding the conduct of college affairs.
• Policy Owner: The Executive Team member responsible for drafting, developing, adopting, implementing, and overseeing enforcement of a policy.  
• Executive Team: All Vice Presidents, Chief Officers, and other Executive Positions included by the President
• Washington Administrative Code (WAC): Regulations of executive branch agencies are issued by authority of statutes. Like legislation and the Constitution, regulations are a source of primary law in Washington state. The WAC codifies the regulations and arranges them by subject or agency.  
• Governance System: Governance is a method of organized and collegial interaction in which Students, Staff, Faculty and Administrators (exempt) participate in thoughtful deliberation and the decision-making process, leading to referral and/or recommendations made to the College President, who represents the Administration of the College as an agent of the Board of Trustees. 

Policy  

Policy on Policy defines the requirements for developing, drafting, revising, repealing and approving college policies. All college policies must be developed, amended, approved, and published in accordance with the standards outlined in this Policy on Policies, and must be published on the college’s central “Policies” web page. College policies must be kept current, reviewed on a regular basis, and made available to all. 

1. Policy Format: All college policies will be created in the format provided in Appendix A.
2. Policy Review and Approval
   1. Policy Owner or Governance Council: Create draft policy, submit to workflow
   2. Governance Coordinating Council (GCC): Review and disseminate to appropriate sub-councils, reconcile changes or feedback, and forward final recommendation
   3. Operations: Forward to HR and Legal as needed
   4. PQMO: Review, assign number
   5. President: Approve*
   6. Board of Trustees: Approve**
   7. Communications: Post to Policy Web Page 

*The President may approve interim policies with an abbreviated workflow to meet urgent and critical needs of the College.

**If the policy requires authority that has not been delegated to the President by the Board of Trustees, the policy will be routed to the Board of Trustees for final approval.