Contact with State Officials and Official Visits by Government Agencies Policy

THE LANGUAGE USED IN THIS DOCUMENT DOES NOT CREATE AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT BETWEEN THE EMPLOYEE AND THE AGENCY. THE DOCUMENT DOES NOT CREATE ANY CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS OR ENTITLEMENTS. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REVISE THE CONTENT OF THIS DOCUMENT, IN WHOLE OR IN PART. NO PROMISES OR ASSURANCES, WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, WHICH ARE CONTRARY OR INCONSISTENT WITH THE TERMS OF THIS PARAGRAPH CREATE ANY CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT.

Departmental Responsibility: Office of Human Resources
Topic: Contact with State Officials
Policy: Contact with State Officials and Official Visits by Government Agencies
Effective: June 01, 2002
Last Revised Date: February 14, 2012

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY POLICY REGARDING CONTACTS WITH STATE OFFICIALS AND OFFICIAL VISITS BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

PURPOSE: To facilitate contacts with governmental officials and agencies and to keep the University administration better informed of the University's continuing relationship with state government.

In formulating a policy for faculty, staff, and student contacts with elected officials, primary concern must be given to the rights of citizens to petition their elected officials on behalf of their personal beliefs and needs. Also, in a University community, it is inevitable that professional employees will want to contact elected officials on behalf of their professional societies. Nothing in this policy is intended to limit the right of individuals to make these appropriate contacts. Rather, the intent is to ensure that University positions are expressed by an officially designed representative of the University. Further, with the increasing number of University legislative initiatives along with an increased desire among University personnel and students to become involved in the political process, it has become necessary to coordinate these contacts. The intent of this policy is to ensure that all legislative contacts on behalf of Clemson University represent officially endorsed University positions.

PERSONAL CONTACTS WITH ELECTED STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS

Personal contacts with elected officials, whether in writing or in person, must be made in the name of the individual making the contact and shall in no way imply that the contact is being made on behalf of the University. University letterhead should not be used when presenting a personal view.

PROFESSIONAL CONTACTS WITH ELECTED STATE OFFICIALS

Professional contacts with elected officials, whether in writing or in person, must be done in the name of the individual making the contact or on behalf of the professional society, and not on behalf of the University. Reference to affiliation with the University may be made as an aid to identification.

OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY CONTACT WITH ELECTED STATE OFFICIALS

Faculty, staff and students who wish the University to take an official position with elected officials on any matter must discuss their interests with the Executive Director of Governmental Affairs who will assist in determining an official University position.

1. The Executive Director of Governmental Affairs shall be advised in advance of appearances before state legislative bodies in which an individual is representing an official University position.
2. Requests for elected officials to support programs and other University interests shall be made through the Office of Governmental Affairs in order to facilitate such requests.
3. The Office of Governmental Affairs should be notified in advance when elected officials or their staff are to be invited to visit any University program in an official capacity.
4. When elected officials request information concerning University programs, a copy of the information provided should be shared with the Office of Governmental Affairs along with other appropriate University Officials.

OFFICIAL VISITS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA ELECTED OFFICIALS OR STAFF MEMBERS

When individuals covered by the South Carolina Ethics Laws are invited to visit or attend an event sponsored by the University, the Office of Governmental Affairs should assist with coordination of the visit and in determining ethics regulation compliance.