Changes are on the way that will soon make it easier for University of New Mexico faculty, staff, and students to access, understand, and share university policies in a new streamlined fashion.

The UNM Policy Office recently announced that the Regents’ Policy Manual (RPM) and the University Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual (UAPPM) will have a new home on PolicyStat, a modern, cloud-based platform designed with users in mind. The switch to a cloud-based platform is underway and will roll out on Monday, Aug. 4.

“Rest assured, the content of UNM’s policies isn’t changing—just the way users will find and interact with UNM’s various policies,” said University Policy Officer Sidney Mason-Coon. “Users will still be able to access policies from anywhere, at any time, with no login required unless you're an editor. Whether you're a faculty member referencing organizational policies, a staff member advising on compliance, or a student trying to understand your rights and responsibilities, this upgrade is built to improve the user experience.”

PolicyStat offers powerful, user-friendly features including intuitive search tools, an ADA-compliant and mobile-responsive design, and the ability to share direct links to full or partial policies. You’ll also find version control with redlines and archives, approval workflows, clear date fields showing when policies were approved or revised, anonymous access options, Single Sign-On (SSO) access and reporting tools for those who manage policies.

To support this transition, the Policy Office website is also getting a refresh. Users will notice a more streamlined design, easier navigation and access to policy resources and the new PolicyStat portal, including:

  • a simpler, modern design
  • user-friendly guides and templates
  • training materials
  • new RPM or UAPPM logo with each policy
  • updated date fields for clarity, including last approval date and last revision date
  • new URLs for all policies replacing old system links

Despite the link changes, users need not worry—existing policy links will automatically redirect for now, but the UNM Policy Office encourages departments and offices to begin reviewing and updating their websites and documents. A helpful URL Crosswalk tool is now available on the Policy Office website (under the Policy Resources tab) to map existing links to the new PolicyStat versions. It will be moved to the homepage with the launch of the new website. This tool will remain live for a full year, though it won’t include any policies published after Aug. 4.

To enable a smooth transition, training resources including quick reference guides and tutorials will be available with the new website rollout beginning Aug. 4. If you have questions, need help updating links, or just want to make sure your department is ready, reach out to the Policy Office at policy@unm.edu.

The UNM Policy Office changes are connected to the UNM 2040 Strategic Framework, the institution’s 20-year aspirational vision. The focus on UNM 2040 Goal 3: Inclusive Excellence, specifically related to the ADA compatibility and mobile-responsiveness of UNM’s existing systems. The accessibility to UNM’s policies is one of the cornerstones of the Policy Office. PolicyStat’s compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 means it includes several accessibility features that make it easier for all users — including those with disabilities — to access and navigate our policies.

Another driving factor was UNM 2040 Goal 4: Sustainability and the need to upgrade UNM’s systems. The UNM Policy Office has long needed a document management system to help maintain historical versions and important drafts of policies in both the UAPPM and RPM. The policy revision process is based on collaboration, and the existing practice of circulating multiple versions of draft policies for review and saving the enormous collection of documents in a local drive is simply no longer sustainable.

“I’m beyond excited about what this new platform means for UNM. It’s more than just a new system—it’s a much-needed modernization of how we present and manage our policies," added Mason-Coon. "Faculty, staff, students, and the general public will appreciate the new features and ease of access.

"And behind the scenes, we’re improving how policies are maintained with historical versioning and document management that will make updates more efficient and transparent for departments. This upgrade is a major step forward for accessibility, sustainability and ease of use across the university—and we’re grateful for everyone’s support in making the transition a smooth one.”

For more information, visit the UNM Policy Office website.