Compliance Chat: Partisan Political Activity

July 21, 2023

In recent times, university employees have become increasingly aware of the guidelines and restrictions surrounding their political activities. With concerns such as candidate endorsement, displaying campaign signage, or emailing legislators, it is essential to understand the parameters set by the Executive Branch Ethics Act, IRS Code and Board of Regents’ policy about partisan political  activities. 

In this latest installment of the "Compliance Chat" video series, Mary Gower, Senior Institutional Compliance Liaison, sits down with Andy Harrington from the Office of the General Counsel to provide a brief yet comprehensive overview of the guidelines aimed at avoiding potential issues concerning political activity.

Partisan political purposes are defined as: the intent to differentially benefit or harm a candidate, or potential candidate, for elective office; or a political party; or a political group. In this Compliance Chat we continue exploring the intricacies of the Executive Branch Ethics Act (EBEA) to look at the regulations in place regarding employee political activity to ensure that university employees maintain ethical and lawful conduct in their political endeavors.

As employees of educational institutions, university employees must navigate political activities cautiously to ensure compliance with regulations. By adhering to the guidelines provided by the Executive Branch Ethics Act, employees can maintain ethical conduct and uphold the integrity of their professional roles. Remember, engaging in political activities within the bounds of the law and institutional policies allows for individual advocacy while safeguarding the institution's non-partisan stance.

Interested in trying to win a prize? After watching this Compliance Chat answer the question: 

When reaching out to a legislator in my personal capacity (not related to UA business), can I use my UA email address as a University of Alaska employee?

Email your answer to ua-compliance@alaska.edu. A correct answer will be drawn at random to receive $20* at Amazon.com!

*Gift certificates are taxable. Responses due before July 31st, 2023.