With November elections just under two months away, university faculty, staff and students are encouraged to be informed citizens about the candidates and ballot questions.
As a part of this process, faculty, staff and students may engage themselves, as private citizens, in political activity, including supporting or opposing candidates or ballot questions.
While the university supports the rights of faculty and staff members to be active in political affairs, there are a few points to remember if taking an active role in politics this fall. The political activity policy is designed to comply with state law, specifically the Michigan Campaign Finance Act, which regulates political activities of public bodies such as state universities and employees.
Faculty, staff members and students may engage themselves, as private citizens, in political activities on their own time. Use of university resources for political activity or to support or oppose candidates for office is prohibited, including university funds, facilities (excluding speech in open forum areas) and university equipment including office or cell phones, computers, printers, copiers or fax machines.
Using university-provided email addresses is prohibited, as is use of university trademarks, logos, letterhead and university titles.
Faculty, staff members and students may support or oppose candidates by wearing buttons, and may remind others to register to vote, and to cast a ballot on Election Day. Classroom discussion of candidates and ballot questions must be related to course content as described in the catalog and syllabus.
The political activity policy applies for university employees charging time to a federal grant.
To read the entire policy, visit www.gvsu.edu/gvmanual/grand-valley-manual-policy-index-a-z-3.htm and click on Political Activity Policy.
To review additional information about the Michigan Campaign Finance Act and frequently asked questions, visit the spotlight section of the University Counsel Office website at gvsu.edu/uco.
