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Background

In SACAP’s October 20, 2021 meeting, the committee voted to investigate removing he/she and
him/her language from University regulations in order to make the regulations more inclusive.
The committee found that there are over 50 university regulations that include gender-specific
pronouns such as “he”, “she”, “his”, “him”, and “her.” The inclusion of these gender-specific
pronouns is not aligned with the University’s core value of Diversity, which states that “the U
celebrates the rich diversity of people as well as creative and intellectual traditions by being
inclusive in every respect.” In addition, University Rule R1-001 Oversight and Development of
University Regulations states that “policy language should avoid gender-specific pronouns.”

Regulations With He/She or His/Her Language

The table below shows regulations that we have identified to date that include he/she or his/her
language.

Regulation

Policy Owner

Policy Officer

Academic Policies & Rules

6-015: The University Libraries
AVP Faculty and AVP Health Sciences
SVP Academic Affairs and SVP Health Sciences
6-100: Instruction and Evaluation
Sr. AVP for Undergraduate Studies
SVP Academic Affairs and SVP Health Sciences
6-010: Academic Freedom, Academic Grievances, Function, and Procedures of the Senate Committee on Academic Freedom and Faculty Rights
AVP Faculty and AVP Health Sciences
SVP Academic Affairs and SVP Health Sciences
6-201: Graduate Studies and Degrees, Master of Arts and Master of Sciences
Dean Graduate School
SVP Academic Affairs and SVP Health Sciences
6-206: Graduate Studies and Degrees, Master of Education
Dean Graduate School
SVP Academic Affairs and SVP Health Sciences
6-217: Graduate Studies and Degrees, Master of Statistics
Dean Graduate School
SVP Academic Affairs and SVP Health Sciences
6-219: Graduate Studies and Degrees, Juris Doctor
Dean College of Law
SVP Academic Affairs and SVP Health Sciences
6-304: University Promotion and Tenure Advisory Committee
AVP Faculty and AVP Health Sciences
SVP Academic Affairs and SVP Health Sciences
6-306: Academic Librarians
AVP Faculty and AVP Health Sciences
SVP Academic Affairs and SVP Health Sciences
6-307: Resignations
AVP Faculty and AVP Health Sciences
SVP Academic Affairs and SVP Health Sciences
6-308: Grievances
AVP for Faculty and AVP for Health Sciences
SVP Academic Affairs and SVP Health Sciences
6-313: Terminations and Program Discontinuance
AVP for Faculty and AVP for Health Sciences
SVP Academic Affairs and SVP Health Sciences
6-316: Code of Faculty Rights and Responsibilities
AVP for Faculty and AVP for Health Sciences
SVP Academic Affairs and SVP Health Sciences
6-319: Procedures for Initiating and Administering Joint Appointments to Faculty Positions
AVP for Faculty and AVP for Health Sciences
SVP Academic Affairs and SVP Health Sciences
6-400: Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities
Dean of Students
SVP Academic Affairs and SVP Health Sciences
6-403: Residency Determination for Tuition Purposes
VP for Student Affairs
SVP Academic Affairs and SVP Health Sciences
6-404: Undergraduate Admission
VP for Student Affairs
SVP Academic Affairs and SVP Health Sciences

Other Policies and Rules

1-004: Violence in the Workplace and Academic Environment
Director Public Safety
Vice President and General Counsel
Rule 1-006B: Individual Financial Conflict of Interest Non-Compliance
Conflict of Interest Officer
Vice President and General Counsel, Vice President for Research
3-003: Authorizations and Approvals Required for Financial Transactions
AVP Financial and Business Services
Chief Administrative Officer
3-020: Effort Reporting
Office of the Director of Research Management & Compliance
3-022: Garnishments
Not listed
Not listed
3-030: Travel Policy
Associated Director Travel Services
AVP Administrative Services
3-045: Equipment Inventory and Screening
Not listed
Not listed
3-100E: Restricted Purchases and Special Procurement
Director of Procurement
Not listed
Rule 3-300A: Tobacco Free Campus
Not listed
Not listed
Policy 3-110: Lease or Rental of Property for University Use
Director of Procurement
Vice President for Administrative Services
4-003B Digital Copyright Infringements, Protection, and Remedies
Deputy Chief Information Officer
Chief Information Officer
4-005: Use of Personal Telecommunication Services
Director Planning and Policy/UIT
Chief Information Officer
Rule 4-005A: Reimbursing Employee Mobile Communications Cost
Not listed
Not listed
5-105: Employment or Supervision of Immediate Family
Director of Employment Services
Chief Human Resource Officer
5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members
Director of Employee Relations
Chief Human Resource Officer
5-109: Staff Separations
Director of Employee Relations
Chief Human Resource Officer
5-110: Reduction in Force and Severance Pay
Director of Employee Relations
Chief Human Resource Officer
5-200C: Scope, Eligibility and Limitations for Leaves of Absence (Health-Related) – (UUHC Staff)
UUHC Director of Benefits
UUHC Chief Human Resource Officer
5-201A: Scope, Eligibility, and Limitations for leaves of absence university employees other than UUHC staff
Director of Benefits
Chief Human Resource Officer
5-204: Remunerative Consultation and Other Employment Activities
Director of Benefits
Chief Human Resource Officer
5-205: Code of Conduct for Staff
Director Employee Relations
Chief Human Resource Officer
5-209: Personal Change of Name
Director Employee Relations
Chief Human Resource Officer
3-004: Processing and Signing of Official Documents
AVP Financial Business Services
VP Administrative Services
5-113: Drug-Free Workplace
Director Employee Relations
VP Human Resources
5-113A: Drug Free Workplace Provisions
Not listed
Not listed
5-302A: Retirement Programs for University Employees (non-UUHC)
Director of Benefits
Chief Human Resource Officer
5-302B: Scope, Eligibility, and Limitations for Retirement Programs UUHC
UUHC Director of Benefits
SVP Health Sciences
5-303: University Insurance Programs
Director of Benefits
Chief Human Resource Officer
Rule 5-403A: Approval Requirements and Exceptions for Additional Compensation
Director Employee Relations
Chief Human Resource and SVP Health Sciences
5-404: Scope, Eligibility and Limitations for Workers Compensation Insurance
Not listed
Not listed
7-002: Patents and Inventions
Director of PIVOT Center
Vice President for Research
7-004: University Faculty ProfitMaking Corporations
VP for Research
VP for Research
7-006: Institutional Financial Conflicts of Interest for Research Involving Human Subject
Research Integrity Officer
VP for Research
7-012: Supplementation of Predoctoral Stipends
Not listed
Vice President for Research
9-001: Naming of University Facilities and Programs
Executive Director for Development Services
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
10-003: Field Trips Appendix
Risk and Insurance Manager

Action

In SACAP’s December 2, 2021 meeting, the committee agreed to bring a resolution to the
Academic Senate Executive committee for consideration for inclusion in the Consent Calendar
for the January Academic Senate Meeting, with a possible advancement for a Senate vote of
support. The Committee voted via email to advance the following resolution.

Resolution

WHEREAS, one of the University of Utah’s Core Value’s is Diversity, including that “the U
celebrates the rich diversity of people as well as creative and intellectual traditions by being
inclusive in every respect;”

WHEREAS, University regulations affect all members of the campus community;

WHEREAS, some University regulations include gender-specific pronouns, such as “he”, “she”,
“him” “his” and “her”;

WHERAS, Rule R1-001 Oversight and Development of University Regulations states that
“policy language should avoid gender-specific pronouns;” and

WHEREAS, the Senate Academic Policy Committee discussed the issue of gender-specific
pronouns in University regulations in the committee’s October 20, 2021 and December 2, 2021
meetings and recommends:
• replacing gender-specific pronouns with gender-neutral terms in academic policies; and
• suggesting that other policy owners replace gender-specific pronouns with gender-neutral
alternatives in their policies as well.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Academic Senate supports replacing gender-specific pronouns with gender-neutral alternatives in University regulations, with a goal of completion by the end of the Spring 2022 semester.