Maricopa Community Colleges

Maricopa Governance

Online Policy Manual

Glossary of Terms

Board Policies - principles set forth by the Governing Board to guide itself with regard to Board operations and to guide the Chancellor with regard to management of the District. There are four types of policies that the Board adopts: Outcomes, Chancellor Limitations, Board-Staff Relations and Governance Process.

Note: At the February 22, 2011 Board meeting, the Board adopted a revised set of Board policies. Some former Board policy language was moved to the Administrative Regulations section under a new heading called Board Resources (Section 6).

Board Policy Types

  • Outcomes: Policies that determine benefits that will occur for the Board's constituents. These are prioritized and reflected in the budget.
  • Chancellor Limitations: Policies that provide the prudent and ethical boundaries of acceptable Chancellor acts, practices, and circumstances.
  • Board-Staff Relations: Policies that describe the Board's relationship and accountability linkage (generally through the Chancellor).
  • Governance Process: Policies that clarify the Board's own job and rules, including how it plans to connect with others.

Administrative Regulation - a rule adopted by the Chancellor for managing the District.

Guidelines and Procedures - the means by which an Administrative Regulation is carried out.

Practice - a repeated or customary action. A practice is usually established in the absence of an adopted Administrative Regulation or procedure.