Recently Updated Policies

Comprehensive review, Major Revision: adding participation in U Senate, Student Senate, and Regents meetings by student reps to the list of approved absences. Specifying when instructors can request verification for "single episode" medical absences adding two FAQs about single episode medical absences adding an FAQ about student government absences adding a definition of a "medical provider"

Major Revision, Comprehensive Review -
1. Expands on the prohibition on retaliation for the reporter to also include prohibiting retaliation for individuals participating in an investigation.
2. Includes new language on the expectations for standards of conduct.
3. Provides new language on reporting red flag indications of potential misconduct.
4. Requires employees to participate in investigations related to suspected misconduct.
5. Specifies that the information related to these reports and investigations are kept confidential to the extent provided by law.

Comprehensive Review, Minor Revision. 1) Rewrote introduction to clarify the goal of the policy and distinguish from unrelated policies, 2) Added Leave of Absence language, 3) Clarified language related to conditions that necessarily result in discontinuation from program, 3) Clarified language regarding grading requirements for preliminary examination, removing pass with reservations when recording the final result of the prelim exam, 4) moved language on voting requirements for the prelim from an appendix to the body of the policy. Changes in policy respond to need for greater clarity on policy intent on the part of affected constituencies and enhanced consistency in policy implementation across programs.  

Comprehensive Review, Minor Revision: 1) Rewrote the introduction to clarify the goal of the policy, 2) added statement to clarify that at least two members of the exam committee are intended to represent the student's major field, 3) added statement to clarify that thte committee membership must be approved at the collegiate level, 4) added clarification that the student must be notified in writing of required revisions to the thesis and the time line for completion of revisions, 5) added an FAQ to clariofy that a program may require a public presentation of the master's thesis work but that this presentation is not required by the U and is not considered part of the final oral examination, 6) clarified language to indicate that students have a choice whether or not to impose and embargo on publication of the thesis for a limited time period. Proposed changes in policy respond to need for greater clarity on policy intent on the part of affected constituencies and enhanced consistency in policy implementation across programs.  

Comprehensive Review, Minor Revision: 1. Revised the title of the policy to reflect its purpose more clearly.
2. Clarified the goal of this policy relative to other related policies and moved elements of the policy into related policies.
3. Simplified and organized the criteria with regards to the roles on each type of committee and the criteria to be eligible to serve in each role. Created an appendix table to summarize the policy.
4. Reviewed the roles of outside experts as advisors and chairs of graduate examination committees.
5. Discussed development of a policy with regards to reinstating a “Graduate Faculty” at the central level.

Comprehensive Review, Minor Revision. Clarifies language in the following areas: a. eligibility for University-administered graduate student fellowships and traineeships and the need for publication of the eligibility and selection criteria; b. when a student holding a University-administered fellowship or traineeship is eligible for resident tuition rates; and c. level of supplementation allowed when a student holds a University-administered fellowship or traineeship.

Comprehensive Review, Minor Revision. 1) Rewrote introduction to clarify the goal of the policy and distinguish from unrelated policies, 2) Added Leave of Absence language, 3) Clarified language related to conditions that necessarily result in discontinuation from program, 3) Clarified language regarding grading requirements for preliminary examination, removing pass with reservations when recording the final result of the prelim exam, 4) moved language on voting requirements for the prelim from an appendix to the body of the policy. Changes in policy respond to need for greater clarity on policy intent on the part of affected constituencies and enhanced consistency in policy implementation across programs.  

Comprehensive Review, Minor Revision.  1.  Clarifies the language specifying the role of colleges, programs, and central graduate admissions system in making admission decisions.  2. Specifies the standards for minimum English language proficiency for international applicants. 3. Clarifies the requirements for admission without a baccalaureate degree to specify access for all applicants, not just U of MN undergraduates, and associated completion timeline for outstanding requirements.  4. Specifies the responsibilities related to conditional admission programs, and clarifies “admitted on a trial basis” language.

Comprehensive Review, Minor Revision. 1. Documents appropriate reasons for a leave of absence. 2. Uses “discontinue” language rather than “inactive” language for accuracy about the process. 3. Clarifies language regarding semester/term including how terms are counted for leaves and discontinuation.

Comprehensive Review, Minor Revision.  1) Rewrote the introduction to clarify the goal of the policy, 2) moved language regarding composition of the final exam committee from Appointments to Graduate Examination Committees policy to this policy for consistency, 3) added language to clarify that the co-advisors must be thesis reviewers, 4) added language requiring the committee to notify the student in writing of any required revisions to the dissertation and a deadline for the completion of such revisions, 5) clarified language to indicate that students have a choice whether or not to impose and embargo on publication of the thesis for a limited time period, 6) removed language regarding reactivation in order to graduate. Changes in policy respond to need for greater clarity on policy intent on the part of affected constituencies and enhanced consistency in policy implementation across programs.  

Minor Revision: Added pre-paid debit card related procedure and forms.  Modified existing procedure and FAQ to include this payment option.

Comprehensive Review, Minor Revision. The External Sales policy and procedures are being revised to include software as a service as a type of external sale activity. This activity was not specified in a particular policy in the past, even though it was listed under exceptions. This exception is now removed; definitions have been added; and roles and responsibilities for the External Sales Office, Office for Technology Commercialization, and Office of Information Technology have been revised/added. New material in this revision includes:
1. External Sales Procedures 6 - Selling University Developed Software and Services - This is a new procedure that provides the procedures related to conducting this type of activity.
2. Appendix to Policy - Standard University Processes and Technology - This is a new appendix that outlines the standard processes/technology and related contacts for all external sales activity.
3. Appendix to Policy - Recovery of Project Costs for Commercialization - This is a new appendix that provides greater detail related to activity that begins as an External Sale and is later commercialized.

Comprehensive Review, Minor Revisions. 1. Revise policy statement section to better define the data security classifications and clarify roles/responsibilities. Data owner replaces data custodian in policy statement, procedures and appendices. Privacy Officers are now called compliance officers and are a type of data owner. 2. Update additional contacts, responsibilities, definitions, contacts and related information sections. 3.Add a frequently asked question related to research.4. Add a Related Laws and Regulations sub-section to Related Information. 5. Change the Identifying Security Level appendix to an administrative procedure. Revise to use examples to help identify the security level.

Comprehensive Review, Minor Revision: Clarification of who may report software, contacts updated.

Comprehensive Review, Minor Revision. 1. Clarifies language throughout the policy. 2. Updates senior leader, responsible University office, and Policy owner information.