Email from Business and Finance Office

Dear UW-Green Bay Faculty and Staff,

With the amount of information coming from the Federal Government and the speed in which it is coming, it is difficult to be able to absorb and assess what items may require action. UW-Green Bay has convened a group of stakeholders who are meeting weekly to attempt to consolidate the information received both directly from the Federal Government and the guidance provided by the Universities of Wisconsin on what action items may be required. However, it is understood that in many occasions you may be asked for answers or opinions on certain issues and may be unsure of how to respond. It is hoped that this communication provides you the resources which will allow you to respond and properly refer any concerns which are raised to you in the scope of your work.

Civility & Inclusivity Statement

The Cabinet recently updated the Civility & Inclusivity Statement for UW-Green Bay which can be referred to as the Institutional position on expected behavior within our institutional community.

Institutional Statement

The Chancellor’s Office also has issued Guidance on University Public Statements and the Universities of Wisconsin has issued SYS, 100 Interim: Institutional Statements. As a reminder, we ask any employee who’s position may reflect authority on behalf of the University to carefully review this advisement before making any statement. If you have any questions, you are strongly encouraged to contact Marketing and University Communication to review options for responding to any requests from the media or members of the public.

Outreach to Federal and State Legislators

In this current climate it is also possible that you may be asked to make contact with members of the Federal or State Legislature in your capacity as an employee. Please note that communication with any lawmaker for the purposes of advocating any specific action or endorsement of any legislation on behalf of the University may be considered lobbying https://www.wisconsin.edu/government-relations/guidance-on-political-campaign-activities-at-university-of-wisconsin-system-institutions/. Prior to having any communication with a lawmaker or even signing a letter of support in your capacity as a University employee, we ask that you contact Janet Bonkowski, bonkowsj@uwgb.edu, as legislative liaison to ensure that the action would not be considered lobbying activity.

Communication with Students

There have been some questions which have arisen regarding faculty and staff communicating with groups of students on these issues which are outside of the scope of course topics or role with the University. Moving forward, review the above links prior to making any large-scale communication to students in regard to any governmental action and consider referring those students to the appropriate resources in lieu of issuing a communication which may be considered a University Statement.

None of the above is intended to dictate what you do outside of your role as a University employee, on your own time and using your own resources, however when using University resources or performing your job function, it is important to adhere to guidance above.

Thank you for taking a moment to review the above information and links that can be shared with students if you wish.

Christopher C. Paquet

Assistant Chancellor for Compliance, Facilities, and Safety

Title IX Coordinator

Records Custodian