Political / Campaign Activity on Campus

UM-Dearborn is proud to be an inclusive and diverse campus that welcomes respectful discussion on various topics. We understand that many people on our campus are interested in specific candidates, political parties and ballot initiatives. As a public university, there are a number of guidelines we must follow when it comes to election season.

If you are a student, staff or faculty member interested in bringing a political campaign-related event to campus, please read through the following information to ensure the campus meets the guidelines laid out by the state.

Under Michigan law, faculty, staff and students cannot use public resources to engage in political activities for or against a candidate or ballot initiative. Below are examples of political activities that use public resources in a manner that would generally not be permitted under Michigan law:

• Sending out a campaign mailing using university stationary or postage purchased by the university.
• Using an official university e–mail list or listservs to campaign for or against a ballot initiative or candidate running for office.
• Using university equipment to copy material supporting or opposing a ballot initiative or candidate, subject to existing departmental policies regarding personal use.
• Using a university office or other university facility, or using other university resources, such as a university–provided telephone, computer, e–mail address, social media account, Zoom or other web conferencing service account, etc., to support or oppose ballot initiatives or candidates running for office, even if — per the Michigan Secretary of State — you do not state or imply that you are speaking on behalf of the university in doing so.
• Purporting to carry on a political campaign in the name of the university or purporting to speak on behalf of the university when supporting or opposing a candidate or ballot initiative, whether in speech, writings, or social media postings.

Michigan law includes several exceptions that permit limited use of public resources for certain activities that would not constitute support for or opposition to a candidate or ballot proposal, even though those activities might be relevant to electoral decisions. Below are examples of activities in which faculty, staff and students may generally properly engage under the law, even if public resources are used:

• Conducting scholarly research on the effects of a ballot initiative or political issue on the university, on the state, on the economy, etc.
• Compiling and assembling data and other factual information on the effects of a ballot proposal or on candidates’ positions.
• Disseminating factual material and/or the results of scholarly research on a ballot proposal or political issue to news organizations and academic journals.
• Posting factual material about ballot proposals or political candidates and/or the results of research on a ballot initiative or political issue to a university website, Facebook page, or Twitter account.
• Planning conferences, forums, symposiums or panel discussions on campus, or inviting guest speakers (including, in some circumstances, candidates) to campus, to discuss campaign–related issues.

If you plan to engage in any activities related to electoral decisions using university resources, it may be helpful to seek additional guidance to ensure that the activities are constructed so that they do not appear to constitute support for or opposition to a candidate or ballot initiative.

Finally, if public resources are not involved, faculty, staff and students have great leeway to engage in political activities. Below are examples of the types of activities in which faculty, staff, and students may engage as individuals on their own time, provided they do not use university resources and do not say or imply they are acting on behalf of the university:

• Donating money to support or oppose a ballot initiative or political candidate.
• Acting as a campaign volunteer by writing letters, making phone calls, knocking on doors or distributing flyers in support of or opposition to a candidate or ballot proposal.
• Organizing or attending rallies in support of or opposition to a political candidate or ballot proposal.
• Writing letters to the editor or op–ed pieces supporting or opposing a political candidate or ballot initiative.
• Giving speeches and participating in debates for or against a particular candidate or ballot proposal.
• Writing to elected officials to express personal opinions on a candidate or ballot initiative.
• Renting university facilities for campaign–related events, on the same terms available to any member of the public under applicable use policies for that facility, provided that fundraising will not occur at that event.

Please contact Steve Betz, Director, Government Relations ([email protected]), if you have any questions regarding the above information.