The UNC Policy Manual

700.3.2

Adopted 09/17/20

Policy on Student Government Elections

I. Purpose. The University of North Carolina (UNC) Board of Governors has, through Section 700.3.1 of the UNC Policy Manual, recognized the role of student government within the University’s constituent institutions. Section 700.3.1 establishes that neither the Board of Governors nor the president shall assert control over the substantive positions of the University of North Carolina Association of Student Governments. This policy is intended to insulate student government elections at UNC constituent institutions from influence of University employees, administrators, and trustees.

II. Definitions

A. “Board member” means any member of the Board of Governors, a board of trustees of a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina, or the board of a University-affiliated organization.

B. “Campaign contribution” means any advance, conveyance, deposit, distribution, transfer of funds, loan, payment, gift, pledge or subscription of money or anything of value whatsoever including but not limited to signs, printed items, or other professional services offered or provided to support or oppose the election of a student government candidate or a student considering filing for a student government election.

C. “Employee” means an individual who is employed by the University of North Carolina, but shall not include “student-employees” as described in Section 300.3.3[G] of the UNC Policy Manual.

D. “Influence activity” means endorsing, campaigning for, expressing or otherwise seeking to secure support for or opposition to any student government candidate or a student considering filing for a student government election.

III. Prohibition on Campaign Contributions and Influence. University of North Carolina board members and employees shall not undertake, incent, solicit, or encourage any campaign contribution or influence activity related to any University of North Carolina constituent institution student government election.

IV. Other Matters

A. Effective Date. The requirements of this policy shall be effective on the date of adoption by the Board of Governors.

B. Relation to Federal and State Laws. The foregoing policy as adopted by the Board of Governors is meant to supplement, and does not purport to supplant or modify, those statutory enactments which may govern or relate to the subject matter of this policy.

C. Regulations and Guidelines. This policy shall be implemented and applied in accordance with such regulations and guidelines as may be adopted from time to time by the president.