Candidates on Campus*

• Campus Sponsored Events
• Forums and Debates
• Use of Campus Facilities and Resources
• Campaigning/Seeking Public Office
• Political Activity by UNF Employees
• Distributing Campaign Materials on Campus

Campus Sponsored Events: Candidate Appearances. If a candidate is invited in an individual capacity, there is no requirement to provide a comparable opportunity to other candidates. Any introduction should focus on the non-candidate reasons for the invitation; there is an IRS ruling which cautions against any mention of the candidacy. There should be no campaign literature or fundraising activities in connection with the event. A nonpartisan atmosphere must be maintained with no mention of an election/candidacy in the event publicity. If a candidate is invited in his/her capacity as a candidate, you must provide an equal opportunity to other candidates to appear at a comparable event within a comparable time frame. While the other candidates may decline invitation, documentation of the invitations should be kept. Any introduction should not indicate any support or opposition to the candidate. No campaign literature should be distributed and no fundraising should take place.




Forums and Debates. Debates should include all qualified candidates that have some realistic possibility of success (may exclude fringe candidates). Candidate forums need not include all candidates at the same time; there can be a series of individual “meet the candidate” events.
Questions should be posed in a neutral manner and cover a broad range of issues that would be within the candidate’s responsibilities, if elected.
*Information from NACUA Seminar, Elephants and Donkeys on Campus: Political Campaigns and College and Universities, by Jonathan R. Alger & Celia Roady.

Use of Campus Facilities and Resources
The University’s resources and facilities are for official and authorized use only and in furtherance of the University’s mission and organizational culture. Thus, University personnel should not misuse the University’s resources and/or facilities and should not permit others to inappropriately use these resources and/or facilities. The University understands the occasional use of certain resources (e.g. computer and telephone) for personal reasons; however, such personal use by University personnel should not result in expense to the University or interfere with the performance of required duties or the University’s mission. Moreover, it is expected that University personnel will not use any of the University’s resources and facilities for any illegal or unauthorized commercial activities, or in any manner which is inconsistent with the University’s mission. University personnel also should not allow or assist others in illegal or unauthorized commercial use of these resources.

UNF rents facilities to candidates and political organizations on the same terms that such facilities are made available to the public. UNF will not allow its facilities or resources to be used by or for the benefit of candidates without charge or on a preferential basis (no reduced charges or other special breaks).

Campaigning/Seeking Public Office
University personnel are strictly prohibited from taking an active part in a political campaign while on duty or within periods of time during which University personnel are expected to be performing services for which he or she receives compensation from the University. Further, University personnel are prohibited from using the authority of their University position to secure support for, or oppose any candidate, party, or issue in a partisan election or affect the results of such election. Similarly, University personnel are prohibited from using a promise of reward or threat to encourage or coerce any other University personnel to support or contribute to any political issue, candidate, or party.
University personnel who desire to seek public office while employed by the University are required to first notify and obtain approval from the President. Approval shall be based upon a determination by the President, in coordination with the appropriate supervisor, department head, and division vice president that such activity would not cause a prohibited conflict of interest or interfere with the individual’s University service. In situations where the individual holding or running for public office would present a conflict or interfere with the full discharge of his or her University duties, the President may require that the individual take a leave of absence or resign his or her employment from the University.
Notwithstanding the foregoing prohibitions, nothing in this provision shall be deemed to prohibit University personnel from expressing their own opinions on any candidate or issue or from participating in any political campaign during the individual’s off-duty hours.

Political Activity by UNF Employees
The political campaign prohibition is not intended to restrict free expression on political matters by public higher education leaders speaking as individuals. UNF employees should be clear that they are speaking as individuals, not on behalf of UNF. The use of one’s title should be used for identification only, and may require a disclaimer regarding the institution. UNF institutional marks, insignia, logos or seals should not be used in connection with personal political activity – UNF stationery should not be used for such purposes.  Use of UNF infrastructure for political campaign purposes is not allowed. This would include facilities, equipment, emails, telephones, faxes, copies, support services, etc. Faculty and employees should not use the email system to support or oppose candidates.

Distributing Campaign Materials on Campus
The distribution of printed material, defined as newspapers, handbills, leaflets, pamphlets, magazines, and printed paper(s) is permitted on campus only at reasonable times, places, and in reasonable manners consistent with the educational mission of the University, the uninterrupted orderly operation of University programs, classes, and studies, the safety of University students, faculty, and staff, and the protection of University property and the property of its students and personnel. Any individual, group or organization desiring to distribute printed material on the University campus may distribute under the following conditions:

• The individual, group or organization is subject to the Student Code of Conduct if a student or student group or organization.
• To avoid littering the campus, printed material may not be left in stacks unattended or placed on vehicles.
  
• There must be no interference with normal operations of the University, including classroom instruction and the free movement of traffic, or infringement on the rights of others’ office and living privacy.
  
• Distribution of printed material may not take place within University buildings and facilities except in those residence halls or other campus living areas only under the procedures approved by the governing bodies of those areas.

Unless the printed material is in fact sponsored by the University or one of its departments or organizations, any printed material which identifies the author and/or publisher as University personnel, or has subject matter, including photographs, which might imply to the reader that such publication is University or University personnel-sponsored, must contain the following statement prominently exhibited in the first three pages: “This publication is solely the expression of the author and/or publisher and it is not an official publication of the University of North Florida. Nor is it in any way intended to express any policies or opinions of the University of North Florida, or its personnel.”