Advocacy: Why Policy Matters

In our discussion about campus advocacy, campus advocates must first know that while university authorities may sometimes rule by a direct vote, the predominant way they rule is by policy. 

Policy Defined 

The GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English defines policy as "The method by which any institution is administered.” Method is a good synonym for policy. So in other words, policy is the established method, rule or practice that achieves the best results for the institution’s goals. This is what we mean by policy.  

In higher education, the predominate way authorities rule the institution is through policy, which is a defined, specific method of handling certain affairs. For example, the policy or method of approach to students’ right to free expression, or the policy or method of approach to motorized vehicles on campus sidewalks. Higher education governance’s use of policy is pervasive.  

To understand the higher education environment then, every advocate must understand the following:  

1) that Board of Regents governs UT System (including subordinate UT System universities), and  

2) it does so, primarily through policy.  

So, while the Board may have many executors who carry out its wishes (such as administrators and staff members), its method of approach, or its policy, is how it governs UT System. The Board of Regents governs UT System by policy. This is essential to realize.  

Now, in practical terms, the subject of campus regulation becomes immediately important because when an advocate does anything—when he walks to class, distributes literature, speaks in a student government forum—he then is subject to school policy. In other words, no matter where he is on school grounds, school policy always governs his behavior.  

Given policy’s pervasive influence, then it is imperative to learn the institution’s policy because of its immediate influence upon the campus advocate. For as soon as he enters the campus community, then he is subject to school policy.  

Therefore, campus policy is pervasive, and being such, it is critical that the advocate understand it given its influence on his advocacy operations.  

Every advocate must know and understand campus policy. It is the way UT System governs itself and its institutions.