Political Activities (III.B.4)

Volume III: Ethics
Chapter B: Conflicts
Responsible Executive: President
Responsible Office: Office of the Vice President for Ethics and Compliance
Date Issued: January 29, 2015
Date Last Revised: N/A

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contacts
Statement of Policy
Reason for This Policy
Individuals and Entities Affected by This Policy
Exclusions
Responsibilities
Definitions (defined terms are capitalized throughout the document)
Related Documents, Forms and Tools
Website Address for This Policy
History and Updates
Appendix

CONTACTS

STATEMENT OF POLICY

Purdue University recognizes that its employees have the right as citizens to participate in the political processes of society. All employees retain the right to exercise their political freedoms, to vote as they may choose, to express their opinions on all political subjects and to discuss local, national and international issues, except as subject to the limitations of this policy as outlined below.

1. No employee (full-time or part-time) of Purdue University may use or attempt to use his or her official authority or position in the University, directly or indirectly, to:
   
   1. Affect the nomination or election of any candidate for any political office,
   2. Affect the voting or legal political affiliation of any other employee of the University or of any student, or
   3. Cause any other employee of the University or any student to contribute any time or money (whether as payment, loan or gift) to the support of any political organization or cause.
2. No employee of the University may engage in any political activity while performing his or her assigned University duties, while traveling on behalf of the University or while on University property, except that in extra-curricular functions on the campus, the employee has the same status and is subject to the same regulations as other citizens.
3. No employee of the University may represent that any political candidate, political party or partisan activity has the official or unofficial support of Purdue University.
4. Faculty and staff members who intend to participate in any of the following activities are subject to the policy on Conflicts of Commitment and Reportable Outside Activities (III.B.1) and must follow that policy’s procedures for obtaining advanced written approval for the activity.
   1. Campaign for political office
   2. Manage a political campaign
   3. Accept a political office requiring part-time service
   4. Serve part-time as a registered state or federal lobbyist
5. Any faculty or staff member of the University who accepts or is elected to a political office requiring full-time service must obtain a leave of absence for the period of service or resign. This leave of absence will be granted only on the explicit condition that during this period the individual does not represent himself/herself nor knowingly allow himself/herself to be represented as an employee of Purdue University.

REASON FOR THIS POLICY

Purdue University, as a state-supported institution, does not endorse political candidates, political parties or partisan activities. The Board of Trustees requires that a policy be maintained that provides for the rights of faculty and staff as citizens while upholding the University’s non-partisan position.

INDIVIDUALS AND ENTITIES AFFECTED BY THIS POLICY

All faculty and staff of Purdue University, wherever located and whether full-time or part-time.

EXCLUSIONS

Nothing in this policy prevents the University or a University Officer or his or her designee from expressing an official viewpoint on legislative or public policy issues that relate to the business and/or mission of Purdue.

Nothing in this policy prevents a University Officer from speaking publicly on matters of public policy in connection with participation in an activity that is an approved Reportable Outside Activity (as defined in Purdue policy III.B.1) or that is authorized pursuant to a written agreement with the Board of Trustees.

RESPONSIBILITIES

All Faculty and Staff

• Adhere to the requirements of this policy.

DEFINITIONS

All defined terms are capitalized throughout the document. Additional defined terms may be found in the central Policy Glossary.

University Officer
Individuals employed by the University who hold a title of or equivalent to President, Provost, CFO, Executive Vice President, Chancellor, Senior Vice President, Vice President, Vice Chancellor, Vice Provost, Legal Counsel, Dean, Director or Department Head, and any individual employed by the University whose job duties include communicating the University’s position on issues of legislation or public policy to politicians and law makers.

RELATED DOCUMENTS, FORMS AND TOOLS

• Conflicts of Commitment and Reportable Outside Activities (III.B.1): www.purdue.edu/policies/ethics/iiib1.html
• IT Resource Acceptable Use (VII.A.2): www.purdue.edu/policies/information-technology/viia2.html
• Leave of Absence Policies for Clerical and Service Staff, Revised and New (C-45): www.purdue.edu/policies/human-resources/c-45.html
• Leave of Absence Policies for Faculty, Continuing Lecturers, and Administrative and Professional Staff, Revised and New (C-46): www.purdue.edu/policies/human-resources/c-46.html
• Leave of Absence Policies for Faculty, Continuing Lecturers, and Administrative, Professional, Clerical and Service Staff (VI.E.2): www.purdue.edu/policies/human-resources/vie2.html
• Regulations Governing the Use and Assignment of University Facilities (IV.B.1): www.purdue.edu/policies/facilities-safety/ivb1.html
• Frequently Asked Questions on Political Activities

WEBSITE ADDRESS FOR THIS POLICY

www.purdue.edu/policies/ethics/iiib4.html

HISTORY AND UPDATES

January 29, 2015: This policy dates to, and substantially incorporates, the regulations on political activities adopted by the Board of Trustees on October 17, 1951.  This policy supersedes Political Activities (Executive Memorandum No. B-4) dated May 1972. 

APPENDIX

There are no appendices to this policy.