With the election season in full swing, here are a few reminders for University employees about engagement in political activity. These provisions apply explicitly to the use of public resources (including the University’s name) in support of, or in opposition to, partisan political campaigns. They are not intended to limit discussion among faculty, administrators, and other State employees regarding political or campaign issues or candidates or to limit debates at which candidates have equal time. Anyone can support a candidate on any University property defined as a public forum by the University’s Free Speech, Public Assembly, Amplified Sound, Chalking, Posting, and Petitioning policy.
- No employee may engage in political activity during work time or using University resources. Political activity includes any action directed toward the success or failure of a candidate, political party, or partisan political group. This includes campaigning and/or taking an active part in managing a campaign. In general, employees may not use their position or University resources to secure support for, or to oppose, a candidate or issue in an election in which candidates for office or party nominations are involved. No employee may coerce, promise preferential treatment of, or threaten detrimental treatment of any member of the UNCG community – faculty, staff, or student – in relation to supporting or contributing to a political candidate, political committee, or political party.
- Community service leave may be used only for working inside a polling facility in a non-partisan, unpaid role, such as assisting voters with the voting process. If an employee is receiving any payment for such activities or is standing outside the polling facility to distribute candidate information, then vacation/bonus leave or available comp time must be used.
- Time spent voting may not be recorded as work time. Supervisors may allow employees to use available vacation/bonus leave or comp time for hours missed during the employee’s regular work schedule for voting purposes. Supervisors also may provide employees a flexible work schedule so that they can make up missed time due to voting within the same work week.
- Each member of the University community has the right to freely express their views on any subject, including advocacy for/against candidates for public office, so long as they are doing so in their individual capacity, consistent with the institutional neutrality requirements mandated by the legislature in G.S. 116-300 and by UNC System Policy.
- Due to potential conflicts of interest or time, all EHRA employees (Faculty and EHRA Non-Faculty) becoming candidates for or holding political offices must follow established policy regarding disclosures and approvals of political activity.
If you have questions, please contact Juan Pleitez at jcpleitez@uncg.edu.
