Dear students, staff and faculty,
As we head into the presidential election cycle and a March 2020 primary, we remind our campus community of the University's policy on political activities. We anticipate that a number of departments, student organizations and individuals will be contacted by campaigns or other third-party entities who work on behalf of candidates seeking a platform to reach college students. As faculty and staff of the University, you are encouraged to engage in political activity for those candidates and causes you believe in during non-working hours only.
UC policy prohibits the use of university resources, staffing or funding for activities that might reasonably be viewed as partisan or political in nature. Examples of university resources that may not be used include, but are not limited to, the use of:
- Facilities without payment in advance for associated fees including room rental, security, janitorial, AV, etc.
- University telephones or email
- Letterhead or other university-printed materials
- University-linked social media and/or websites
Student organizations may sponsor political events as long as university resources are not used and the event comports with the university's major events policy. University institutes, centers, colleges and departments cannot sponsor such events. Improper use of university resources may result in disciplinary actions.
Additionally, it is not permissible to use one's university title in printed materials in support of a candidate or ballot initiative. UC has developed guidelines that are intended to assist in drawing the difficult distinction between legitimate informational activities and unlawful campaign activities.
Here is additional guidance from the UCOP Office of General Counsel. If you have questions, or are not sure about restrictions on political activities within the workplace, please contact the Office of Government and Community Relations at (510)642-7860 or gcr@berkeley.edu or the Office of Legal Affairs (510)642-7791.
David Robinson
Chief Campus Counsel
Christine Treadway
Assistant Chancellor, Government and Community Relations
This message was sent to all UC Berkeley students, staff and faculty.
If you are a manager who supervises UC Berkeley employees without email access, please circulate this information to all.
