University Flag Protocol Policy
Administrative Details
- Policy Number
- AP-163
- Effective Date
- 11/2025
- Last Reviewed
- Last Revised
- Next Scheduled Review
- 08/2027
- Responsible University Division
- Public Safety
- Responsible Executive
- Jean Peden Christodoulou, Vice President for Administration and Chief of Staff to the President
- Responsible University Office
- Public Safety
- Policy Owner
- Geraldine Hart, Associate Vice President of Public Safety and Community Engagement
- Contact Information
- PublicSafety@hofstra.edu, 516-463-6606, 516-463-6789 (emergency line)
- Category/Tag
- Buildings and Campus Operations
Purpose
This policy establishes consistent procedures for the raising, lowering, and half-staff display of the United States flag, the State of New York flag, and the University flag on university property. It ensures compliance with federal and state laws while maintaining the dignity of institutional traditions.
Scope
This policy applies to all Hofstra University facilities.
Policy
General Principles
Flags shall be treated with dignity and respect.
Only clean, serviceable flags may be flown.
Flags shall be illuminated if displayed at night.
No flag shall be flown higher than the United States flag.
All flag displays and procedures shall comply with the U.S. Flag Code (4 U.S.C. §§ 1–10)
The University President, or designee, retains ultimate authority over the display, lowering, and maintenance of all flags on university property.
Order of Display
The U.S. flag always takes precedence.
The State of New York flag is displayed second, at equal height but subordinate.
The University flag is displayed third, subordinate to both federal and state flags.
United States Flag
Authority: The President of the United States or the Governor of New York State may issue directives for the lowering of the U.S. flag to half-staff on federal and state properties. The University President, or designee, may authorize lowering of the U.S. flag on university property in response to such directives, in accordance with the U.S. Flag Code and institutional considerations. The University President, or designee, may also authorize lowering the U.S. flag to half-staff for local observances or other occasions of university significance, as determined by the President.
Criteria: Federal or state directives (e.g., 9/11, death of government officials, Memorial Day observances), subject to the discretion of the University President or designee. University community losses or observances, at the discretion of the University President.
State of New York Flag
Authority: The Governor of New York State issues directives for lowering the State flag on state properties. The University President, or designee, may authorize lowering the State flag on university property in accordance with these directives and institutional considerations, to accompany the U.S. flag. The University President, or designee, may also authorize lowering the State flag to half-staff for local observances or other occasions of university significance, as determined by the President.
Criteria: Official gubernatorial orders. University community losses or observances, at the discretion of the University President.
University Flag
When the U.S. or State flags are lowered to half-staff, the University flag shall also be lowered to the same position unless otherwise directed by the President.
Authority: The University President, or designee, has sole authority to determine when the University flag is lowered or otherwise altered.
Criteria: Death of a current student, faculty, staff member, or trustee. Other occasions of university significance, as determined by the President.
Memorial Observances (Recurrent Half-Staff Dates)
Unless otherwise directed, flags shall be displayed at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on the listed observances, which may be supplemented from time to time.
Occasion | Date / Observance Rule | Notes |
Peace Officers Memorial Day | May 15 each year | Honors federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. |
Memorial Day | Last Monday in May – from sunrise until noon | U.S. and State flags at half-staff until noon, then raised to full staff for the remainder of the day. |
Patriot Day | September 11 each year | Commemorates the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks. |
National Firefighters Memorial Day | May 4 each yar | Honors fallen firefighters; observed by presidential proclamation. |
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day | December 7 each year | Honors those who died in the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. |
Procedures
Monitoring: Public Safety will monitor relevant sources to determine changes to flag status.
Requests: Requests for flag lowering should be submitted to the Vice President for Marketing and Communications, who will consult with the President or the President’s designee for authorization.
Notification: Upon approval, Marketing and Communications will notify Public Safety and Athletics of any changes to flag status.
Implementation: Public Safety and Athletics (in and around its facilities) will carry out the raising, lowering, or half-staffing of flags promptly at sunrise and sunset, unless otherwise specified.
Recordkeeping: Public Safety will maintain an electronic log of all flag status changes, including date, time, reason, and authorizing official, retained in accordance with university recordkeeping policies.
Related Policies and References
Appendix