The Policy Development Framework is the mechanism by which the Federation develops public policy positions on issues of importance to the HSS community. These policy positions help inform and support the Federation’s advocacy activities, including its federal budget priorities.
Is there a public policy issue facing Canada’s humanities and social sciences community that you believe requires attention? Read on to find out how to contribute.
Submit a policy proposal | Background | Federation policy cycle | Framework for developing policy positions | Member input and engagement
Submit a policy proposal
The Federation invites members to submit proposals for policy development.
Eligibility criteria and instructions to submit
Please note proposals must meet the following criteria:
1. The proponent must be a member organization in good standing (scholarly association member or institutional member).
Proposals must be submitted by a member of your organization's executive.
2. The policy issue is within the Federation’s mandate.
The Federation’s mandate comprises three key areas: to advance education and research in the humanities and social sciences; to disseminate ideas that are important to research and the public interest; and to convene and support a network of universities, colleges and scholarly associations.
3. The issue is within the Federation’s policy scope.
As a national organization, the Federation develops public policy positions on issues at a national or federal level that are significant to the humanities and social sciences community. Policy positions at a provincial, municipal, or institutional level are outside the Federation’s scope.
4. The proponent must complete a proposal form, which includes:
- Contact details (required)
- Summary of policy issue (required)
- Confirmation that issue meets above criteria (required)
- Impact of policy issue (required)
- What action has your organization taken, if any?
- How can the Federation contribute?
- Comments
Policy proposals are reviewed by Federation staff on an ongoing basis, with eligibility assessed against the Federation policy development selection criteria detailed above. Federation staff communicate eligibility with the proponent. If a proposal meets the selection criteria, it will move forward for assessment by the Policy and Programs Committee (and in cases where subject matter is relevant, by an additional Standing Committee). Committee recommendation is then presented to the Board of Directors for approval. If the Board approves a proposal, the Federation will prioritize the issue as part of its policy development process.
Policy recommendations are presented for Committee and Board assessment twice a year, in accordance with the spring and fall Board meetings. Proposals must be submitted by January 1 for consideration at the spring meeting, and by August 1 for consideration at the fall meeting.
If you have any questions about the proposal submission process, please contact policy@federationhss.ca.
Background
The Federation is the national voice and public policy advocate for Canada’s humanities and social sciences (HSS) community. As a membership-based organization of over 160 Canadian universities, colleges, and scholarly associations representing 91,000 researchers and graduate students, the Federation engages on issues of national and international significance to the humanities and social sciences.
The Policy Development Framework is the mechanism by which the Federation develops public policy positions on issues of importance to the HSS community. These policy positions help inform and support the Federation’s advocacy activities, including its federal budget priorities.
The objectives of this Framework are to:
- Ensure a systematic process for developing, implementing, and evaluating Federation policy positions and advocacy activities;
- Integrate member input and engagement opportunities at key stages of the Federation policy and advocacy cycle;
- Provide direction to the Federation’s advocacy efforts as issues emerge.
The Policy and Programs Committee is responsible for monitoring the operation of the Federation Policy Development Framework and providing recommendations to the Board on policy and advocacy priorities.
Federation policy cycle
The Federation Policy Development Framework encompasses steps 1 to 3 of the overall policy cycle:
Framework for developing policy positions
1. Issue Identification and Prioritization
- New and emerging issues identified and prioritized by Federation staff based on Board priorities, environmental scan, and input of HSS community and other stakeholders.
- Policy proposals submitted by member organizations (institutional members or scholarly associations) are reviewed and compiled by Federation staff.
2. Policy Assessment
- Based on priority issues identified by Federation staff and member-submitted proposals, Federation staff draft policy recommendations for assessment by the Policy and Programs Committee.
- Policy and Programs Committee reviews policy recommendations against Federation Policy Selection Criteria and makes recommendation to the Board. Policy recommendations may also be presented to an additional Standing Committee for review and recommendation to the Board, in cases where the subject matter is relevant. For instance, policy recommendations that directly concern issues of equity, diversity, inclusion and decolonization will be presented to the Standing Committee on EDID.
- Committee recommendation is presented to the Board for approval.
3. Policy Adoption
If Board approves new policy
- Federation staff add policy to Federation Policy Handbook following Board approval. Major revisions to the Handbook are presented to the Policy and Programs Committee as part of the Policy and Programs Inventory update.
- If submitted by a member, Federation staff communicate Board decision to policy proponent.
- Federation staff undertake further research and analysis, and consult with relevant stakeholders, Federation members, and/or subject matter experts.
If Boards rejects new policy
- If submitted by a member, Federation staff communicate Board decision to policy proponent.
- Rejected policy proposals can be revised and re-submitted for consideration (step 2) at subsequent Board meeting.
4. Policy selection criteria
- The issue is within the mandate of the Federation;
- The issue is within the Federation’s policy scope;
- The Federation has the capacity to adequately research and analyze the issue.
New policy positions must be approved by the Board of Directors and/or by members at the Annual Meeting.
Timelines for consideration
Policy recommendations are presented to the Federation Board and Policy and Programs Committee twice a year, in spring and fall:
1. Issue identification and prioritization
Deadline for consideration of all new and emerging issues identified by Federation staff and member proposals.
Spring Timeline: January 1 - two months prior to Board meeting
Fall Timeline: August 1 - two months prior to Board meeting
2. Policy assessment
Federation staff draft policy recommendations for assessment by Policy and Programs Committee.
Spring Timeline: January - February
Fall Timeline: August - September
Policy and Programs Committee (and in cases where subject matter is relevant, additional Standing Committee) reviews policy recommendations against Federation Policy Selection Criteria and makes recommendations to the Board.
Spring Timeline: February/March - Committee meeting
Fall Timeline: September/October - Committee meeting
Committee recommendation is presented to the Board for approval.
Spring Timeline: March Board meeting
Fall Timeline7: October Board meeting
3. Policy adoption
Federation staff add Board-approved policies to Federation Policy Handbook.
Spring Timeline and Fall Timeline: Following Board approval
Federation staff communicate Board decision to member policy proponents.
Spring Timeline and Fall Timeline: Following Board meeting
In exceptional cases, external factors may dictate a more time-sensitive Federation policy response and/or advocacy initiative. In these cases, a more compressed timeline for policy development may be pursued through email communication and/or additional meetings with the Policy and Programs Committee (and in cases where subject matter is relevant, with additional Standing Committee), for presentation of Committee recommendation at a June or December Board meeting.
Next Steps in Federation Policy Cycle
Once the Federation adopts a new policy, the next step is implementation:
5. Policy Implementation
Federation staff draft policy position statement to guide advocacy activities.
- Federation staff review any newly adopted policies in the process of developing recommendations for annual advocacy priorities.1
- Federation staff present policy positions in meetings with government officials, MPs, and stakeholders, and produce written reports and other materials.
6. Policy Monitoring and Evaluation
- Federation staff evaluate policy implementation, including through the collection of success metrics on policy and advocacy activities.
- Evaluations are presented for feedback as part of advocacy updates to the Policy and Programs Committee and in Federation Member Forums.
The Federation leverages member input and expertise in its policy and advocacy work through four key mechanisms:
Member proposals for policy development
- Member organizations (scholarly association members or institutional members) are invited to submit proposals for policy development consideration as part of the Issue Identification and Prioritization process (step 1).
- Federation staff review member policy proposals on an ongoing basis, assessing eligibility against the Federation Policy Selection Criteria. Federation staff communicate eligibility with the member proponent.
- If a proposal meets the criteria, it will move forward for presentation to the Policy and Programs Committee (step 2) and Board approval.
- Federation staff are in regular communication with member proponents at each step of the Federation Policy Cycle.
Member Forum
- Members are invited to participate in biannual Member Forums, where Federation staff provide updates on the Federation’s policy and advocacy work.
- Federation staff solicit input from members on any new and emerging issues and/or policy priorities (steps 1-3), as well as Federation advocacy activities and evaluation results (steps 4-5).
Member survey
- Members provide input on Federation policy and advocacy priorities through the annual Federation membership survey.
Ad hoc advisory/working groups
- The Federation convenes advisory/working groups on an ad hoc basis, inviting members to consult on specific policy issues or advocacy initiatives.
1 Each spring, Federation staff consult the Federation Policy Handbook in the development of annual advocacy priorities, including federal budget priorities. Federation staff present recommended advocacy priorities to the Policy and Programs Committee for review at the June Committee meeting. The Committee makes a recommendation, which is presented to the Board for approval.