THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE
             POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL
     
     
                                        No.            55   
                                        Date       1/2/96   
                                        Approved     PBR    
     
     
     Subject:  Policy Governing Employee Involvement in Political Candidacy
                 and Officeholding     
     
     Policies adopted by the Board of Governors in 1976 establish processes for
     resolving, in advance, questions about possible conflicts between a University
     employee's satisfactory performance of employment responsibilities and his
     involvement in political candidacy and officeholding.  All University employees
     except those subject to the State Personnel Act are covered by the policies.  An
     employee who intends to become a candidate for election or appointment to any
     public office is responsible for knowing and complying with the requirements of
     the Board policies.  A copy of the full text of the Board policies may be obtained
     from the Special Assistant to the Chancellor.  Failure to comply with the policies
     is a violation of the terms and conditions of University employment and may
     result in disciplinary action.  The following is a summary of the basic provisions
     of the Board policies.  The full text of the policies should be consulted by an
     affected employee.  Advice concerning the interpretation and application of the
     policies may be obtained from the Special Assistant to the Chancellor.
     
     1.   Candidacy for election to public office
     
          Becoming a candidate for election to a full-time or major part-time office is
          presumed to create a conflict of time that interferes with the employee's
          satisfactory performance of the University employment obligations.  The
          conflict may be avoided by (1) resigning from University employment, (2)
          seeking an appropriate unpaid leave of absence from University employment,
          or (3) rebutting the presumption of conflict by demonstrating that there in fact
          will be no conflict between campaign activity and University employment. 
          An employee who intends to become a candidate must follow prescribed
          procedures for resolving questions about conflicts in advance of becoming a
          candidate.
     
     2.   Holding public office
     
          Upon assuming an elective or appointive full-time office, a University
          employee will be deemed to have resigned his University employment, unless
          prior to assuming office he requests and is granted a full leave of absence,
          without pay.  Such a leave of absence may not exceed two years.
     
          Upon assuming an elective or appointive major part-time office, a University
          employee will be presumed to have a conflict of time that necessitates his
          resignation from University employment; the resignation requirement may be
          avoided if (1) he requests and is granted an appropriate leave of absence or (2)
          he rebuts the presumption of conflict by demonstrating that there in fact will
          be no conflict between officeholding and University employment.
     
          An employee who intends to occupy such an office must follow prescribed
          procedures for resolving questions about conflicts in advance of assuming the
          office.
     
     3.   Deadlines
     
          Any petitions required under the prescribed procedures for candidacy or
          officeholding must be filed according to the following schedule:
     
           For affected                     Completed petition            Completed petition
           academic periods                 to be received by             to be received by
           beginning:                       Chancellor:                   Board:
     
           January (e.g., for a             October 15 of                 November 1 of
           May primary contest)             preceding year                preceding year
     
           May/June (e.g., for fall         March 15                      April 1
           elections affecting
           summer employment)
     
           August/September (e.g.,          June 15                       July 1
           for fall general election)
     
           Other periods                    90 days prior to              60 days prior to
                                            beginning of period           beginning of period