Political Campaign Activity by OSU Employees

MEMORANDUM

DATE:           8 March 2022

TO:               OSU Employees

FROM:          Richard Settersten
  Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

  Cathy Hasenpflug
  Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

SUBJECT:    Political Activity by OSU Employees

Oregon State University values free speech and participation in the political process. As private individuals, OSU employees are encouraged and free to engage in political activities on their own time and using their own resources, and in ways that do not interfere with their employment duties, do not convey that such activities are taking place within their role as an employee, and do not imply that OSU endorses individual political content posted on their personal social media accounts or in other venues.

Use of OSU resources is prohibited. Under state law, OSU employees are public employees, and as such, are prohibited from using university resources to support or oppose candidates, ballot measures or initiative petitions being circulated for placement on a ballot. Employees are also prohibited from engaging in those activities in their university role or on Oregon State time. Federal law also has similar prohibitions for federally funded projects.

Carefully evaluate expressions of support. In general, employees are advised to carefully evaluate the use during OSU work time of any personal signs, buttons, shirts, hats or other expressions of support/opposition to candidates, ballot measures or initiative petitions. It is imperative that employees do not display such expression in ways that imply university sponsorship or endorsement. Where the location and nature of the work conducted is public-facing or student-facing, and the size or location of the button or other expression would combine to imply OSU sponsorship or endorsement, such expression is prohibited.

No employee may commit OSU to a political advocacy position without authorization from the Government Relations Office in coordination with the President. As an institution, OSU may take positions on some political issues (including state and federal legislation), but may not take positions on political candidates, ballot measures or initiative petitions being circulated for placement on a ballot. The university’s Government Relations Office oversees OSU’s political interests and advocacy at state and federal government levels and advises and coordinates with the President and the Board of Trustees on political issues. In general, the university is not able to engage in matters of international political disputes or foreign government relations.

Support is available when participating in the legislative process. Faculty members who bring their academic and research expertise into the legislative process in their individual capacity are encouraged to coordinate their efforts with the Government Relations Office, which can assist them in navigating the legislative process or coordinating with other institutional or individual efforts. Faculty may be advised in certain venues to clarify that they are acting in their individual capacity.

Resources:

See also: Summary of OSU’s Speech and Expression Policies