Board of Regents policy is the framework under which all Nevada System of Higher Education campus administrators must operate. All such administrators are responsible for implementation of and compliance with BOR policy, as expressed in the Board of Regents Handbook. University policies frequently express the university’s implementation of BOR policy.

The executive vice president and provost (EVP&P) as the chief academic officer of the university has delegated authority from the president for approval of general academic and other management policies that affect more than one college, school, office or division. The EVP&P may exert this authority through directives to deans or the faculty as a whole, and may also sub-delegate specific authority over a particular area of policy to the Faculty Senate, Academic Council, UPC, or other duly constituted body or to specific university office or personnel.

Academic policy refers to provisions which govern the granting of academic credit, degrees or other certifications of student achievement or to the recognition, evaluation, and certification of faculty achievement in instruction, research, clinical activity or service to the campus, community, academic discipline or professoriate.

At the campus level, the authority to make most academic policy is granted by the Board of Regents to the president and in turn delegated to the executive vice president and provost. The primary expression of academic policy pertaining to student credits and degrees is found in the academic catalog. The primary expression of academic policy pertaining to faculty credentials, achievements and advancement is in the university faculty handbook or, in the absence of a handbook or on issues on which the handbook is silent, in pertinent articles of the university and unit bylaws.

Administrative practices and procedures are developed, revised, and approved by respective divisional vice presidents and vice provosts. The UPC may, for the benefit of the university community, opt to include administrative practices and procedures in the online repository of university policy.

The policies, procedures and instructions issued by university officers or units to their specific staff members, students or clients as guidance on how to achieve a specific business purpose of that unit – and which do not have impact beyond that unit -- are delegated to, and enforced by, the relevant offices or units. These generally do not constitute university policy and do not necessarily require UPC review or direct presidential approval. Questions arising regarding such policies may be referred to the UPC to determine if the matter should become one of university policy.