What to Expect During a Triennial Policy Review

If you own a University policy, you may already know that institutional policies are reviewed at least every three years. But what does that process actually look like, and what’s expected of you?

Here’s a closer look at what the triennial review involves and how the Policy Office can help.

What Is the Triennial Review?

The triennial review is a comprehensive look at an existing policy and all of its associated documents, including procedures, forms, FAQs, and appendices. The goal is to make sure the policy still serves its intended purpose and continues to meet the needs of the campus community.

During the review, policy owners consider questions like:

• Is this policy still needed, or should it be combined with another policy or retired?
• Is the policy achieving its original purpose and goals?
• Are changes needed to improve effectiveness or clarity?
• Is appropriate education, monitoring, and ongoing review happening?

How the Process Works

UND’s policy software automatically identifies policies due for review and sends the owner an email 90 days before the deadline.

The nature of your revisions determines the approval pathway. Minor or conforming changes (grammar, broken links, updates required by law) are approved directly by the Policy Office. Substantial changes – those that materially alter scope or requirements – go through the full development process. If you’re unsure which path applies, the Policy Office can help you determine that early.

It’s a Partnership

The review is the policy owner’s responsibility, but you don’t navigate it alone. The Policy Office serves as a resource throughout including assistance with benchmarking against peer institutions, which is an expected part of every triennial review.

When proposed changes are significant, the process also engages the Policy Advisory Group (PAG), the campus community, and the Executive Council.

Not Just for Institutional Policies

You don’t have to own an institutional policy to benefit from these tools and resources. Colleges, departments, and units with their own policies are encouraged to use the same review framework and to add those policies to the UND policy library. Centralizing policies in one place makes them easier to find, maintain, and keep current. If you’re interested in getting your department or unit policies into the policy library, the Policy Office can help.

Where to Start

Ready to begin your review? Visit the comprehensive review process page to learn more and access those tools.

If you have questions along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Policy Office. We’re here to support you through the process.