Participation in an NGSC Mission Team is both a service and a learning opportunity. Students are encouraged to deepen their understanding of communities, systems, and the civic processes that shape them. Exposure to the political process, such as observing how policies are formed, how leaders are elected, and how communities advocate for change, is an important part of this learning experience.

NGSC supports students in becoming informed, engaged citizens. Students retain their constitutional rights to participate in political activities as private individuals, including voting, expressing opinions, and engaging in campaigns on their own time.

However, when representing NGSC or participating in Mission Team activities, students must remain neutral and may not engage in political advocacy or campaign-related activity. As part of a university-affiliated program, Mission Teams must also comply with Arizona law prohibiting the use of university-related resources or representation to influence elections or legislation.

A simple guideline: learn and observe freely, but do not advocate while representing NGSC. Political activity must be conducted on your own time and with your own resources.

Permissible (As Private Individuals, Not Representing NGSC)

As private individuals, not representing the NGSC, students may:

●               Vote in local, state, and federal elections

●               Join or support a political party or candidate

●               Attend political events, meetings, or rallies to learn and stay informed

●               Express personal political opinions (in person or online)

●               Volunteer or donate to campaigns or causes

●               Engage in respectful conversations about political issues

Prohibited (While Representing NGSC or in Mission Team Activities)

Students may not:

●               Advocate for or against candidates, campaigns, or legislation

●               Present personal political views as those of NGSC

●               Use NGSC affiliation, name, or reputation to support political positions

●               Organize or participate in campaign activities during Mission Team time

●               Use NGSC-related spaces, materials, communication channels, or events for political purposes

●               Encourage others to vote for or against specific candidates or issues while representing NGSC

Key Expectation
NGSC Mission Teams are spaces for learning, reflection, and respectful engagement. Students are expected to approach political topics with curiosity and openness while maintaining neutrality and professionalism when representing NGSC.

Failure to follow these guidelines may result in disciplinary action including removal from the NGSC program and loss of the PSA scholarship.