Q:  How do I find a policy or procedure in the library?

A:  There are many ways to search for a particular policy or procedure in the library.  You can search by title, keyword, or unit by clicking on links located in the left navigation bar or on the icons in the center of the page.  You can also do a full text search from links in those same locations.  Documents are also grouped by categories under “Quick Find by Group.”  For instance, if you know you are looking for a human resources policy, you can click “Human Resources” under the Quick Find by Group section and begin your search from there.

Q: What if I don't know the name of the policy and can't find what I'm looking for by using the "Find by" search options?

A: Try using the Full Text Search option located on the home page. You can customize your search by using specific words you think might be included in either the document title or document body. You can further refine your search by using the Additional Filters that allow you to specify things like audience and document type.

Q: Are documents listed in the What's New box new policies?

A: Not necessarily. The What's New box on the homepage lists documents with updated Effective Dates.   Whenever a unit publishes a new or revised document, it is automatically placed in the What's New  section for 6 months.

Q:  Is there a way for me to find out about new or revised policies without having to check the P&P Library?

A:  Yes.  You can subscribe to an RSS feed that will send  you an email whenever a document is added to the What's New box.  To subscribe, click on the words “What’s New?” A small orange box  appears at the bottom of the box on the right.  Click on this icon and follow the instructions to subscribe to the feed.

Q: What is the difference between the Effective Date and the Original Publication Date?

A: The Original Publication Date is the date that the document was first published. The Effective Date is the date that the current document went into effect. For example, Policy X was originally published on January 1, 1989. It was revised January 1, 2000. The latter date is the Effective Date of publication for the current policy.

Q: What is the difference between Responsible Party and Administrative Category?

A: The Responsible Party is the person,unit or department that is responsible for the direct implementation of the policy. The Responsible Party falls under a larger Administrative Category. For example, The Conflict of Interest Review Board (CIRB) is the Responsible Party for its policies. CIRB  is part of the Research Administration Category.

Q: What are the Resources listed in the left navigation bar?

A:  These are links to current PDFs of university handbooks, such as the Faculty Handbook.  These are provided so that users may print or reference an entire handbook rather than searching for a specific term.

Q: What is Secured Content in the left navigation bar?

A:  This includes documents internal to the UAB community.  You may access secured content by signing in with a BlazerID and password.

Q:  How can I print a document?

A:  You can print directly from the screen by clicking File>Print from your tool bar.  Since all text in the P&P library is formatted in HTML, you can also copy and paste into another document to print.

Q:  How do I contact the owner of a policy?

A:  Click Contact Information in the left navigation bar.  You will be directed to a list of contact information for units with documents in the P&P Library.

Q: How do I find out more about a particular policy?

A: One way to learn more about a particular policy is to do a full text search or keyword search using significant terms used in that policy.  This will help you find related documents that could provide clarification.  If you have questions about particular policies, you can call or email the contact listed for that policy (listed in the upper right corner next to the name of the policy).  General questions may be sent to policies@uab.edu.

Q: Does the UAB Policies and Procedures Library also contain forms?

A: Currently, the UAB Policies and Procedures Library does not contain forms.

Q: What if I want to give feedback about the site?

A: We appreciate your feedback. Please send all questions or comments to policies@uab.edu or click on Contact  Us at the bottom of the screen to access that email address.