As a general practice, Schools and Academic Units within Brown (departments, centers, institutes and programs) are encouraged to share a University institution-level Public Statement in circumstances where the School or Academic Unit wishes to issue a Public Statement. For any School or Academic Unit-level statement departing from an institution-level Public Statement, or in the absence of an institution-level statement, Schools and Academic Units must consider the specific educational, research and scholarly mission of their School or Academic Unit, as well as their Unit-level governance.

The following standards apply to School and Academic Unit Public Statements:

• Schools and Academic Units considering whether or not to issue a Public Statement are encouraged to share institution-level Public Statements with their constituencies if the School or Academic Unit decides to disseminate a Public Statement using its communications channels or platforms.
• Any separate statement issued by Brown’s Schools (School of Public Health, Engineering School, Graduate School, School of Professional Studies, and the Warren Alpert Medical School, as well as the College) that is distinct from the institution-level Public Statement are subject to prior review at the University senior level (by the Office of University Communications on behalf of the Office of the President and Office of the Provost).
• Any Academic Unit-level statements from units within the Schools (departments, centers, institutes or programs) should be reviewed at the School dean’s level, and the School dean will determine whether the following conditions for issuing an Academic Unit-level statement are met:
  1. The message speaks to the implications of the external issue/precipitating event for the education, research, initiatives or operations specific to the Academic Unit and/or its field of study.
  2. The message speaks to actions the Academic Unit will take connected to its academic mission of education and/or research in response to the issue/precipitating event. 
  3. The message reflects information about the issue/precipitating event that is well documented as accurate, based on current data or information (Public Statements cannot include speculation, claims or accusations, including claims of criminal or human rights offenses that have not been adjudicated, as such content incurs potential liability for the department and is subject to legal claims).
  4. The head of the Academic Unit has reviewed the Public Statement to ensure 1) that the above-conditions have been met; and 2) that an appropriate process has been followed to ensure that the message is representative of the members of that Academic Unit. Public Statements should not be issued on behalf of or in the name of an entire Academic Unit — including using that Unit’s communications vehicles, website or social platforms — that represent the views of an individual or subset of individuals within that Unit without an appropriate process determining representation. This standard applies also to any statements developed by or submitted to the Academic Unit by fellows, students, alumni or external organizations; any Public Statement issued by the Academic Unit must be considered a Public Statement representing the Unit and cannot be issued on behalf of other individuals, entities, groups or organizations.

As a general practice, Administrative Units within Brown (non-academic divisions, departments, offices, programs or other units) are considered extensions of the central administration and expected to share University institution-level messages in circumstances where the Administrative Unit wishes to disseminate a Public Statement. For any Administrative Unit statement departing from an institution-level Public Statement, or in the absence of an institution-level statement, Administrative Units within Brown must consider the specific mission and function of their Administrative Unit, as well as their Unit-level governance.

The following standards apply to Administrative Unit Public Statements:

• Administrative Units considering whether or not to issue a Public Statement may share institution-level Public Statements with their constituencies if the Unit decides to issue a Public Statement.
• Any Administrative Unit statement distinct or separate from the institution-level Public Statement is subject to review at the University senior level (by the Office of University Communications on behalf of the Office of the President, Office of the Provost, or relevant vice president, dean or Senior Administrative Officer of the University).
• For Public Statements distinct or separate from the institution-level Public Statement, the Senior Administrative Officer with oversight over the Administrative Unit will determine whether the following conditions for issuing a Unit-level statement are met:
  1. The message speaks to distinct implications of the external issue/precipitating event for the mission or specific operations of the Administrative Unit.
  2. The message speaks substantively to specific actions the Administrative Unit will take in alignment with its administrative functions or operations in response to the issue/precipitating event. 
  3. The message reflects information about the issue/precipitating event that is well documented as accurate, based on current data or information (Public Statements cannot include speculation, claims or accusations, including claims of criminal or human rights offenses that have not been adjudicated, as such content incurs potential liability for the University and is subject to legal claims).
  4. The message has been approved by the head of the Administrative Unit to ensure 1) that the above-conditions have been met; and 2) that it is representative of the functions and operations of that unit. Public Statements should not be issued on behalf of a Unit — including using that Unit’s communications vehicles, website or social platforms — that represent the views of an individual or subset of individuals within that Unit. This standard applies also to any statements developed by or submitted to the Administrative Unit by students, alumni or external organizations; any Public Statement issued by the Administrative Unit must be a Public Statement representing the Unit itself and cannot be issued on behalf of other individuals, entities, groups or organizations.

All statutes, laws and policies governing Brown University and its Schools, Academic Units and Administrative Units — and individuals issuing messages as representatives of the University or its affiliated units — apply to Public Statements. This includes, but is not limited to, the Political Activity Policy, University Code of Conduct, Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources Policy, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Policy, HIPAA Security Policy, HIPAA Privacy Policy, Privacy Policy, Brown University Name Use Policy, Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Compliance Policy, and Copyright Ownership and Use Policy, among other policies and statutes.

Therefore, in accordance with these policies, Public Statements cannot be issued by the University or its affiliated Academic Units or Administrative Units that do any of the following:

• Include any messages that promote, endorse or oppose political campaigns or candidates for elected or appointed government office, or comment in support or opposition to specific legislation in ways that would be subject to lobbying rules or IRS restrictions for non-profit organizations;
• Are threatening, harassing or discriminatory, including bias statements that target protected classes;
• Defame individuals or contain ad hominem attacks;
• Release private or confidential information, including, but not limited to, information related to the academic records, health status or personnel records of individuals at the institution;
• Violate the rights of an individual or an organization to its intellectual property; or
• Do not align with the University's mission or Code of Conduct.

Any member of the Brown community may express their views publicly on any matter of public interest in a Private Capacity as a private individual. The following standards apply to statements made in a Private Capacity:

• When making a statement in a Private Capacity, a Brown community member must not include any content or material that suggests that their message or communication represents any School, Academic Unit, Administrative Unit, or program, activity or initiative of the University.
• Private statements should not include the name of the University or the community member’s University position, title or affiliation, unless being listed as part of an academic affiliation demonstrating a field of study, research or scholarly expertise.
• University email, social accounts or web addresses should not be used when issuing Public Statements in a Private Capacity, and elements of the Brown Visual Identity should not accompany such messages (statements made in a Private Capacity cannot include the Brown name, logo or associated images, unless the Brown University name is listed as part of a position title by a faculty member to demonstrate a field of study or scholarly expertise, as noted above).
• When issuing Public Statements in a Private Capacity, Brown community members must not use University stationery, backdrops or signature lines, either in print or electronically.

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