Search UW System

UW System Home > Offices > Government Relations

This document seeks to provide general guidelines for employees and students of the UW System who wish to engage in an important but strictly regulated activity: political campaign involvement. This document is not intended as a source of definitive legal advice on the specific situations discussed below, nor is it a comprehensive legal manual that addresses all political campaign activity. If you have a specific question regarding political campaign issues, please consult your campus legal counsel or the UW System Office of the General Counsel for further guidance.

These issues raise additional concerns for certain university employees holding highly visible positions, or those who serve in a liaison capacity with state and federal legislators. Such individuals should be aware of the ethical and practical consequences of political campaign involvement as well as the basic legal issues.

What follows is a list of frequently-asked-questions concerning political campaign activity at UW System Institutions.

1. Guidance for UW Employees
   1. As a university employee, are there restrictions on my political activity?

      Yes. As a university employee, your political activities are restricted by Regent policy and state law in two significant ways: (1) You may not engage in political activities during your work time; and (2) You may not use state resources to engage in political activities at any time.

      State resources include physical resources office space, office supplies, photocopying, telephones, facsimile, and other resources, as well as electronic resources, such as email, websites, or discussion boards. See Regent Policy 20-6, p.76 of pdf for additional information.

      As a private citizen, you are free to engage in these activities on your own time and with your own resources.

   2. As a university employee, can I run for state or local office?

      Yes. However, your university appointment may be subject to change, depending on the particular office you are seeking.

      Regent Policy 20-6 provides that, if you wish to be a candidate in a primary election, you must first consult with the appropriate department chair, as well as the dean or director, to determine whether your campaign activity will impair performance of your university duties. If it is determined that the activity will produce some adverse effect, then a reduced-time appointment or a leave of absence would be appropriate for the duration of the campaign.

      If you are a candidate in a general election, upon consultation with the appropriate department chair and dean or director, a reduced-time appointment or leave of absence should be arranged.

      Service as an elected official on off-hour demand activities (e.g, school boards, city councils, county boards, or local, state or national commissions) would not normally require a reduced appointment or leave of absence.

      For specific advice relating to classified employees, see OSER-0053-MRS State Employee Political Activity (Classified Civil Service) and section 230.40, Wis. Stats.

   3. As a university employee, may I host a political fundraiser off-campus (at my home, for example)?

      Yes. This is permissible if you do so on your own time and do not use state equipment or supplies in connection with this event.

   4. As a university employee, may I make contributions to a political campaign?

   Yes. All UW System employees, including legislative liaisons and other employees who attempt to influence legislation, may contribute to political campaigns at any time during the election cycle. Pursuant to state campaign finance laws, however, campaign contributions cannot be solicited or collected on state time or in state office buildings. (See section 11.36, Wis. Stats.)

   On a related topic, you may in some cases be required to identify yourself and your employer when you make campaign contributions, which then becomes a matter of public record. (See section 11.06(1)(a, b), Wis. Stats. and ElBd 1.46(1,2) Wis. Adm. Code)

   5. May an organization list my name and employment title as a supporter in its political campaign literature—for example, in a brochure or fundraiser invitation?

      Yes. Care should be taken, however, about using your official title to promote one candidate over another. Whenever possible, you should seek to clarify that the use of your name indicates neither support nor endorsement by the university of a particular candidate, and that you are acting solely in your role as a private citizen.

      On a related topic, you may in some cases be required to identify yourself and your employer when you make campaign contributions, which then becomes a matter of public record.

   6. May I support a candidate by wearing political identification or buttons on campus? May I demonstrate my support for a candidate in my office or classroom by displaying stickers, slogans or signs in those places?

      It is a violation of state law for university employees to engage in political activities while at work. Consistent with this principle, the State Office of Employment Relations advises that state employees are prohibited from "the wearing of a political identification while on duty where it could impair the effectiveness of the state agencies' operation." See OSER-0053-MRS State Employee Political Activity (Classified Civil Service)

      Similar concerns are implicated in the workplace display of partisan political signs, and thus such activity is likewise restricted. Further, UWS 18.06(17), Wis. Adm. Code, provides that no person may erect, post or attach any signs, posters, pictures or any similar item in or on a university building, except as authorized under institutional policies.

2. Guidance for UW Students and Recognized Student Groups
1. As a university student or university-recognized student group, may I organize a political event to be hosted on my campus?

   Yes. Political events may be sponsored by either recognized or independent student organizations under certain circumstances. In fact, institutions and student groups are particularly encouraged to arrange non-partisan events such as campus tours for legislators and candidates, as well as to sponsor forums in which political figures or candidates may debate one another.

   Student groups wishing to organize such events should contact the appropriate facilities administrator to ensure compliance with UW System policies on use of university facilities (UWS 21, Wis. Adm. Code), and applicable institutional policies.

   Please note, however, that state law strictly prohibits the use of state-owned buildings for political fundraising.

2. Can student groups utilize segregated fees or university resources to contribute to a political campaign?

   No. In accordance with UW System Financial and Administrative Policies (Segregated University Fees - F50) and consistent with campaign finance law, student groups may not use segregated fees to make direct gifts, contributions, or donations to political campaigns or candidates.

3. May segregated fees be used to fund the printing of posters, political advertisements, or t-shirts indicating our group’s support of a candidate or political party?

   As discussed above, student organizations may not use segregated fees in a manner which would constitute making a direct gift, contribution, or donation to a particular candidate or political party. Accordingly, if the funding of these materials constitutes a gift, contribution or donation to a candidate or party, it would not be permitted. Student organizations may, however, use segregated fees to support their own expressive activities and views.

   Questions about appropriate uses of segregated fees should be referred to campus student affairs officers and/or legal counsel.

4. Can student organizations urge students to vote? What about voting for a particular party, or for a particular candidate?

   Yes. Student organizations are encouraged to help educate and inform students about upcoming elections, including urging students to exercise their right to vote. Student organizations are also free to express their views about the parties and candidates, and to urge voting for particular parties or candidates, and--as noted above--to sponsor events for candidates so long as they comply with rules governing the use of university facilities.

5. As a university student, may I display a partisan political sign in my residence hall room?

   Yes. So long as you comply with university and residence hall policies governing the posting of signs in dormitory rooms, such activity would be permissible.

3. Political Activity on Campus
1. What types of educational events may the campus engage in to encourage voter education and participation?
   The campus may host non-partisan events to encourage voter education and participation, such candidate forums and voter registration efforts. These activities must be non-partisan for the sole purpose of voter education. If candidates are invited on campus, all legally qualified candidates must be invited and given an equal opportunity to speak and participate. Permissible activities include speeches, question and answer sessions, debates, or similar activities. A statement should be given that the university does not endorse nor oppose any of the candidates. The UW System policy on the use of university facilities (UWS 21, Wis. Adm. Code) and relevant institutional policies apply. Please note that state law strictly prohibits the use of state-owned buildings for political fundraising.
   Electronic resources may also be used for non-partisan voter education purposes. For example, a University web page with current election information may include a link to candidates’ web sites if the web page includes all legally qualified candidates and excludes any commentary in support or against a candidate, express or implied. Again, a statement should be given that the university does not endorse nor oppose any of the candidates. If discussion space is provided, the university should include a disclaimer that the opinions expressed on the discussion board do not represent those of the University. Web sites used for voter education purposes should be regularly monitored to ensure that they are not modified for the purposes of advocating for a particular candidate or political party.
   
   
   
2. Is it important that institutions sponsor political events that offer opportunities to all candidates seeking election to the same political office?

   Yes. A balanced approach is expected. For example, all candidates seeking election to the same political office should be offered the same or a similar opportunity to participate in a university-sponsored event. However, if, when offered the opportunity, one or more candidates decline, it is still appropriate to host the event for those who have accepted the invitation.

   It should be noted, however, that the same principle does not necessarily apply to candidates who speak to a class at the invitation of an instructor. For example, a professor who invites a Republican legislator to speak to a class on the history of the Republican Party is not obligated to invite the legislator's Democratic opponent.

3. May individuals or candidates distribute campaign literature on campus?

   Yes. Campaigning is permitted in public areas at UW institutions, subject to institutional policies concerning the time, place and manner for conducting such activities. Similarly, distribution of political literature and campaigning may be conducted in residence halls, subject to institutional policies governing the time, place and manner for engaging in such activities.

4. Do candidates and political organizations have access to mailing lists of faculty, students and staff?

   Yes. This information is available to the public. Some campuses provide this information in their staff and student directories that are available for purchase to the public. Other campuses may supply employee and student mailing lists upon request, with a fee charged at the time of request in order to cover the costs of generating the lists.

   University employees and students who choose not to have this information disclosed are annually offered the opportunity to have their names and home addresses withheld from these mailing lists.

5. Are institutions required to charge candidates who attend campus receptions? What about legislators who are currently in office?

The general rule for those currently holding office states that university-sponsored functions are a benefit to the UW, and not to a particular legislator or party. In these cases, there should be no charge to state legislators or officials. However, care should be taken to comply with applicable ethical requirements (see generally, sections 19.45(3m) and 19.56, Wis. Stats.), pursuant to which legislators and state officials may be required to pay for attending certain social functions, such as athletic events or parties.