Student organizations interested in political campaign activity must abide by the University’s guidelines for students on political campaign activity and read through the Frequently Asked Questions on political campaign activity for student organizations as provided by the Division of the Senior Vice President and General Counsel.
Use of University Space
The University may provide its facilities to groups that conduct political campaign activities, but only if it offers the use of those facilities on the same basis to similar groups of any political party and to non-political groups. Facilities are available to groups that conduct political campaign activities regardless of political affiliation.
Subject to University policies on permission and scheduling, registered student groups may use University facilities for partisan political purposes, so long as they pay the usual and normal charge, if any, for the use. To the extent that partisan student organizations extend their activities beyond the campus and intervene or participate in campaigns on behalf of candidates for public office, or permit nonmembers of the Yale community to use University facilities or services, proper and appropriate charge must be made and collected for all facilities and services provided.
Prolonged partisan use of Yale facilities, even with reimbursement, should be avoided.
Partisan student organizations may not solicit funds in the name of the University to be used in off-campus intervention or participation.
The University may make its facilities available for a candidate to appear at no charge or at less than the usual and normal charge only if it is assured that the candidate appearance will consist of speeches, question-and-answer sessions, or similar communications in an academic setting, and will not be conducted as a campaign rally or fund-raising event, and that the format of the presentation will make clear that the University takes no position with regard to the candidate.
Tax laws require that the University may not, in conjunction with the appearance, expressly advocate the election or defeat of any candidate or political party, and that it not favor any candidate or political party over any other in allowing such appearances.
Discounted Rates for Candidate Appearances
The University may make its facilities available for a candidate to appear at no charge or discounted charge for the following purposes:
- speeches
- question-and-answer sessions
- communications in an academic setting
Exceptions to the Discounted Rate
The discounted rate will not be provided for campaign rallies or fund-raising events, but established student groups may use University facilities for partisan political purposes by paying the normal charge. For activities on behalf of candidates for public office beyond the campus, or those which invite nonmembers of the Yale community to use University facilities or services, the University will collect proper and appropriate charge for all facilities and services provided.
The format of the presentation must make clear that the University takes no position with regard to the candidate.
- Please avoid prolonged use of Yale facilities for partisan activities
- Please do not solicit funds in the name of the University to be used in off-campus activities.
By US Tax Taw, the University may not expressly advocate the election or defeat of any candidate or political party, nor favor any candidate or political party in allowing such appearances.