Communication, policy review topics of discussion for Staff Council

Two guests spoke to University of Colorado Staff Council members about communications and policy during the group’s Nov. 9 meeting on the University of Colorado Colorado Springs campus.

Tom Hutton, UCCS executive director of university communications and media relations, discussed how the campus disseminates information to faculty and staff and how the avenues of communication have changed over the years.

He said that while it is imperative to use a powerful device to spread important messages, it also is essential to know your audience and the format in which they prefer to gather messages.

Dan Montez, director of the Office of Policy and Efficiency for the university, discussed the process the university goes through to review and approve, as well as maintain, systemwide policies. The office also is currently conducting reviews of Board of Regents policies, some of which have not been reviewed since the 1940s.

He provided council members with an overview of the office’s website where people can track policies, provide feedback on policies up for review, or seek help in finding current or archived policies.

Although the office was founded in 2009, Montez said only a small percentage of university employees say they know about the workings of the office.

Visit the website at http://www.cu.edu/ope to find policies under review, a blog, drafts of policies that are being revised and individual campus policies.