About the SPG

Welcome to the University of Michigan Standard Practice Guide website. The Standard Practice Guide is the official repository for the institution-wide policies and procedures of the university, maintained to guide and direct the university community.  This website also contains detailed organization charts for the institution.

The policies on this website (also commonly referred to as Standard Practice Guides or SPGs) are approved by university leadership and apply to the entire institution.  Policies define and set a standard for organizational and individual conduct.  They also set expectations and requirements for the administrative operations, by providing a baseline for departments to follow when conducting the business of the university. Policies ensure a consistent understanding and approach to practices across the university.

Different types of policies can apply at different levels of the university. Individual campuses and units may also develop policies and procedures to suit their unique needs and operations, provided they remain consistent with SPG requirements. You should contact your local department to identify any unit-level policies that apply to your activities. See how the different levels of legal and policy requirements relate and interact.

The Standard Practice Guide applies to all employees and departments at the University of Michigan. Some policies, however, are more relevant to certain groups. A particular policy, for example, may only apply to faculty and not staff.  Exactly what policies apply to you depends on your individual university role and the specific activities associated with that role.

For more information, please see:

  • FAQs
  • University policies
  • Organizational charts
  • Overview of policy development and approval process

Questions? Contact [email protected].