| Policy Title | Institutional Statements on Political and Social issues |
|---|---|
| Responsible Office | VP of Communications and Marketing |
| Policy Type | Communications and Marketing |
| Policy Number | 102 |
| Last Revision Date | 2/17/2026 |
Audience
This policy applies to official statements issued in the name of 91社区, including communications from the administration, executive leadership, or institutional channels.
Purpose
This policy is intended to:
- Protect the University's commitment to free expression and academic freedom
- Ensure all members of the community feel empowered to express their own views without institutional endorsement or suppression
- Preserve institutional neutrality and public trust
Definitions
Statement: Any public communication issued in the name of the University that expresses its position or response to an event or issue. It represents the voice of the institution and is distributed through official channels such as leadership messages, press releases, the website, or university social media.
Neutrality: The practice of not taking a position on contested public issues, allowing the University to support open dialogue and the free expression of diverse perspectives without endorsing a particular viewpoint.
Policy Statement
The policy reaffirms the principles of the 1992 President's Commission on Free Speech and Academic Freedom and formalizes the University's commitment to institutional restraint and neutrality in issuing statements on political and social issues. The University will issue official statements only when an issue has a direct and significant impact on campus operations, safety, or its educational mission. By limiting institutional statements on public matters, the policy supports academic freedom, encourages open dialogue, and ensures the University remains a trusted environment where diverse perspectives can be expressed.
Guiding Principles
- Institutional Neutrality and Academic Freedom
Official statements on complex public or social issues may create the perception that certain viewpoints are preferred or discouraged. Institutional restraint supports an environment where diverse perspectives can be expressed freely. - Mission Alignment
The University will issue a public statement only when an issue:-
Directly affects campus safety or operations
- Has legal, regulatory, or compliance implications
- Significantly impacts the University's ability to carry out its teaching, research, or service mission
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Preservation of Public Trust
As a public institution, the University has an obligation to avoid actions that could erode community trust or suggest institutional bias unrelated to its core educational purpose. -
Support for the Campus Community
Institutional restraint does not reflect indifference. When events affect members of the campus community, appropriate support and care will be provided. Communications related to resources, well-being, or student support will typically be issued by relevant student-facing or operational offices (e.g., Dean of Students, ISSS, or other appropriate units).
Procedure
Decision Authority
Determinations about whether an official University statement is warranted will be
made by the President and senior University leadership through a careful assessment
of the issue's relevance to institutional operations and mission.
Implementation
The Division of Communications and Marketing will coordinate the development, review,
and dissemination of any approved institutional statements to ensure consistency with
this policy.
Related Information
University Policy 101: /operations/policies/policy-101.html
Title 20 of the United States Code:
Contacts
Gregory Delviscio
Vice President for Communications and Marketing
607-777-2175
gregdelv@binghamton.edu
Document History
This section should list the life of the document. Every time the document is revised
or reviewed; it should be noted.
| Date | Description | Responsible Party |
| 2/17/2026 | Approved by Senior Officers Group | Vice President for Communications and Marketing |