Guidelines for Discussing Political Issues on Campus

These general guidelines aim to support MSU Denver employees who wish to participate in important civic advocacy appropriately. This information is a resource to support open discussion while respecting others’ rights, and complying with state law, but is not definitive legal advice.

Considerations:

• Political campaign activity, including apparel and signs urging support of any political candidate, current ballot issues or initiatives, is not permitted while at work, per Colorado Revised Statutes Section 24-50-132. Employees should not use work time or resources to engage in political activities.
• Other expressions or forms of advocacy should not disrupt the workplace. Outside of current political campaigns or ballot initiatives, faculty at a public university are free to express views on pressing political issues not currently subject to voter decision. This includes wearing symbols, displaying signs, or discussing the issue, as long as such expressions do not disrupt others.
• Expressions in the classroom should be relevant to the framework of the course topic and/or discipline. Advocacy or discussion unrelated to course content is not appropriate.

Recommendations:

To avoid disruption and to foster a respectful and productive environment, faculty and staff should express personal opinions on sensitive or controversial topics outside of their professional or academic role.

• Employees should disclose that any political activity and opinions are their own and expressed on personal time.
• Faculty and staff should refrain from advocating for their personal opinions on political issues while at work. While your beliefs may be deeply held, it’s important to recognize that others may be disrupted.
• If necessary for instruction on a relevant topic within a discipline, use objective language and try to represent as many viable views on a topic as possible.
• If students wish to engage in dialogue unrelated to class or disciplinary content, suggest the conversation occur after the class.

By following both best practices and state laws, we can ensure that our campus remains a place of learning and mutual respect, even in the face of complex and sensitive global issues. For more information, including Classroom Management Tips, please visit the Best Practices portion of the Civic Guide.  

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, please feel free to reach out to Larry Sampler, MSU Denver Vice President for Finance/Admin & COO.