Advocacy Guidelines: Interacting with Federal, State, and Local Government Officials
Faculty, staff and students across the University of Illinois System regularly engage with federal, state, and local government officials in a variety of ways, including:
- Inviting elected officials or government representatives to campus
- Testifying at legislative hearings
- Visiting legislators in their offices
To ensure these engagements are effective, coordinated, and aligned with university guidelines, individuals are encouraged to consult in advance with the Office of External Relations and Communications (ERC).
ERC Contacts
ERC serves as the system's liaison to members of the U.S. Congress and executive branch, the Illinois General Assembly, the Office of the Governor, agency leadership, and key local and community officials. ERC also leads the Council on Governmental and External Relations (COGER), which includes government relations leads from each of the three universities in the system.
Please notify ERC and your university government relations lead of university-related interactions with elected officials. Working together helps ensure communications are effective, that participants are well briefed on relevant issues, and that all interactions comply with legal and ethical requirements.
Additional resources to support leaders, faculty, and staff in university-related engagement with government representatives at the local, state, or federal level are available in these guidelines and in the fact sheet on effective advocacy.