Policies and procedures

This page lists official Clackamas Community College policies and procedures including Board of Education, instructional, student services, and departmental policies under the People and Culture Council Policy Committee. They are organized by categories of related topics.

Instructional and student services policies and procedures

Board of Education policies and procedures

Board policies are statements which set forth the purpose and prescribe in general terms the organization and program of the college. They create a framework within which the college president and college staff can discharge their assigned duties with positive direction. These policies are voted on by the CCC Board of Education.

View current Board of Education Policies and Procedures in the Clackamas Community College Online Policy Manual.

People and Culture Policy Committee policies and procedures

This information is part of the college’s shared governance process, with resources to help you review and provide feedback on Board of Education and some departmental policies and procedures, such as Human Resources and Communications.

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About the People and Culture Council Policy Committee

I. Introduction

The People & Culture Council, as a key component of the college’s shared governance structure, has opted to have working Committees including the Organizational Learning, Wellness, and Policy Committees.

This proposal is to help outline the purview, duties, and responsibilities of the People & Culture Council’s Policy Committee (hereinafter "the Committee"). The Committee will play a vital role in overseeing the creation, maintenance, and public access to employee policies at the college.

II. Committee Responsibilities

The Committee believes its primary responsibilities are encompassed below.

Policy Development and Review

Policy Format and Approval Process. o Develop and maintain a consistent and standardized format for all college policies.
Establish a clear and transparent process for the creation, review, and approval of all policies.
Determine a regular policy review cycle to ensure policies remain relevant, effective, and compliant.

Types of Policies

Human Resources Departmental/Administrative Policies and Procedures. Assist with the development and review of policies related to employee recruitment, hiring, compensation, benefits, performance evaluation, professional development, and employee relations.
Board of Education – Personnel Related Policies. Review and provide input on all Board of Education policies that directly impact staff or personnel including Title IX.
Communication Policies. Assist with the development and review of policies related to internal and external communication(s), including employee communications, public relations, social media, and crisis communication.
Policies Recommended by the Oversight Group. Assist with the development, review, and/or provide input on any policies recommended to be under the Committee's purview by the college's shared governance Oversight Group.

III. Areas of Responsibility Not Within Committee Scope

The Committee acknowledges that the following areas fall outside its primary purview.

Instructional Standards and Procedures (ISP) Policies. These policies are best addressed through the oversight of the Teaching and Learning Council.
Student Services Policies and Procedures (formerly ARC). The policies related to student access, retention, and completion are best addressed through the oversight of the Student Support and/or Teaching and Learning Councils.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Departmental/Administrative Policies. While DEI is crucial and the Committee plans to utilize the Cougar Pause equity framework took, the DEI committee has a policy Committee that are better suited to develop and oversee DEI-specific policies.
Departmental/Administrative/Operational Policies with Clear Links to Other Shared Governance Councils. Policies that primarily impact a specific department and have clear connections to other shared governance councils (e.g., Business Office policies may go to the Finance Council or the Operations Council) should be primarily developed and reviewed by those respective councils.
Human Resources Handbooks and Bargaining Agreements. The development and maintenance of these documents are typically the responsibility of the Human Resources Department and relevant labor unions.

IV. Conclusion

This proposal outlines the Committee's core responsibilities within the shared governance framework. By focusing on these key areas, the Committee can effectively contribute to the development and implementation of sound, equitable, and effective policies that support the college's mission and success.

Policy review process

Policy review and development process

The People & Culture Policy Committee helps guide the development and review of college policies within its purview. Whether it is reviewing an existing policy or creating a new one, the goal is to ensure college policies are relevant, aligned with college values, and shaped with input from the CCC community.

For policy review (existing policies)

When a policy is scheduled for review, the following steps take place:

1. Policy owner notification

The policy owner will be contacted by the Policy Committee.
They’ll have at least 30 days to review and provide feedback.
Using the Cougar Pause (CCC’s equitable decision-making framework) is strongly encouraged during this time.

2. Community notification

A notice will go out in CCC This Week (staff/faculty e-newsletter) and the Student Weekly.
It will include:

That the policy is being reviewed.
Where to read the current version.
A deadline for submitting feedback (typically within 3 weeks or less).

3. Feedback collection

Community members can send comments and suggestions via email to the Policy Committee.
The policy and feedback will be discussed at a People & Culture Council (P & C Council) meeting (which are open public meetings).
Additional public comments are welcome at the meeting.

4. Review and approval

The Committee will review all feedback and may refer it back to the policy owner with Committee recommendations.
The updated policy will go to the P & C Council for approval.
If approved, the policy is adopted—unless it’s a Board policy (see next step).

5. Board policy review (if needed)

If the policy falls under Board authority, it moves on to the Oversight Group and then to the Board of Education for final approval.

For new policies

Creating a new policy follows a similar but slightly different process:

It is the expectation of the Policy Committee that each policy will have an Administrative Regulation (procedure) that goes with it, prior to approval.

1. Drafting the policy

Before submitting a new policy, the author (or policy owner) is encouraged to use the Cougar Pause.
Once ready, the draft policy is sent to the Policy Committee via email.

2. Legal and Board review (if applicable)

If the proposed policy is intended for Board adoption, it’s sent to CCC’s legal partners (Oregon School Board Association (OSBA) and/or Oregon Community College Association (OCCA) Attorneys) for review.
Then, the Board Policy Committee (three members of the Board of Education) will look at the draft to ensure it fits with the college’s values, mission, and strategic direction.

3. Community notification

A notice will go out in CCC This Week and the Student Weekly.
It will include:

That a new policy is being considered.
Where to read the proposed policy.
A deadline for submitting feedback (typically within 3 weeks or less).

4. Feedback collection

Community members can send comments and suggestions via email to the Policy Committee.
The policy and feedback will be discussed at a People & Culture Council meeting (which are open public meetings).
Additional public comments are welcome at the meeting.

5. Review and approval

The Committee will review all feedback and may refer it back to the policy owner with Committee recommendations.
The updated policy will go to the P & C Council for approval.
If approved, the policy is adopted—unless it’s a Board policy (see next step).

6. Board policy review (if needed)