Before contacting state or federal policymakers, please read the following note from the Executive Vice Chancellor, Dr. Barbara Atkinson:

Dear Faculty, Staff, Students, and Administration,

As you know, the university encourages faculty to participate fully in government processes - for example, by testifying before legislative committees - as this service is a uniquely powerful way that KUMC can support the State of Kansas. However, I request that you do so in a way that maximizes our effectiveness and coordination. The KU Lawrence campus has instituted a similar policy described below.

Should you accept an invitation to testify as an expert before a legislative committee, Board of Regents policy requires that the Board be informed in advance of the date of the testimony. To make this process as simple and efficient as possible, I would ask that you contact Government Affairs in the Department of External Affairs, which can then notify the Board of Regents and the director of government affairs on the Lawrence campus, Keith Yehle. You should plan to inform Government Affairs of the date, audience and topic you will be addressing. Please also provide a copy of the testimony, so that Government Affairs can be as prepared as possible for any comments or questions that follow. You can contact Government Affairs through David Rowe, Government Affairs Manager, at x8-0256 or drowe@kumc.edu.

I also ask that you explicitly inform your audience at the start of the testimony that you are testifying as an expert on the subject matter and not as an official spokesperson for the university. This step is very important, as legislators often simply are not mindful of the critical distinction between the informed opinions of our independent faculty members and official positions of the university as a public institution. If it's helpful to you, feel free to use the following language: "I want to emphasize that the opinions and perspectives in this testimony are my own and do not represent official policy of the University of Kansas Medical Center or the views of university administration."

While not covered by Regents policy, coordination of visits to the Kansas representatives and senators in Washington is important to KUMC for many reasons. Just as with the State legislature, it is important for you inform Government Affairs in advance of any meetings with members of the Kansas federal delegation or their staff. They may also be helpful in setting up opportunities to meet with our federal representatives or members of their staff.

In addition, it is advisable whenever you write, phone or speak to members of the federal delegation about issues that you let them know clearly the vantage point from which you are speaking, i.e. private citizen, representative of a professional organization, etc. A disclaimer such as the one suggested for legislative testimony above should be part of your policy or issue based discussions with representatives or your testimony.

Thanks for your help.

Barbara Atkinson, MD
Executive Vice Chancellor

Click here to view Legislative Contact Information.