Human Resources Policy Review

To ensure more frequent HR policy review and updating, the Office of Human Resources (OHR) will begin a streamlined policy review/revision program. Regular policy review and revision is critical not only for compliance purposes, but also operational management throughout the University’s divisions and departments. Outdated policies can leave the University at risk in terms of alignment with applicable laws, regulations, and USM policies, in addition to posing challenges related to maintenance of current University practices and protocols.  

Frequently Asked Questions

The review process will include substantive evaluation by the OHR followed by submission to the Office of General Counsel (OGC) pursuant to University Policy 06-10.00 (University Policies and Procedures).  

Comprehensiveness of review will be based on the amount of time since the last update and relative need for revision. Policies will be reviewed in one of three ways:

  • Non-substantive changes: expedited review and submission for approval;
  • Moderate substantive changes: an internal OHR workgroup will be convened for cross-functional analysis/comment; typically chaired by a subject matter expert within OHR;
  • Significant substantive changes: OHR may convene an external workgroup consisting of interdepartmental stakeholders across campus. 

Following OHR review, edited policies will move through the regular review cycle via OGC, for presentation to the President’s Cabinet for final approval as well as review by the University’s shared governance bodies.

OHR is committing to reviewing/revising all HR policies in increments of three (3) years. Policies will generally proceed through the review process in chronological order, unless there is an intervening change to applicable law, USM policy, or a critical need necessitating earlier updating.  

Please contact Donna Yeagle, HR Policy Analyst & ADA Coordinator, at (410) 704-6018 or .

HR policies can be found in the policy repository.