On July 1, 2015, the former State Board of Higher Education and Oregon University System were dissolved, and the Western Oregon University Board of Trustees assumed governing authority for the university. In preparation, the Board adopted core governance documents, including a Board Statement on the Delegation of Authority, which outlines the university’s policy framework and the role of the Policy Council.

The Policy Council represents major functional units and departments, along with faculty, staff, and student perspectives. It provides the final review step in policy development before a draft is submitted to the President for approval. Before a proposal reaches the Council, subject-matter experts, campus committees and work groups, shared-governance groups, and other stakeholders are expected to have been consulted.

As part of the governance transition, existing administrative rules, policies, and internal management directives of the former State Board and Oregon University System transferred to the new governing boards. Those provisions continue to apply to Western Oregon University unless and until the university repeals, amends, or replaces them. The links on this page provide access to policies that remain under review and to related institutional resources.

The Policy Library is the central location for current university policies and procedures. Use the button above to open it. If you have questions, please contact the Policy Council staff at policies@wou.edu.