As the new year ushers in election season and sessions of Congress and the Indiana General Assembly, the Office of the Vice President for University Relations reminds the Indiana University community about policy GR-01: Contact with State Officials, Federal Officials, and Political Campaigns, and Other Political Activities.

GR-01 was established to ensure compliance with state and federal lobbying laws and state law on public statements, while also protecting the free speech rights of individuals.

The policy provides guidance to IU community members in navigating political speech and activism in a manner that ensures that personal political actions do not cause the university to violate relevant laws related to lobbying and public statements.

GR-01 is not intended to limit personal free speech or academic freedom but sets expectations for IU community members about when they can speak, write or act on behalf of the university and when they need to make clear they are speaking, writing or acting in their personal capacity.

Indiana University as a whole, as well as units, schools and campuses, are required to follow the policy. Political speech and activism by university units and schools could be viewed as restricting the rights of their members by creating a chilling effect on the speech of individuals who may have opposing viewpoints.

For more information on Indiana University’s free speech policy UA-14 and expressive activity policy BOT-33, visit IU’s Free Speech website.

Questions about complying with GR-01 can be sent to Angela Smith Jones, IU’s acting vice president for university relations, at asjones@iu.edu.