UNIVERSITY POLICY

 

SUBJECT:

ADMINISTRATION

TITLE:

LEGISLATIVE INTERACTION

 

CODING:

00-01-10-125:00

ADOPTED:

12/01/89

AMENDED:

9/14/05

                                                                                                                 LAST REVIEWED: 09/14/05
I.        PURPOSE

To direct, facilitate and provide oversight for contacts and interactions with local, State and Federal government officials by any faculty or staff members to represent an official University position (s), including requests for appropriations or any other issue (s) concerning the activities of the University or any of its component units.

II.       ACCOUNTABILITY

Under the direction of the Vice President for Government Affairs, the Department of Government Affairs, shall ensure compliance with this policy. The Deans, President/CEOs of the Healthcare Units and Vice Presidents shall implement this policy.

III.      POLICY

A.       Prior written approval is required for any contact, including any oral or written statement(s), tours or visits, testimony before committees, commissions, regulatory agencies, or any other entity, by University faculty or staff with local, state and federal legislators or government officials. Administrators or staff must have the prior written approval of the Dean of the specific school, the President/CEO of the Healthcare Unit, or the Vice President of the Administrative Unit involved where such contact is for the purpose of:

1.       presenting or appearing to represent the official position of the University or that of its component units on any issue; or

2.       informing local, state or federal government officials concerning the activities of the University or any of its component units as a representative of the University.

3.       requesting funding appropriations from local, state or federal budgets for the University or any of its component units.

B.      The Deans , Vice President s or President/CEOs of the Healthcare Unit shall consult with the Vice President for Government Affairs and/or the Department of Government Affairs prior to the granting of approval.

C.      Any verbal or written representation of the University or that of its component units must be consistent with and adequately reflect the University’s mission, vision, values and/or strategic direction.

D.      The Vice President for Government Affairs and/or the Department of Government Affairs shall advise and direct the coordination of all official UMDNJ contacts and interactions with all levels of government and other pertinent agencies to ensure consistency of intent, purpose and accuracy, providing approval of materials, content of testimonies, and accuracy of positions to be represented.

E.      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 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 faculty and staff members are free from the University's censorship or discipline, they should 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.

When such personal and individual matters are discussed with members of the local, state or federal government, faculty or staff members are requested to notify the Vice President for Government Affairs and/or the Department of Government Affairs. The Department of Government Affairs should also keep the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance equally aware of such information.

By Direction of the President

_______________________________
Vice President for Government Affairs

 
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