Important Policy Information
Amaia Guerricabeitia was named the Policy Manager for the University as of March 2nd, 2026
Policy Primary Owner Initiative: In the coming months and year, Policy Owners will be receiving an email regarding policies they currently co-own with other departments. The goal is to have a Primary Owner selected to approve minor amendments, answer questions with the help of the Policy Manager and be the Primary contact for the policy.
Policy Action Cover Sheet Reminder: Each department will contact the Policy Office to create a Policy Action Coversheet at the beginning of the drafting stage, which will then accompany the policy throughout its development. This coversheet is designed to help departments track progress, clarify actions, and ensure smooth coordination as policies move forward.
Approved Policy Revisions
Co-Curricular Programs and Services (Policy 2120) – Suspended April 22, 2026
This policy has been suspended due to it being outdated and no longer accurately reflecting current practices. A comprehensive revision is needed to address necessary updates and ensure alignment with current standards before the policy is reinstated.
Student Complete Withdrawal from the University (Policy 3110) – Revised April 7, 2026
The revised policy updates the Right of Appeal section by establishing a five-year limit for submitting appeals following the end of a semester, after which appeals will not be considered. The revision also includes minor wording, punctuation, and formatting updates to improve consistency and clarity throughout the document.
Academic Grievance (Policy 3140) – Revised April 8, 2026
The revised policy enhances clarity and usability by more clearly defining the purpose, scope, and applicability of the grievance process, including what constitutes a grievance and the types of remedies available. Updates establish clearer boundaries by specifying in-scope and out-of-scope issues, requiring that grievances relate to a student’s academic standing and include actionable remedies, and introducing page limits for submissions. The revision also adds flexibility for extenuating circumstances, strengthens confidentiality procedures, clarifies representation when original decision-makers are unavailable, and extends applicability to staff. Additional accountability language allows concerns about conduct during the process to be addressed appropriately. To support understanding and consistent application, an FAQ document has been added to provide guidance.
Curriculum Change Procedures (Policy 4050) – Revised April 7, 2026
The revised policy, now titled Curriculum Change Procedures (with “minor” removed from the title), expands its scope to include program, emphasis, and title changes, as well as dual-listed courses, and clarifies requirements for submitting Letters of Notification or Notices of Intent to the State Board. It incorporates updated authority references to State Board of Education policy and University Policy 4040, and modernizes processes by requiring the use of the electronic Curriculum Management System (CMS) for all submissions, approvals, and communications. Additionally, the committee routing process is streamlined, including clarification of dean responsibilities and identification of changes that require only State Board notification, while overall language and organization have been updated for improved clarity.
NonReturnees – Faculty (Policy 4460) – Revised April 7, 2026
This policy’s revisions enhance clarity and consistency in procedures governing faculty non-renewal while aligning with Boise State University policies and Idaho State Board of Education guidelines. Updates include refined definitions for Limited-Duration Faculty Appointments and Tenure-Eligible Faculty to align with Policy 7000. The policy clarifies non-renewal processes and notification requirements across faculty types, including established written notice timelines based on years of service. It also addresses limited-duration appointments, noting that termination may occur due to loss of external funding and that offer letters often include non-renewal language in lieu of separate notice. Additionally, the revision confirms that non-renewal decisions are generally not appealable except to verify compliance with notice requirements, introduces a process for reviewing discrimination-related claims through the Office of Compliance and Ethics under Policy 1060, and requires written notice for faculty resignations and retirements.
Membership in Organizations (Policy 6190) – Revised April 24, 2026
This policy was reviewed as part of the standard four-year review cycle and updated to improve clarity and alignment with current practices. Substantive changes include the removal of the State of Idaho Executive Order 2003-06 from the “Additional Authority” section, consolidation of previously duplicative sections into a single “Approval Process” section, and clarification of the request process to identify Bronco Hub and Purchasing Card as the primary payment methods. Overall, the revisions modernize the policy while maintaining its core purpose and requirements.
Gifts, Awards, Prizes, Sponsorships, and Donations (Policy 6230) – Revised April 22, 2026
These policy revisions update the policy to ensure compliance with Idaho Code § 67-2360. Changes include a title update to incorporate donations and sponsorships, the addition of Idaho Code § 67-2360 to the “Additional Authority” section, and new definitions for donations and sponsorships in Section 3. The revision also introduces a new Section 8 outlining requirements, rules, and approval processes related to donations and sponsorships.
Position Definitions (Policy 7000) – Revised April 7, 2026
This policy was amended to improve operational efficiency in alignment with updates to Policy 4460, including the addition of a new definition. The revision also introduces guidance for limited-duration faculty positions funded by grants, contracts, special projects, or other short-term needs. These positions must be identified and designated prior to recruitment, may be eligible for university benefits from the outset, and are required to comply with eligibility requirements for the applicable retirement plan (PERSI or ORP).
Background Verifications (Policy 7005) – Revised March 25, 2026
This policy was reviewed as part of the standard four-year review cycle, resulting in several substantive updates to improve clarity and consistency. References to University Policy 7470 (Student Employment) and Policy 7000 (Position Definitions) were removed from the “Additional Authority” section. The standalone “Sensitive Positions or Sensitive Locations” section was eliminated and its content incorporated into Appendix A to reduce redundancy. Additionally, the structure of review sections was clarified, particularly regarding disqualifying criteria and background check assessment procedures. Overall, the revisions streamline the policy by removing outdated or duplicative content while preserving its original intent and processes.
Employee Records (Policy 7060) – Deleted April 22, 2026
The deletion of Policy 7060 has been completed as its relevant content has been incorporated into the revised Policy 7530. Key elements were reviewed and selectively integrated during the revision process to ensure continuity, reduce redundancy, and maintain alignment with current standards.
Employee Files (Policy 7530) – Revised April 22, 2026
This policy was reviewed as part of the standard four-year review cycle and revised to improve clarity and conciseness. Substantive updates include the removal of the “Benefits File” section, consolidation of related content to reduce redundancy, clearer identification of access permissions for different types of files, and incorporation of content from Policy 7060 (Employee Records), which will be deleted. Core definitions, including PII and SPII, were refined to better distinguish between information types and their use. Overall, the revision streamlines the policy by eliminating procedural and duplicative content while maintaining all key legal and operational requirements.
Gift Solicitation and Management (Policy 11010) – Revised March 25, 2026
This policy was revised to update organizational responsibilities and titles, including changing the responsible party from University Advancement to the Office of the President and updating references from the Vice President for University Advancement to the CEO of the University Foundation. Additionally, the policy was reviewed to assess the inclusion of language related to the Boise State University Research Foundation. It was determined that this content will be deferred for future consideration, allowing the current revisions to proceed while reserving updates on this topic until more information becomes available.
Protection of Minors in University and Third-Party Programs (Policy 12060) – Revised March 16, 2026
This policy was reviewed under the four-year review cycle, and several substantive updates were made while maintaining its purpose. The title was revised from Protection of Minors to Protection of Minors in University and Third-Party Programs to clarify that the policy applies specifically to programs and activities involving minors. Several definitions were updated or added, including aligning the Background Verification definition with the Background Verification policy, removing the Custody and Control definition and requirement, updating the definition of University Programs, and adding definitions for Third Party and Third-Party Program. Additional provisions were introduced to strengthen program oversight and safety requirements, including enhanced hiring screening for individuals working with minors, required liability waivers for University Program participants and volunteers, and the addition of administrative fees to support the Minors on Campus Program. New requirements were also added for Third-Party Programs, including the use of an approved Facility Use Agreement, submission of a Certificate of Insurance, and payment of an administrative fee. Finally, new sections were added addressing reasonable accommodations in accordance with the ADA and records retention, requiring departments to maintain program documents in compliance with University Policy 1020 (Public Records Management).
Approved New Policies
Course Information Policy (Policy 4095) – Adopted March 31, 2026
This course information policy establishes standardized requirements for syllabus content to ensure consistency across all courses and delivery formats. The addition of this policy is intended to provide all students with access to essential information, support accessibility and diverse learning needs, and clearly define expectations for both students and instructors to reduce confusion and promote academic success. The policy also supports institutional accountability by meeting accreditation standards and ensuring syllabi serve as official records for purposes such as course equivalency and grade appeals. Additionally, it standardizes practices for online and hybrid courses in alignment with recommendations from the Future of Online Programs Work Group, ensuring equitable support for all students. The policy remains consistent with faculty responsibilities outlined in University Policy 4000 and preserves faculty authority and academic freedom in course design, content, and instructional methods. Based on feedback from the University Policy Group and the President, internships and independent studies were ultimately included within the scope of these requirements rather than excluded.