The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSC-H) is a large, complex organization with a multifaceted mission of education, research, patient care, and community service. Effectively carrying out this mission necessarily involves a wide array of relationships and communications between UTHSC-H faculty and staff and local, state, and federal officials. As both citizens of the nation, state, and region and members of the university community, UTHSC-H faculty and staff may become aware of or involved with legislative and regulatory issues related to their personal interests, their role at the university, or in their area of expertise. The university recognizes and appreciates the privilege of each faculty or staff member as citizens of this state and nation to express his or her own political opinions. The right to express one's own opinions and to seek to make that opinion known is inalienable.
At the same time, the UTHSC-H leadership has been entrusted with the stewardship of this university and recognizes that the interests of and plans for the university and the interests and plans of individuals who are employed by the university may not coincide. Only the president and his designees will speak for the university in matters related to legislative processes and governmental affairs.
Faculty and staff who choose to exercise their rights as citizens must make every effort to indicate clearly that the position they take is an individual opinion and does not represent the opinion of the university. If a faculty or staff member identifies himself or herself as a member of the faculty or staff of this university, he or she must clearly state that the opinions expressed are his own and not those of the university.
Faculty or staff members may not utilize any state resource in any expression of their political views or personal opinions. This policy expressly prohibits UTHSC-H faculty or staff from using university funds, university materials, university telecommunications media and university staff support in communicating their personal opinions and views to government officials.
Many contacts and communications between faculty or staff and governmental representatives are unrelated to either political, legislative or regulatory processes and the overall institutional interests and priorities and thus are properly within the purview of individual faculty members or operating units. Examples include physician-patient relationships, contract and grant-related issues, routine business matters, and oversight of student internships at government agencies. There is no intent in this policy to restrict or hamper these beneficial working relationships that promote the institutional mission.
As an educational institution in health care, UTHSC-H includes many individuals who are involved in mission-related pursuits that are related to legislative or regulatory processes. Many times faculty and staff may be contacted by governmental officials or their representatives for information or consultation. Faculty members may be involved in advocacy related to an extra-mural organization that has some relationship to the university and/or its mission. While the university is enhanced through such overtures and encourages faculty and staff toward service to their fellow citizens, the university maintains the right to be informed of such contacts or relationships and to be involved, as appropriate, in such relationships.
All communications with government officials pertaining to matters of UTHSC-H institutional interests, legislative priorities, or related policy matters must be coordinated through the Office of Governmental Relations, which is charged with overall responsibility for communications with government officials and agencies on these issues. Central coordination assures that one part of the organization is not working at cross purposes with another and prevents confusion on the part of government officials as to the university's priorities. As necessary and appropriate, the Office of Government Relations will coordinate with other university officials.
Before contacting any state legislator or state agency/department head on a covered topic, faculty or staff members must first discuss the issue and the desired action with a representative of the Office of Governmental Relations. The Assistant Vice President for Governmental Relations is the primary contact for state-related issues.
Before contacting any other officials, such as members of Congress, heads of federal departments/agencies, or officials of Harris County and the City of Houston, on a covered topic, faculty or staff members should first discuss the issue and the desired action with a representative of the Office of Governmental Relations. The Vice President for Government Relations is the primary contact for federal and local issues.
Faculty or staff members must inform a representative of the Office of Governmental Relations when he or she has been directly contacted by a government official or his or her staff members on a covered topic. Based upon the nature of the contact and its ramifications, Governmental Relations staff will consult with the President as appropriate and determine the most appropriate next steps.
Created 8/02; Updated 08/07