The purpose of this procedure is to outline our responsibility when hosting elected officials or candidates for elected office on campus.
By Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs)
Recognized Student Organizations seeking to sponsor a political event on campus must do so in accordance with the policies and procedures established by Student Affairs for student organization-sponsored events in general.
- Approval and Notice. The sponsorship must be approved by the organization’s leadership and adviser (if applicable), Office of Student Leadership and Involvement, and the Office of Government and Community Relations must be notified prior to reserving campus facilities for the event.
- Use of University Resources. University facilities may be made available for such events in accordance with this and all other applicable University policies.
- Publicity. Promotional materials for the political event may not state or imply that the University endorses a political candidate or any position of the candidate.
- Costs and Expenses. The sponsoring RSO is responsible for all facility charges and ancillary service costs associated with the event, including but not limited to custodial, parking, equipment set-up and operation, and security. For information about permissible use of appropriations from the Student Activity Fee, please see the Student Fee Board Handbook.
- University Indicia (name, marks, logos, etc.) may be used to identify the location of such an event, but not in such a way as to suggest that the event is officially endorsed or sponsored by the University.
- The Chancellor’s Office must be notified if a candidate accepts an invitation from a student group. It then becomes the responsibility of the Chancellor’s Office to inform the University’s Office of Government and Community Relations and the office of the opposing candidate of this visit.
- Sponsors are strongly encouraged to review Policy AD92 Political Campaign Activities.
Faculty members may invite political candidates or elected officials to speak to classes if the speaker is chosen solely for reasons other than candidacy for public office.
By External, Non-University Individuals or Groups
If an elected official approaches the University to schedule a visit, the Chancellor’s Office should make every attempt to identify a sponsoring student organization to allow the University to maintain a neutral position.
- Approval and Use of University Resources. A candidate, campaign, political party, or other political organization may request to rent University facilities that otherwise are available for rent generally by external groups. Campus facilities may be made available for such events in accordance with applicable facilities use policies and any associated guidelines. For more information, please see University Policy AD02 Non-University Groups Using University Facilities.
- Publicity. Promotional material for the candidate or campaign event may not state or imply that the University endorses a political candidate or any position of a candidate. Requests for press conferences or similar events on campus, by or on behalf of political candidates or their campaigns, are subject to this policy.
- Costs and Expenses. The political candidate or political organization must pay the full facility use charge and otherwise comply with applicable facilities use policies. The political candidate or political organization must also pay all ancillary service costs associated with the event, including, but not limited to, security, custodial, parking, audio-visual equipment set-up and operation, and the like. All facility use charges and the estimated ancillary service costs must be paid in full.
- University Indicia (name, marks, logos, etc.) may be used to identify the location of such an event, but not in such a way as to suggest that the event is officially endorsed or sponsored by the University.
- Please reference AD50 Contact with State and Federal Officials and Official Requests From Government Officials in the planning of the event.
October 24, 2002
Revised January 5, 2004
Revised July 1, 2005
Revised January 17, 2007
Revised September 5, 2007
Revised July 28, 2015
January 27, 2025