PG-20 Public Service by Members of the Faculty & Staff

THE UNIVERSITY'S PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY:

Effective democracy requires of every citizen personal participation in political life as a voter and also as a governmental consultant or official where his/her talents are sought in the public interest. Membership on the faculty or staff of the University carries with it additional responsibilities of citizenship which reflect (a) the educator's function as a source of informed objective counsel, and (b) the compact through which the University receives public funds for use in meeting society's educational needs. 

I. KINDS OF PUBLIC SERVICE:

• The kinds of public service defined are as follows:
• Public service of a professional character.
• Campaigning, elections, and endorsements at any (federal, state, or local) level.

I. Public Service of a Professional Character

A. Public Service of a Professional Character

By virtue of their comprehension of certain areas of human knowledge, University personnel may be asked to serve as:

1. Expert witnesses whose testimony is sought in establishing, clarifying or interpreting the facts in a matter of public interest.
2. Professional members of ad hoc task forces appointed by public officials to prepare factual reports on matters of public interest.
3. Professional consultants on matters of personal competence to governmental agencies or task forces.
4. Professional practitioners to provide skills and services in times of public need.

B.CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH PROFESSIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE MAY BE PERFORMED:

It is the policy of the University to do what it can, on request, to make its personnel available for public service of a professional character:

1. If the individual’s University duties can continue to be performed satisfactorily;
2. If the individual confines his/her testimony or counsel to matters within his/her professional competence needed by public officials in weighing the relative merits of alternate courses of action; and
3. If the individual’s remuneration beyond out-of-pocket expense does not infringe on regulations binding on the University.

C.NOTIFICATION TO UNIVERSITY ABOUT SUCH SERVICE:

All personnel requested by public officials to perform such services shall notify their respective Deans or supervisors of the nature and conditions of the assignment, remuneration expected (if any), and the effect the assignment will have on performance of the employee's duties at the University.

II. CAMPAIGNING, ELECTION, AND ENDORSEMENTS

University employees shall not use any University resources for campaigning, election or endorsement activities.

A. CAMPAIGNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE:

Under existing University policies, members of its faculty and staff may campaign for any public office (for themselves or others) outside normal working hours without modification of the terms and conditions of their University status. If the campaign could interfere with the performance of assigned University duties, the employee should consult with their supervisor who may also consult with senior administrative officers. If the campaign does interfere with the performance of assigned University duties, the individual must resign from his/her position with the University or petition for a leave of absence without salary.

 In such campaign activities, the individual’s relationship to the University is not to be exploited either directly or indirectly.

B.ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT TO PUBLIC OFFICE:

If elected or appointed, a member of the faculty or staff may accept a public office (e.g., membership on town councils, local school boards) that does not interfere with the individual’s performance of assigned University duties without modification of the terms and conditions of his/her University status.

If elected or appointed to an office that would interfere with the performance of assigned University duties, in any way deemed significant by officers of the University, the individual must resign from his/her position with the University or petition for leave of absence without salary.

C. ENDORSEMENT OF POLITICAL CANDIDATES OR CAUSES:

Effective democracy provides the right of every private citizen to endorse a specific political candidate or cause. However, such endorsement should not infer or reflect the support of the University for such political candidate or cause.

The University assumes no responsibility for the endorsement of a political candidate or cause by members of its faculty or staff.  Except for the limited purpose of identifying the University as the employer of the faculty or staff member making a political endorsement, the name of the University is not to be connected with such an endorsement in any way.  No endorsement shall be made on the official stationery of the University nor on stationery having the University address or a University telephone number nor any official University email or social media account.