Regents Policy 8301: Policy on Higher Education Bond Measure Information and Advocacy Implementation Plan

Approved January 2008

The following policy will be carried out each time a bond measure is proposed for the ballot:

1. The President will continue to assess the potential support and opposition to any prospective higher education bond measure and consult with the Chairs of the Regents' Committee on Finance and the Committee on Grounds and Buildings related to these findings.
2. The General Counsel will review the University's "Legal Guidelines for UC Participation in Ballot Campaigns" to ensure clarity, and provide an overview of these guidelines to the Chancellors, Campus Counsel, and the University's Campus Foundations and Alumni Associations. This review will also include a review of this Policy as well as of the Regental Policy on State Funding of Capital Projects: UC Endorsement of Educational Facilities Bond Measure Campaigns that was adopted by the Regents in January 2007.
3. The President will apprise the Chairs of the Regents' Committee on Finance and the Committee on Grounds and Buildings when public education facilities bond measures are introduced in the Legislature and keep them informed regarding the legislation.
4. Upon passage of the legislation, the President will prepare a Regents item so the Regents may decide whether to endorse such bond measure.
5. If the Regents endorse the bond measure, the President will inform the Campus Foundations and Alumni Associations that the Regents have endorsed the bond measure.
6. Following endorsement of the bond measure by the Regents, the President and other University officials will be authorized to begin an information and education program, as permitted by law, to explain the impact the bond measure would have on the University of California. The President will inform the Chairs of the Regents' Committees on Finance and Grounds and Buildings on an ongoing basis of the informational materials prepared by the campuses related to the bond measure.
7. Following endorsement of the bond measure by the Regents, pursuant to the Regental Policy on State Funding of Capital Projects: UC Endorsement of Educational Facilities Bond Measure Campaigns, the University's auxiliary organizations, including Campus Foundations and Alumni Associations, would then be able to contribute their own privately raised funds in support of a campaign seeking to pass such a bond measure, in compliance with applicable campaign disclosure laws.
8. Any Officer of The Regents or of the University or any other member of the Senior Management Group of the University who intends to participate in and/or participates in any organization engaged in soliciting funds for or otherwise campaigning for a state bond measure shall:
   1. At least ten days before commencing such participation, deliver to the Chairs of the Regents' Committees on Finance and Grounds and Buildings a signed writing disclosing such intent to participate.
   2. At least ten days before commencing such participation, deliver to the Secretary and Chief of Staff to The Regents a signed writing confirming that he or she has read this Regental Policy and understands its requirements. 
   3. Refrain from pursuing such participation on University time and further refrain from using University facilities and/or resources in support of such participation. 
   4. Make clear to the organization and to others with whom he or she engages that he or she is not acting in an official University capacity or otherwise acting on behalf of the University. 
   5. Within five days of each anniversary of commencing such participation, deliver to the Secretary and Chief of Staff to The Regents a signed writing confirming that he or she at all times has been in compliance with this policy.
9. Upon notice that a disclosure under Paragraph H., above, has been received, the President shall cause each Campus Foundation to be advised in writing that the employee delivering such disclosure does not represent the University and has no authority to act on its behalf.
10. Compliance with this Policy will be assessed through a number of mechanisms, including: ongoing efforts by the General Counsel to ensure an understanding by University employees of the University's legal guidelines for participation in ballot campaigns; regular consultation with the Chairs of the Regents' Committee on Finance and Committee on Grounds and Buildings; and Internal Audit review of the Campus Foundation contributions in support of legislation, and measures taken by University employees to make certain that no University resources are used for campaign purposes.