• Section 1 - Purpose of Policy
• Section 2 - Application and Scope
• Section 3 - Public Statements on behalf of the University
• Section 4 - Public Statements made in an area of Professional Expertise
• Section 5 - Public Statements made in a Private Capacity
• Section 6 - Public Statements by Former Staff and Former Students of the University
• Section 7 - Roles and Responsibilities
• Section 8 - Definitions

Section 1 - Purpose of Policy

(1) Members of the University Community are encouraged to participate in public debate on issues of professional and public concern. This Policy stipulates how the University of Wollongong’s name should be used in relation to public statements made by members of the University Community.

Section 2 - Application and Scope

(2) This Policy applies to:

1. academic and non-academic Staff of the University of Wollongong;
2. students of the University of Wollongong; and
3. other members of the University Community.

Section 3 - Public Statements on behalf of the University

(3) Views which are attributed to the University as a whole can only be made by the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor and President, members of the Senior Executive, or other approved officers of the University as specified in the Delegations of Authority Policy and/or in resolutions of Council. Where general staff are directed to make public statements in their area of professional expertise they should use their position title, as appropriate.

Section 4 - Public Statements made in an area of Professional Expertise

(4) From time to time, members of the University Community may choose or may be requested to make public statements in their professional or expert capacity on matters of public interest. As part of the University’s wider commitment to the dissemination of knowledge and participation in public discourse, members of the University Community are encouraged to participate in public debate on issues of professional and public concern.

(5) The views of concerned and informed individuals are an essential contribution to public debate. However, there is a diversity of opinions on most issues and it should not be assumed that individually held opinions are shared by all members of the University Community. Careful consideration should be given, therefore, to avoid the use of the University affiliation in public debate in a manner which implies that collegiate agreement with a particular view has been established where it has not.

(6) For example, a staff member wishing to publish an article or a letter in a newspaper may use their title and the University's name but it is their responsibility to make clear that the views expressed are their own and not necessarily those of the University.

(7) When making public statements in an area of academic expertise, staff should use their academic title (ie professor, associate professor, doctor etc) and not their University appointment (ie Dean, Associate Dean, Head of School etc).

(8) Individual members of the University Community wishing to participate in matters of professional or public debate on behalf of a group of colleagues should have previously been granted approval to do so after collegiate agreement on those views has been reached by a clearly established and mutually agreed process. When these views are presented by a member of the University, care should be taken to attribute them to the particular group which that member represents.

(9) For example, a staff member who publishes an article or a letter in a newspaper on behalf of a group of colleagues may use the University's name but it is their responsibility to issue an appropriate statement that the views expressed are those of the particular group and not necessarily those of the University. As resolved by the University Council (2002/86), student journals and newspapers must contain a disclaimer. The following wording should be used:

1. Responsibility for [insert name of organisation/group] electronic and non-electronic publications is taken by [insert name of organisation/group]. The University of Wollongong accepts no responsibility for this publication.

(10) Where research or partial research results are being published, researchers should ensure they follow the relevant policies/guidelines before using the University’s name in such publication. These policies and guidelines include:

1. the Commercial Research Policy;
2. Commercial Activity Guidelines;
3. IP Intellectual Property Policy; and
4. Code of Practice - Responsible Conduct of Research.

Section 5 - Public Statements made in a Private Capacity

(11) Public statements made as a private citizen, rather than in a professional or expert capacity should not make use of the University Name, its address (physical or electronic) or letterhead, or refer to the title of a person’s University appointment or association.

Section 6 - Public Statements by Former Staff and Former Students of the University

(12) Former Staff members and former Students are not permitted to make public comment under the name of the University of Wollongong.

Section 7 - Roles and Responsibilities

(13) Advice and assistance on the appropriateness of using the University’s name in relation to public statements made by members of the University Community can be obtained from the following officers:

1. For media enquiries: the Senior Manager, Media and Public Relations;
2. For commercial research matters:
   1. Senior Business Development Manager;
   2. Business Development Manager.

(14) Where doubt still exists about the appropriateness of using the University’s name in relation to public statements made by members of the University Community, the matter should be discussed with the Vice-Chancellor and President or the appropriate member of the Senior Executive.

Section 8 - Definitions