Elected Officials

Communications with Elected Officials

When engaging with policymakers regarding SJSU activities and priorities, it is essential to involve the Community and Government Relations (CGR) team early in the process. CGR serves as the central liaison between the university and elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels. We encourage you to fill out this questionnaire so the CGR team can help you better prepare and deliver your message to elected officials, as well as strategize your involvement in advocacy efforts throughout the year.

In the meantime, if you have already planned a meeting with elected officials or are engaging in direct contact with local, state, or federal policymakers or their staffs, please contact Nina Chuang, Assistant Director of Community and Government Relations, so CGR can support and enhance your efforts and provide you with timely policy updates.

Campus Visits by Elected Officials

If you are planning to invite a local, state, or federal policymaker to campus for an event or some other kind of programming, please contact CGR as soon as possible.

Elected officials visiting SJSU should be greeted as they arrive and accompanied by their host, or CGR, for the entire duration of their visit. For high-level elected officials' visits, there is a formal protocol on who should greet the visitor, so please consult CGR. 

High-level officials include:

  • Current or former chiefs of state/heads of government or their spouses
  • United States Cabinet members
  • United States members of Congress (Senators and Representatives)
  • California Governor and/or First spouse
  • California State Senator or Assemblymember
  • County Supervisor
  • County Superintendent
  • Mayor of San Jose
  • San Jose City Council Member
  • San Jose City Manager

When engaging with elected officials on behalf of SJSU, you are representing the university as an institution. This includes invitations to events on campus, panelists, and speaking requests.

Involving CGR in your advocacy efforts ensures that SJSU’s relationships with elected officials are strategically managed, allowing for a unified approach to policy engagement that reflects the university's mission and priorities. By working together, we can enhance the effectiveness of our advocacy and ensure that our outreach to policymakers is coordinated, impactful, and aligned with SJSU’s institutional goals.