Social Media Policy

Jump to: Purpose | Scope | Account Registration | Policy | General Rules for Official Content Contributors | Guidelines for Content Moderation | Personal Social Media

Purpose

Social media is increasingly common for university departments, students and employees, and these communication tools can create a significant impact on organizational and professional reputations. The purpose of this policy and its related application process is to ensure that all social media interactions on behalf of the Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS) represent the VSCS’s best interests, and that individuals who speak on behalf of the System or one of its member institutions have the authority and approval to do so under the circumstances. This policy applies only to social media accounts and the use of social media accounts created to officially represent the VSCS and its constituent groups, departments, programs, and entities and not to individuals’ private social media accounts.

Scope

This policy applies to all social media accounts created by VSCS employees and agents for the official business purposes of the System, including Vermont State University (VTSU) and Community College of Vermont (CCV) faculty, staff, student employees or students with authorization, and to all VTSU and CCV departments and programs, and this policy applies to the use of those social media accounts by faculty, staff, student employees or students with authorization, and to all VTSU and CCV departments and programs. This policy also defines the required separation between official social media use and personal social media use.

Social Media Account Registration

Our policy requires that all accounts be registered with the University Marketing and Communications office.

Unregistered accounts will not be publicized by the university or engaged with by official university channels.

Apply for a New Account
Register an Existing Account

Policy

The Vermont State Colleges System supports the need for a strong presence in the social media realm. The VSCS encourages colleges, departments, programs, groups, and entities to be active in the social space and create social media accounts to build enriching relationships.

VSCS has developed this policy to help social media posters properly portray, promote, and protect its institutions and to assist VSCS entities in creating and managing their social media accounts. The policy also provides suggestions on how to protect personal and professional reputations while using social media.

This policy requires that:

  • All VSCS social media accounts, whether existing or subsequently created, are subject to this policy, and all such VSCS social media accounts must go through the process set forth in this policy for an official review to be officially recognized by VTSU or CCV. This policy applies to all VSCS social media accounts whether they completed this official review process.
  • Officially recognized VSCS social media accounts and web pages will be reviewed and approved through an application process managed by the VTSU and CCV communications. Each social media account will have responsible administrators assigned.
  • Each officially approved account must include a disclaimer statement, in the prescribed form, regarding content and opinions contained on the site.
  • Inappropriate, unauthorized, injurious, inaccurate, and illegal content that does not comply with this policy or the Social Media Terms and Conditions may be removed by VSCS employees identified as account administrators or at the direction of the Social Media Policy Staff. Failure to comply with such a directive or any other element of this Policy may constitute misconduct that is actionable within the scope of the VSCS employee handbook or applicable collective bargaining agreement.
  • Best practices for social media accounts should be considered.

General Rules for Official Content Contributors to Institutional Channels and Official VSCS, VTSU, or CCV (“Institution”) Social Media Channels

Institution social media accounts may not be used for advocacy or political purposes unless the Institution has determined that action.

Official Content Contributors must adhere to the following provisions:

  • Comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, Institution and VSCS policies.
  • Never post information that is confidential, proprietary, or a violation of individual privacy by law, rule, or regulation, including, but not limited to, information about the Institution, its Employees and Students, legal matters, litigation, or any parties to litigation.
  • Never use the Institution’s name or likeness to promote products or causes not affiliated with the Institution.
  • Ensure that all content on Official Institution Social Media Channels and Institutional Channels is accessible to people with disabilities.
  • The Institution’s Channels will not share or engage with content that does not follow the rules outlined in this policy.

Guidelines for Content/Moderation

At the Vermont State Colleges, we strive to make our social media spaces welcoming and safe for all users to express their opinions. We do not hide or delete comments unless they clearly violate these guidelines. It is important to remember that anger is not, in and of itself, abusive, and that negative content may be part of a productive dialogue. The following guidelines should always be followed while moderating social media accounts representing Vermont State Colleges, Vermont State University, and the Community College of Vermont.

Use of Personal Social Media

This policy is not meant to affect an individual’s freedom of expression. This policy is meant to avoid confusion between personal expression and official positions taken by VSCS, VTSU, or CCV.

If, from your personal social media post, it is clear you are a VSCS employee, or if you mention the Institution, or it is reasonably clear you are referring to the Institution or a position taken by the Institution, and also express a political opinion or an opinion regarding the Institution’s positions or actions, you must specifically note that the opinion expressed is your personal opinion and not the Institution’s position.

For more resources, please review our Personal Social Media Guidance page.