Political activities and UNCSA university employment
UNCSA encourages all members of its community to engage in the fundamental individual
rights of free expression and participation in the political process. University employment
does not abridge those basic rights, but there are important limits on political activities
during employment and when using university resources.
The UNC System Office has provided a comprehensive explanation of those limits in its Reminders Regarding University Employment and Political Activities. I urge everyone to review the Reminders, UNCSA Free Expression and Political Activities Regulation 116, and UNC Board of Governors Policy 300.5.1, to ensure that your employment is not jeopardized, and the integrity of the institution is not eroded.
- No UNCSA employee may engage in political activity while on duty. You can discuss
politics, but you cannot:
- Campaign for or against a candidate, political party, or partisan political group.
- Coerce, threaten, or offer preferential treatment to an employee or applicant to support or contribute to a candidate or political party.
- No EHRA employee may promise or confer preferential treatment or threaten detrimental treatment to any person to induce support for or opposition to a candidate, political office, or partisan political group.
- No employee may use their position to secure support for, or to oppose, any candidate or issue in an election involving candidates for office or party nominations.
- No employee may imply to others that the political opinions they express are endorsed by the university.
- No individual or group may use state or university funds, services (including mail and email service), supplies (including letterhead and postage), equipment (including telephones, computers, photocopiers, and fax machines), vehicles, or other university property to secure support for, or to oppose, any person or issue in any election.
This last point is particularly important because it prohibits the use of UNCSA email to support or oppose any candidate or issue in an election.
Every member of the UNCSA community has the right to freely express their views on any subject, including advocacy for or against candidates for public office, or issues of the day, provided that the activity complies with law and policy.
Contact: David Lombard Harrisonns in new t
Jan. 22, 2024