The University recognizes the value of social media to the campus community in providing opportunities to share faculty, student, and staff creativity, viewpoints, and experiences with various constituencies, while also providing access to current topics and issues. However, it is critical that we ensure that the University's social media accounts are used to support Eastern's mission, goals, and programs. Because everything that we do ultimately reflects on the University's organizational and professional reputations, Eastern Connecticut State University employees should use caution when using social media platforms, as these platforms create messages and information that are immediate and permanent. This policy is intended to properly portray, promote, and protect the University and assist faculty and staff at Eastern Connecticut State University who are responsible for managing social media sites on behalf of the University and its departments. They do not apply to student clubs, student-funded organizations, and other student groups. Administrators of such social media accounts will be asked to use the following disclaimer to differentiate themselves from official University social media sites.
"This social media site is not maintained by Eastern Connecticut State University and should not be construed to be an official communication of the University. Content is managed solely by the account holder and does not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the University."
To clearly indicate what social media sites are official, University-sanctioned accounts, the following language will be added to existing Eastern social media sites and will be a requirement for new official sites:
"This social media site is maintained by Eastern Connecticut State University and constitutes an official University communication. Content is managed by a University employee."
Classroom-based accounts maintained by faculty and/or faculty/staff personal social media accounts are exempt from all aspects of this policy.