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University Policies

University Policies

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ROWAN UNIVERSITY POLICY

Title: Lobbying and Advocacy Activity
Subject: Government Affairs
Policy No: GA: 2013:03
Applies: University-Wide
Issuing Authority: VP for Government Relations/Chief Government Relations Officer
Responsible Officer: VP for Government Relations/Chief Government Relations Office (signature)
Adopted:
Last Reviewed: 7/24/24
Last Revision: 7/24/24

I.  PURPOSE

This policy sets forth the guidelines and processes for members of the Rowan community to engage in advocacy and lobbying activity officially on behalf of Rowan University with government officials under the guidance and authorization of the Vice President for Government Relations/Chief Government Relations Officer. As a prominent public research university, Rowan University finds that it is imperative for communications on behalf of Rowan University from members of the University community to government officials and entities be delivered in an organized, clear, and consistent manner. This policy is intended to provide clarity on the laws that govern lobbying activities at all levels of government, and consistency in the conveyance of communications with all governmental officials.

It further ensures compliance with the "Federal Lobbying Disclosure Act" and directs, facilitates and provides guidance for all interactions with federal, state, or local government officials by any member of the Rowan University community who represents an official University/University-unit position(s), on university related matters, including: requests for appropriations; public policy; legislative or regulatory issues; contracts; nominations; or any other governmental program or policy.

II. ACCOUNTABILITY

Under the direction of the Vice President for Government Relations/Chief Government Relations Officer, the Provost, Deans, and Vice Presidents shall ensure compliance with and implement this policy.

III. APPLICABILITY

This policy applies to all full-time, part-time, permanent and temporary employees, faculty, staff, officers, volunteers and students.

IV. DEFINITIONS

  1. Lobbying Activity: Lobbying contacts and any efforts in support of such contacts, including preparation or planning activities, research, and other background work that is intended, at the time of its preparation, for use in contacts and coordination with the lobbying activities of others.
  2. Federal Official: Covered Federal officials include executive branch officials such as the President of the United States of America, the Vice President, and any high-ranking officer or employee of the executive branch of the federal government. Covered legislative branch officials include Members of Congress; elected officers of either House of Congress; any employee of a Member, joint committee, leadership staff group, or committee of either House of Congress; and any employee of a working group or caucus organized to provide legislative services or other assistance to Members of Congress.
  3. State Official: Covered State officials include the Governor, the Lt. Governor, Governor's Cabinet members, senior staff members and others within the administration, including leadership and senior staff members at the various Executive Branch agencies; members of the Legislature, and partisan and non-partisan staff members of the Legislature; any employee of a Member of the Legislature, or committees of either the Senate or General Assembly.
  4. Local Official: Covered Local officials include representatives from all local forms of government, including but not limited to: Mayors or representatives of a Mayor; Directors and Senior Staff members; City Council members and City Council staff members; County office holders and their staff members within the administration; any employee of a local government official and committees of any branch of local government.
  5. Lobbying Contact: Any official contacts made on behalf of Rowan University, including in-person, oral, written, or electronic communication, to influence a state, local or federal covered official with regard to, but limited to, appropriations requests, or taking action on legislation, rules, regulations, contracts, nominations, or any other federal, state or local program or policy.
    A lobbying contact is not:
    1. A response to an unsolicited request from an official (inquiries, meetings, expert advice and public comments).
    2. Communications required pursuant to an existing government contract, permit, license, grant or loan.
    3. Responses to news media.
    4. Educational meetings and presentations to government officials.
    5. Personal lobbying using personal resources or that of a professional association.
    6. Communications required by subpoena or civil investigative demand, or otherwise compelled by statute, regulation or other action of a public agency.
  6. Personal Contacts: Contacts setting forth personal beliefs or efforts on issues or other matters to federal, state or local elected or appointed officials or staff 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 shall not be used for personal contacts, and no personal messages shall be sent from University e-mail accounts. Official University Titles shall not be used when making personal contact.
  7. Professional Contacts: Contacts on behalf of professional groups/organizations with federal, state or local elected or appointed officials or staff members. These contacts must be made on behalf of the professional society and not on behalf of the University. It should be clearly evident that you are not representing the University but rather are representing the professional society of which you are a member. University letterhead shall not be used for professional society contacts. University titles may be used when making professional contacts, pending approval by the Dean and VP for Government Relations/Chief Government Relations Officer. This policy does not preclude official collaborations between Rowan University and the various professional associations and organizations.
  8. Official University Contact: A lobbying contact on behalf of the University, representing an approved University position or request or other matter.
  9. University Community: Full-time, part-time, permanent and temporary employees, faculty, staff, officers, volunteers and students.
  10. Federal Contract: An acquisition contract awarded by an agency, including those subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and any other acquisition contract for real or personal property or services not subject to the FAR.
  11. Federal Cooperative Agreement: A cooperative agreement entered into by an agency.
  12. Federal Grant: An award of financial assistance in the form of money, or property in lieu of money, by the Federal Government or a direct appropriation made by law to any person. The term does not include technical assistance which provides services instead of money, or other assistance in the form of revenue sharing, loans, loan guarantees, loan insurance, interest subsidies, insurance, or direct United States cash assistance to an individual.
  13. Federal Loan: A loan made by an agency. The term does not include loan guarantee or loan insurance.
  14. Person: An individual, corporation, company, association, authority, firm, partnership, society, State, and local government, regardless of whether such entity is operated for profit or not for profit. This term excludes an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or any other Indian organization with respect to expenditures specifically permitted by other Federal law.

V.  BACKGROUND

  1. Rowan University sets forth its policy on lobbying activities and contacts with federal, state, and local, officials to enhance the coordination of institutional advocacy and lobbying priorities and efforts.
  2. This policy along with other educational efforts targeted to public officials is aimed at ensuring that anyone within the Rowan University community, reasonably expected to engage in contacts with local, state and federal officials and agencies, is provided with general guidelines and current information about lobbying laws and rules, and Rowan University guidelines for such activities.
  3. This policy is not intended to limit the personal rights of those in the University community (faculty, staff, volunteers and students) to contact, and advocate with, officials about their personal beliefs and issues. Nor is it directed toward those contacts made on behalf of their professional groups/organizations as long as that representation is expressively not on behalf of Rowan University or it is done with the approval of Rowan University if University titles will be used in such activities.

VI. REFERENCES

  1. Code of Federal Regulations, 45 CFR 93
  2. Federal Lobbying Disclosure Act, Public Law 110-81, 105-166, 104-65

VII. POLICY

  1. The VP for Government Relations/Chief Government Relations Officer or designee is responsible for the coordination of all official University contacts and interactions relating to University actions to influence government and public policy, processes, legislation, appropriations, nominations and other matters – with all levels of government, including pertinent government agencies. The VP for Government Relations/Chief Government Relations Officer shall advise and direct all such activities to ensure coordination and consistency of intent, purpose and accuracy, and shall approve materials, content of testimonies, and accuracy of positions to be presented in representation of the University. Through this policy, the University President, Provost, General Counsel, Chief of Staff, Vice Presidents, and Deans are authorized to represent Rowan University with federal, state and local officials, in coordination with the VP for Government Relations/Chief Government Relations Officer. Other individuals, including faculty members, may be included on this list of authorized University representatives with the expressed, written permission of the head of the individual's specific unit (Provost, Dean of the specific school, or the Vice President of the Administrative Unit). Authorization must be forwarded to the VP for Government Relations/Chief Government Relations Officer and all subsequent activities by the authorized person must be coordinated through or in cooperation with the VP for Government Relations/Chief Government Relations Officer or designee. An official authorized person's contact list shall be maintained by the VP for Government Relations/Chief Government Relations Officer and updated periodically. Members of the University Community who are not on the approved and authorized persons contact list for the University and who engage in lobbying contacts on behalf of the University during normal University-related activities must immediately notify the VP for Government Relations/Chief Government Relations Officer.
  2. Any non-authorized member of the University community engaging in lobbying/advocacy contacts or other activities, on behalf of the University, must receive prior written approval from the Provost, Dean of the specific school, or the Vice President of the Administrative Unit and coordinate their efforts with the advice or direction of the VP for Government Relations/Chief Government Relations Officer.
  3. Appropriate prior approvals and coordination of activities with the VP for Government Relations/Chief Government Relations Officer are required when engaging in any of the following activities with local, state and federal legislators or government officials:
    1. Submission of oral or written statement(s)/testimony, appearance before public officials, or one-on-one meetings with public officials to educate, inform, or represent the official position of the University or that of its constituent units on any issue;
    2. University site tours or visits by public officials,
    3. Advocacy or lobbying activities intended to create or influence legislation, regulations or public policy, and
    4. Official request for public funding support from any public official on behalf of the University or any of its component units.
  4. The Provost, Deans, and Vice Presidents shall consult with the VP for Government Relations/Chief Government Relations Officer or designee prior to the granting of approvals to lobby or advocate on behalf of the University, or direct the University member requesting such approval to do so.
  5. Any verbal or written representation of the University or that of its constituent units must be consistent with and adequately reflect the University's mission, vision, values and strategic direction.
  6. Personal or professional contacts (when not using official Rowan University titles) are not subject to this policy. This policy shall in no way be interpreted as preventing University faculty or staff members from presenting to members of local, state or federal government offices their personal or professional opinion(s) on an issue. However, faculty or staff and other members of the University should recognize and be sensitive to the fact that when they discuss matters relating to health, health care delivery, health professions education, health research, or related matters, regardless of their intention to express only their personal or professional point of view, they nonetheless tend to be construed as representing the University. Therefore, when speaking or writing as private citizens, although free from the University's censorship or discipline, members of the University community are urged to be accurate, exercise appropriate restraint, show respect for the opinion of others and clearly indicate that they are not acting as spokespersons for the University.
  7. All student advocacy on behalf of the University is subject to this policy and must be coordinated through the Office of Student Life, Associate Provost of Academic Affairs, the Rowan University Student Government Association and the VP for Government Relations/Chief Government Relations Officer.
  8. Failure to comply with this policy may result in sanctions up to, and including, termination of employment.

 

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