The Policies and Procedures System (PPS) provides a system of internal communications for developing, distributing, retaining, and revising policies, procedures, and other official communications pertaining to administrative, managerial, and operational activities. It can be selectively adapted for use by all department and functional units as well as by the University as a whole. Included in PPS are the Policies and Procedures Manual, Faculty Handbook, Helmsman, and Furman Catalogues.

B. Organization

The contents of the Policies and Procedures Manual are organized in ten major sections as follows:

Major Sections

000 General Administration                                      500 Marketing and Public Relations

100 Academic Affairs                                               600 Intercollegiate Athletics

200 Student Services                                                700 Auxiliary Operations

300 Business Affairs                                                 800 Personnel

400 Development and Alumni Affairs                      900 Miscellaneous

C. Issuances and Pages in the Policies and Procedures Manual and Faculty Handbook

The term "issuance" refers to a separate entry (policy, procedure, announcement) with a specific PPS file number. Each page will identify originator, distribution, subject, file, date, and page. The issuances are filed in numerical sequence.

D. Definitions

1. A policy is a broad statement of general intent that tells what is permitted or expected.

2. A procedure is more specific instruction that tells how to do it.

E. Responsibilities

1. The policy on policies states that the person responsible for a department, program, activity, or function is responsible for seeing that appropriate policies and procedures are developed and revised as deemed necessary for the effective management of the area--provided that he or she shall not issue policies or procedures that contravene those issued by higher authority.

2. The originator is responsible for coordinating policies and procedures with key persons who are involved or affected prior to distribution insofar as practical.

F. Coordination and Control

Since the responsibility for policy guidance is delegated to the person responsible for the activity, it is desirable to minimize confusion through appropriate coordination and editorial control. At the university level this function will be performed by the Director of Planning and Institutional Research under the general supervision of the President. This responsibility will include checking the policy for format, consistency, conflict, overlap, and the assigning of file numbers. Policies, procedures, and instructions that pertain only to individual departments or functional units will be under the editorial control and coordination of the originating person.

G. Distribution

1. PPS Manual. The official version of the Policies and Procedures Manual  is online through Furman's Homepage.

2. Faculty Handbook. The official version of the Faculty Handbook  is online. Specially marked pages in the Policies and Procedures Manual indicate Faculty Handbook. One copy of the Faculty Handbook will be maintained in loose-leaf format in each academic department.

3. The Furman University Catalogues are part of the Policies and Procedures System. The purpose of the catalogues is to provide prospective students with a general description of Furman and enrolled students with the regulations and academic requirements of Furman.

4. The Helmsman  is part of the Policies and Procedures System.TheHelmsman   is the student handbook that describes students' rights, freedoms, and responsibilities, Furman traditions, services, housing, food services, and where to find help for various situations.