Note for the reader: the following correspondence was released to WSU chancellors and academic deans on May 16, 2025.
Dear Chancellors and Deans,
We have received a few reports in the last several weeks regarding faculty members’ attempts to lobby for their program and potential funding.
University employees who engage in lobbying activities are required to track and report all applicable lobbying activities in a State Lobbying Activity Quarterly Report. This section defines state lobbying and provides procedures for quarterly reporting of state lobbying. Prior to contacting elected officials, employees must discuss all potential lobbying activities with their dean or supervisor and consult the Office of External Affairs and Government Relations.
Carefully review the Business Policies and Procedures Manual (BPPM), Chapter 10: Governance and Legal, and ensure that your leadership team, faculty, and staff are also aware of the entire policy and, importantly, the following activities that are not permitted.
WSU employees are not permitted to use University time or resources to:
- Promote or encourage others to promote state funding proposals that are not official budget requests of Washington State University.
- Lobby for or against legislation unless authorized by the University to represent these issues.
As we reset expectations under new leadership, it is important to highlight that this policy will be strictly enforced as we move forward.
Best,
T. Chris Riley-Tillman
Provost and Executive Vice President