• Is what you’re considering consistent with the University's statement of mission, vision and values?
• Is what you're considering consistent with the University's institutional frameworks?
• Is what you’re considering consistent with the University’s strategic objectives? Are there any legal/regulatory considerations? Is what you’re proposing collective agreement compliant? What are the related policies/procedures? Conduct a comprehensive search. There are a lot of cross-references in policies and procedures. You may be proposing a change in one procedure that affects another one, even if it doesn’t seem like a related policy. (Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a cross-reference list, so thoroughness is important.)
• What other materials/history exist around this issue – briefing notes, written complaints, written inquiries, minutes, etc.? Gather and review these.
• Identify the current practice at the University, even if you’re revising a policy. It’s possible that the current practice is different from the existing policy. If that’s the case, what will need to change – your document or the current practice?
• Who’s impacted by this policy? Who’s expected to comply?
• What are the expected outcomes? What is that expectation of behavior?
• What are the foreseeable problems? (Try to imagine what will be stumbling blocks, the most difficult areas for compliance/acceptance.) What are the unforeseeable problems? You won’t be able to anticipate everything yourself. This is one of the purposes of consultation.
• What units, entities, groups, or individuals should be consulted during the drafting stage? Who should be consulted after producing the first draft?
• What are the practices at other universities, particularly Canadian universities? How can our policy/practices be better? Check if the policy aligns with relevant external standards, accreditation requirements, or industry best practices.
• How do our practices and standards compare to those set by the government?
• What are the risks?
• Does the Policy need a Privacy review?
• Are there ethical issues involved? Should the policy have an ethical review?
• When relevant, consider the environmental sustainability impact of the proposed policy, evaluating resource efficiency, waste reduction, carbon footprint considerations, and alignment with the University's broader sustainability goals.
• Is the language and format of the policy accessible to a diverse audience? Consider inclusivity and readability for all members of the University community.
• Consider building flexibility into the policy to allow for adaptation to changing circumstances or emerging issues.
• How will the effectiveness of the policy be monitored and evaluated over time? Establish mechanisms for feedback and assessment, as applicable.
•  Assess the financial implications of the policy. What resources and funding are required for implementation, and how will it be budgeted?
• What’s the schedule for implementation?
• Who needs to know about this policy once it’s approved? How will it be communicated to them? Is education/training needed?
• Does the policy necessitate an earlier review than the standard four-year cycle?

Should you have any questions about research and drafting, please contact the Policy Office at policy@mun.ca or (709) 864-2350.