University of North Carolina Policies Governing Employee Involvement
in Political Candidacy and Office-Holding

from Emily Dickens, Community and Government Affairs

Policies adopted by the Board of Governors establish processes for resolving, in advance, questions about possible conflicts between a University employee's satisfactory performance of employment responsibilities and the employee’s involvement in political candidacy and office-holding. All University employees except those subject to the State Personnel Act are covered by these policies. An employee who intends to become a candidate for election or appointment to or to hold any public office is responsible for knowing the terms of and complying with the requirements of the board policies. A copy of the full text of the board policies may be obtained from the legal counsel’s office. Failure to comply with the policies is a violation of the terms and conditions of University employment and may result in disciplinary action. The following is a summary of the basic provisions of the board policies. The full text of the policies should be consulted by an affected employee. Advice concerning the interpretation and application of the policies may be obtained from Fayetteville State University’s legal counsel.

1. Candidacy for election to public office.
Becoming a candidate for election to a full-time or major part-time office is presumed to create a conflict of time that interferes with the employee's satisfactory performance of University employment obligations. The conflict may be avoided by (1) resigning from University employment, (2) seeking an appropriate unpaid leave of absence from University employment, or (3) rebutting the presumption of conflict by demonstrating that there in fact will be no conflict between campaign activity and University employment. An employee who intends to become a candidate must follow prescribed procedures for resolving questions about conflicts in advance of becoming a candidate.

2. Holding public office.
Upon assuming an elective or appointive full-time office, a University employee will be deemed to have resigned his University employment, unless prior to assuming office he requests and is granted a full leave of absence, without pay. Such a leave of absence may not exceed two years.

Upon assuming an elective or appointive major part-time office, a University employee will be presumed to have a conflict of time that necessitates his resignation from University employment; the resignation requirement may be avoided if (1) s/he requests and is granted an appropriate leave of absence or (2) s/he rebuts the presumption of conflict by demonstrating that there in fact will be no conflict between office-holding and University employment.

An employee who intends to occupy such an office must follow prescribed procedures for resolving questions about conflicts in advance of assuming the office.

The deadline for submitting your petition to the Chancellor for the fall general election is June 15, 2008.

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FSU Employee Participation in Political Activities

The University of North Carolina prohibits certain activities of university employees related to governmental and political processes that are incompatible with the general responsibilities of public employment.

North Carolina General Statutes (N.C.G.S.), § 126‑13 and § 126‑14 defines appropriate political activity of State employees and prohibits the following:

• State employees taking any active part in managing a campaign, or engaging in political activity within any period of time during which s/he is expected to perform services for the State.

• The use of the authority of a State employee’s position to secure support for or to oppose any person or issue in any election.

• The use of State property to secure support for or to oppose any person or issue in any election.

• Actions by a State employee that coerce another State employee to support or contribute to a political candidate or party.

This policy applies equally to FSU faculty, staff and students, and to individuals external to FSU, and therefore:

• No Fayetteville State University equipment or services (e.g., vehicles and other equipment, campus mail, computers and e-mail, postage, photocopying and fax, etc.) may be used for political campaign activities.

• The campus should not endorse any particular party or candidate.

• University officials should refrain from activities that may be perceived as university support of a political campaign.

• Chancellors and principal university staff may not be actively involved in the endorsement of any candidate or become identified with any candidate.

These prohibitions do not affect:

• The right to freely express your views on any subject, including advocacy for/against candidates for public office. This is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and by the North Carolina Constitution.

  • In exercising these rights, the resources of the university cannot be used.

  • Engagement in political campaign activities should be conducted independent of your university employment and at times when such activity does not interfere with employment obligations to the university.

• Political campaign activities on campus.

  • The activity must be sponsored or hosted by registered student organizations and all expenses related to the activity, if any, are borne by the candidate, political organizations or student organizations.

  • University facilities may be rented for political events per campus policy on use of university premises and facilities. Such sponsored events may not be subsidized or supported by the university.

  • Anyone who wishes to endorse a candidate may do so at the university’s free speech zone – located in front of the Rudolph Jones Student Center.

These guidelines apply explicitly to the use of public resources in support of or in opposition to political campaigns. They are not intended to limit discussion among faculty, administrators, and other State employees regarding political or campaign issues or candidates or to limit debates at which candidates have equal time.
 

FSU's School of Education Welcomes Teacher Education Recruiter/Advisor

from Dr. Leontye Lewis, School of Education

FSU's School of Education would like to welcome Shari Willis as Teacher Education Recruiter/Advisor.  Ms. Willis brings a wealth of knowledge and experience related to admissions for first-time and transfer students to The School of Education. Any current student who is interested in an Education major or undecided about a major is encouraged to contact Ms. Willis at 672-1607 or swillis@uncfsu.edu. 

FSU Softball CIAA Championships Update

from Adrian Ferguson, Sports Information Office

The Fayetteville State Lady Broncos Softball Team is currently playing Elizabeth City State in the first round of the CIAA Softball Championships.  The winner of the game will play the winner of J.C. Smith vs. Virginia Union at 5:00 p.m.  The loser will move to the loser's bracket to play the losers of J.C. Smith vs. Virginia Union or J.C. Smith at 2:30 p.m.

To view live stats, click on http://www.hbculivestats.com/fsu/sball/xlive.htm.  All FSU games will have live stats.