Skip to content
UW Policy Directory

Introduction to Presidential Orders

Table of Contents

    d

1.  Explanation of Materials Published in this Resource

The resource known as the Presidential Orders contains two parts:

  • Executive Orders—This part contains numbered rulings or directives of the President.
  • Administrative Orders: Delegations of Authority—This part contains delegations of authority for specific positions based on subject matter, which may coordinate responsibility across the University’s organization or to a single individual.

Executive orders are reviewed by the Faculty Senate prior to adoption for any suggested revisions. Consultation between the President and the Faculty Senate on proposed revisions will usually follow to resolve any differences, but the decision of the President is final. Administrative orders do not require a review by the Faculty Senate (see Executive Order No. 3, “Executive Order and Administrative Order Procedure,” for more information).

2.  History of the Material Prior to Publication in this Resource

Prior to being published in the UW Policy Directory website beginning in December 2010, these policies were part of the University Handbook, located in Volumes 2, 3, or 4.

The University Handbook, published as a hard copy binder from 1969 until 1999, and as a standalone website from 1994 through January 2011, succeeded the University’s Faculty Handbook. The Faculty Handbook was an earlier, annual publication of policy and administrative information.

The revision history for each order in the Presidential Orders resource is located at the end of each order. Adoption and revision dates appearing without other source abbreviations have been adopted and/or revised by the President.

Additional source abbreviations identify the authority or means by which some of these orders have been adopted and revised in the past, including some specific historical references. Source abbreviations used in the Presidential Orders history of revisions are as follows:

AI—Administrative Information: An informational statement prepared by a relevant University office or official of the administration.

BR—Board of Regents: An action or ruling of the Board of Regents.

S-B #—Faculty Class B Legislative Action: Faculty Senate Class B legislative action with Presidential approval, normally effective without referendum, together with the number and date of the relevant Class B Bulletin.

S-C #—Faculty Class C Non-Legislative Action: Non-legislative Faculty Senate Class C actions become effective upon adoption by the Senate, together with the number and date of the relevant Class C Bulletin in which the action is announced.

RC—Rules Coordination: The University Policy & Rules Office publishes simple housekeeping amendments to the Presidential Orders that correct typographical errors; make address, name, or contact information changes; or clarify language without changing its effect. All housekeeping amendments to the Presidential Orders are first reviewed and approved by the President.

University Memorandum #—A series of numbered memoranda that were discontinued when the current executive order and administrative order series replaced these.

Other relevant information related to these chapters may also be cited below the history of revisions.

4.  Organization and Numbering System Used in this Resource

Executive and administrative orders are each issued a specific number. However, several executive orders pre-date the numbering of these orders and were listed as “unnumbered” executive orders in the former University Handbook. These orders have been provided with Roman numerals in the Presidential Orders. Missing numbers indicate discontinued orders.

5.  How to Cite Material in this Resource

  1. Cite executive orders as follows:
    Executive Order No. #
    For abbreviated text:
    EO No. #
    Example: Executive Order No. 8
  2. Cite administrative orders as follows:
    Administrative Order No. #
    For abbreviated text:
    AO No. #
    Example: AO No. 1
  3. Cite sections or subsections of an order as follows:
    Executive Order No. #, Section #
    Or:
    Administrative Order No. #, Section #.#
    Example: Administrative Order No. 1, Section 4.a
  4. If you are citing an order to those outside the University of Washington organization, add the words “University of Washington” or “UW” before the citation.
    Example: UW Executive Order No. 14
  5. If you wish to include the title of the order in the citation, include it after the order number.
    Example:  Administrative Order No. 2, “Civil Disorders”

6.  How to Add New or Revise or Remove Existing Material Located in this Resource

Orders contained in the Presidential Orders resource are matters for the UW President to initiate, revise, or repeal based on the delegations of authority from the UW Board of Regents or the President’s delegations. The University Policy & Rules Office works with the President in publishing approved orders in accordance with Executive Order No. 47. Contact the University Policy & Rules Office for more information.

May 22, 2017.