Elected Public Officials and Candidates for Public Office: Permission to Speak on Campus Procedures

A. If an elected public official or candidate for public office is invited by an instructor to meet with the instructor's class, the invitation must have the prior approval of the associate dean, the campus dean, and the vice president of Academic Affairs. If approved, the vice president will notify College Security Services, public information officer, and Office of The President of the date, time, and location of the speech at least ten days in advance. The following factors will be applicable:

  1. The topic should be relevant to the objectives and learning outcomes of the course;
  2. Students who so request may be excused from the class session; however, any missed assignments must be made up; and,
  3. Opposing viewpoints should also be considered. If the speaker is a candidate for public office, comparable time must be provided to other candidates for the same office in subsequent class meetings, if requested, by other candidates for the same office.

B. If an elected public official or candidate for public office is invited by a College-sanctioned student club or organization, the invitation must have the prior approval of the dean of Student Life and Service Learning, and the vice president of Student Affairs. If approved, the vice president will notify College Security Services, the public information officer, and the Office of The President of the date, time, and location of the speech at least ten days in advance. The following factors will be applicable:

  1. The topic should be relevant to the objectives of the sponsor; and,
  2. Attendance by students must be on a voluntary basis.

C. If an elected public official or candidate is invited by an officially recognized employee group or organization, the invitation must have the prior approval of the unit vice president who serves as liaison to that organization, accompanied by notification of the Office of the President. If approved, the employee group will notify College Security Services of the date, time, and location at least ten days in advance. The following factors will be applicable:

  1. Opposing viewpoints should be considered. If the speaker is a candidate for public office, comparable time must be provided to other candidates for the same office, if requested.
  2. Attendance by employees and students must be on a voluntary basis.

D. If an elected public official or candidate is invited by a Central Piedmont unit, program, office, or College committee, the invitation must have the prior approval of the program administrator, the appropriate campus dean, and appropriate vice president, accompanied by notification of the Office of the President. If approved, the vice president will notify College Security Services, the Public Information Officer, and the Office of The President of the date, time, and location, at least ten days in advance. The following factors will be applicable:

  1. The topic should be relevant to the objectives of the sponsoring program.
  2. Opposing viewpoints should be considered. If the speaker is a candidate for public office, comparable time must be provided to other candidates for the same office, if requested.
  3. Attendance by employees and students must be on a voluntary basis.

E. If a candidate for public office or his/her supporters, organization, or political party wish to speak individually with employees or students on campus property, Policy 2.17 Free Speech, Public Assembly, and Distribution/Petitioning will apply.

F. If a request for a formal speaking engagement is initiated by an elected public official or candidate or his/her supporters, organization, or political party, initial contact should be made through the public information officer to the Office of The President. Arrangements must have the prior approval of the president or their designee. The following factors will be applicable:

  1. Arrangements for the event must be accommodated within the regular work schedules of Security Services and Facilities Management employees, so far as practicable.
  2. The event must not interrupt the College's regular schedule of classes and activities, unless determined by the president to be in the best interest of the institution to do so.
  3. Attendance by employees and students must be on a voluntary basis.
  4. If so requested, the same opportunity must be provided to other candidates for the same office.

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