Hartwick College employees may become involved in political campaigns in their individual
capacities, provided they take precautions to ensure that their involvement is not attributed to the
College and does not involve the use of College resources. Faculty and other employees may take
part in partisan political activities freely on their own time, but they must not do so at the expense of
their regular responsibilities to the College and its students.

College officials engaging in political campaign activities must explicitly indicate that their actions
and statements do not represent the views of the College. Individuals may identify their positions at
the College as long as they make it clear that their affiliation with the College is provided only for
identification purposes, and they do not use the College’s name in any other context. College
officials may not engage in political activities at any College meetings or events; through the College
publications; on College letterhead; or with College e-mail or social media accounts. Contributions
may not be solicited in the name of Hartwick College for political support or for involvement in any
political campaign.

Candidates for public office may be invited to speak at the College if their appearances are for
educational or informational purposes and they have College sponsorship. The format should be a
speech, panel discussion and/or question-and answer session. The event or meeting cannot
resemble a campaign rally.

When a candidate is invited to speak in their capacity as a political candidate (such as part of a
debate), the College must ensure that it provides an equal opportunity to all political candidates
running for the same office. Accordingly, when one candidate is invited to campus to speak, all
candidates running for that same office need to be invited and offered comparable campus locations
and times, among other things. An invited candidate’s decision not to accept the invitation, however,
would not prevent the College from proceeding with events for those who did accept. Furthermore,
the College should explicitly state that it does not support or oppose the political candidate in any
communications referencing the candidate’s appearance, and when the candidate is introduced.

When a candidate is not speaking as part of a campaign, there is no requirement that the College
provide an equal opportunity to other political candidates running for the same office. In this
context, the College will ensure that the atmosphere is nonpartisan and that neither the candidate
nor any representative of the College mentions the candidacy or the upcoming election.

The office or individual hosting a candidate(s) must provide and review this policy with the
candidate(s) prior to their arrival on campus. Candidates that fail to comply with this policy may be
required to leave the campus.

College facilities or resources may not be used for political fundraising or any other partisan political
campaign activities. This includes publishing information on the College’s website or social media
platforms, or in any College printed materials that support or oppose a candidate or that link to or
directs to any candidate or campaign-related materials.

College facilities may be used to conduct non-partisan voter education and registration programs.
Such programs must be made available to all members of the College community regardless of their
political affiliation and may not be conducted in a manner that favors or opposes one or more
candidates.

College facilities may be used for political figures to speak on campus or to sponsor political
discussion or debate. Neither political figures, nor political candidates may use College facilities
unless they have been invited by faculty, students, or staff of the College. The political event or
meeting cannot resemble a campaign rally.

Any requests, internal or external, to film, photograph or otherwise record a sponsored discussion or
political event taking place on campus, must be directed to the Vice President for Strategic
Communications.

Nothing in this policy prevents students from becoming involved in political campaigns in their
individual capacities. These guidelines, however, pertain to students and student groups to the extent
they seek to use College resources. Students may not use or reference Hartwick College’s name in
any manner, except to identify themselves as students. The College’s logos or other trademarks may
not be used for any political campaign activity purpose.

Officially recognized Hartwick College student groups may use College facilities for meetings as long
as there is no political fundraising or campaigning (including phone banking). Any student group
engaging in political activities must make it clear in its written materials and at its events or meetings
that its members are speaking as individuals and not on behalf of the College. Student groups must
notify the Associate Vice President for Student Experience prior to developing political activities or
programs.

The IRS will treat information posted on the College website and social media platforms that
supports or opposes a candidate the same as printed material that is distributed. Therefore, there
should be no text on the College website that supports or opposes a candidate.