Changes to systemwide administrative policy statements took effect Jan. 1

The Office of Policy and Efficiency (OPE) has announced updates to several administrative policy statements from the Academic Affairs and Employee Services areas. The revisions took effect Jan. 1, 2026.

For more detailed information, go to https://www.cu.edu/ope/aps/latest-changes. For additional information on systemwide APSs, go to: http://www.cu.edu/ope.

Academic Affairs

1. 1019-Degree Program Review

Edits were made to ensure alignment with recently approved updates in Regent Policy 4.B: Academic Planning and Accountability, including the addition of periodic independent audits of campus degree review processes relative to APS 1019. Approved changes also clarify requirements for the systemwide annual degree program review report, including that goals and plans for degree programs must be approved by the dean, provost and chancellor.

2. 1038-New Degree Program Approval

Edits were made to ensure alignment with recently approved updates in Regent Policy 4.B: Academic Planning and Accountability, including the addition of periodic independent audits of campus degree review processes relative to APS 1038 requirements. There are also changes to the structure of the systemwide annual new degree report along with minor clarifying edits throughout the APS.

3. 1043-Independent Teaching, Independent Scholarly/Creative Work, and Academic Freedom (formerly, Independent Teaching and Scholarly/Creative Work)

Minor updates were made to the policy title and in the policy to clearly connect the focus of this APS to academic freedom. Also, reference to “independent” scholarly/creative work has been added for purposes of clarity.

Employee Services

1. 5001-Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action

Changes were made to comply with federal law.

2. 5009-Performance Evaluations for University Staff (formerly, Performance Ratings for University Staff)

Revisions to this policy remove the required rating scales and definitions and instead provide basic instructions and changes the requirement to the campus HR offices to maintain their own campus policy. 

3. 5013-Acting and Interim Appointments for University Staff Positions

Minor updates were made to comply with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act – by updating the temporary period from six months to nine months in section II.C.2.

4. 5023-Letters of Offer for University Staff

No revisions were proposed. The policy was reviewed as part of the periodic review schedule.

5. 5026-Alternate Work Arrangements for Classified Staff and University Staff

Minor modifications were made to add “alternate modality” which includes definitions of hybrid and remote work arrangements. 

6. 5050-Background Checks

Minor modifications were made to add definitions for two additional background checks – one for misconduct and the other for fingerprint checks. 

7. 5054-Hiring Retirees to Work in Staff or Faculty Positions

Minor modifications were made to change the outdated term “ORP” to “401(a)”; expand language on requirements around PERA retirees acting as Independent Contractors; remove specific process language for PERA 140-day retirees (as the university has to follow PERA’s rules that periodically change); and clarify work restrictions for tax-deferred early retirement incentive agreements.

8. 5056-University Employment Postings

Minor modifications were made to update the policy based on the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act by changing the interim basis from six months to nine months; and adding language around the compensation range within the posting. In addition, the nondiscrimination statement (II.B) was updated to be consistent with Article 9: Nondiscrimination of the laws of the regents.

9. 5062-Leave

While sections of APS5062-Leave have been reviewed and updated over the past few years, a full review of the full policy was due. As part of the full review, the following sections of the policy have been updated (the detailed changes can be found here):  

Section 1: Vacation Leave

Section 2: Sick Leave

Section 3: Administrative Leave

Section 4: Bereavement Leave

Section 5: Court and Jury Leave

Section 6: Furloughs

Section 8: Leave Sharing

Section 10: Military Leave

Section 11: Parental Leave

10. 5066-Employment and Non-Employment at the University

This new administrative policy statement (APS) outlines different employment roles and nonemployment roles within the University of Colorado. These definitions will assist in understanding the differences between roles as well as additional resources for each role.