Scope

This policy applies to all students, faculty and staff. It may also apply to visitors, as applicable.

Purpose

TAP 1 explains how the university defines a TAP. It also explains the purpose of a TAP, and provides procedures for proposing a new TAP and/or amending a current TAP.

I. Definitions

  1. University Policy:

    A University Policy is an official directive, approved by the President based on the recommendation of the Executive Officers (Vice Presidents), that has broad and direct application across all schools, departments, and other administrative units of the University. A University Policy has historically been known as a TAP, and will hereinafter be referred to as a TAP (collectively, the TAPs).

    TAPs impose binding obligations on students, faculty, staff and/or visitors as applicable.

    TAPs ensure:
    • promotion of mission-centered values and objectives
    • compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and/or
    • adoption of operational efficiencies and best practices.

      TAPs do not alter, amend or modify the employment relationship between an employee and the University. All University employees are "employees-at-will," except: faculty, employees covered under a collective bargaining agreement, and employees who have been given a contract that specifically sets forth that the employment is for a specified term. A letter of appointment setting forth an employee's annual salary is not an employment contract for a specified term, and it does not change or modify the at-will employment relationship.
  2. Department Procedures, Guidelines and Protocols:

    Departmental Policies, Procedures, Guidelines, and Protocols are statements of the standards and practices of an administrative unit of the University. These pertain to matters within the exclusive function of a specific administrative unit. A Departmental Policy, Procedure, Guideline, and/or Protocol may have broad impact across the University, but unlike a TAP, it is approved and managed at the departmental level.
  3. Order of Precedence:

    To the extent that there is any conflict or inconsistency between a TAP and a Departmental Policy, Procedure, Guideline, and/or Protocol, the TAP shall govern and control.

II. How to Propose a New TAP and/or Revisions to a currently Existing TAP

  1. Submission:

    Any member of the campus community may propose a new TAP and/or amendments to a current TAP. The first step to propose a new TAP or amendments to a TAP is to gain the approval of the appropriate Vice President.
    • A student may take such proposals to the Vice President for Student Life.
    • A member of faculty may take such proposals directly to the Provost or to the Faculty Senate President, who will take the proposal to the Provost on behalf of the faculty member.
    • A member of the staff may take such proposals directly to their Vice President.

After approval by the appropriate Vice President, the individual making the proposal must then submit a policy proposal, utilizing the TAPS template, to TAPs@duq.edu, where the proposal will be reviewed by the Duquesne University TAPs Committee.

The TAPs Committee is a standing committee of the University that reviews proposals to ensure that new or revised TAPs

      • follow an approved format and process, and
      • meet established standards for TAPS.

It will also assist in preparing the proposal for further review and consideration by the President and the Vice Presidents. In some cases where an individual is proposing a new TAP, the TAPs committee may determine that the proposed new TAP is not a TAP, but rather is a Departmental Procedure, Guideline and/or Protocol.

  1. Approval:

The President and Vice Presidents may seek the input of the Deans, the Faculty Senate and/or other members of the various constituencies in considering proposals.

The President and Vice Presidents, at their sole discretion, may elect to have a proposed policy or procedure referred to a committee before making a final recommendation to the President. The committee shall be composed of members of the University community. The committee is advisory to the President and the Vice Presidents.

The President has final authority in approving the TAPs and/or any amendments thereto.

III. TAP Communications

 

  1. Changes, Modifications, Suspensions, Reinterpretations, and/or Cancellations of a TAP:

    From time to time, Duquesne University, at its sole authority and in its sole discretion, may change, modify, suspend, interpret or cancel, in whole or part, any of the published TAPs. Such activity may supersede, modify or eliminate existing policies.

    Duquesne University will notify the University community of substantive changes to any TAP. Employees are also encouraged to review the TAPs regularly to keep up-to-date on any changes to existing policies.
  2. Supervisory Interpretation:

    Any written or oral statement by a university manager contrary to the TAPs is invalid and should not be relied upon by any employee.

IV. Related Information

TAP Template

V. Violations

Violations of this policy will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are subject to formal disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

VI. History

Date of most recent revision: May 2017.

VII. Ownership of the Policy

The responsible University body is the TAPs Committee.