VCOM Administrative and Classified Staff Handbook

the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, and they may not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.” If you do not identify yourself as being affiliated in any way with VCOM, this disclaimer is not required. • Social media is not the forum for evaluating courses, faculty, or the institution as there is a propensity for bias and these forums do not include such things as appropriate sample size, appropriate forms for evaluation, and/or appropriate channels for review and approval. The college publishes appropriate channels for such evaluation in the College Catalog and Student Handbook or students may speak to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs for more information. • Students, faculty, and staff may not conduct surveys or polls of other students, faculty, or staff through any means, including on social media, unless approved through the Campus Dean, the Vice President for Research and the President’s office. • Students, faculty and staff may never provide a speech in public (in person or on social media) on behalf of VCOM or as a VCOM student to the public unless pre-approved by the College’s Division of Communications, Marketing, Website, and Publications and the Campus Dean. Any such speech that has not been pre-approved should be as the individual and not as a VCOM student, faculty, or staff or use the VCOM name. • Students with academic or other complaints or employees with work-related complaints, should follow the grievance process outlined in the College Catalog and Student Handbook, Faculty Handbook, or Administrative and Classified Staff Handbook. • Students, faculty, and staff must avoid using statements, photographs, video, or audio that reasonably could be viewed as malicious, obscene, threatening or intimidating, that disparages any member of the college community, or that might constitute harassment, bullying or accusation. Examples of such conduct might include offensive posts meant to intentionally harm someone's reputation or posts that could contribute to a hostile work environment on the basis of race, sex, disability, religion, or any other status protected by law or college policy. • Do not make any comment that could be viewed as discriminatory or harassment of any kind. • Students, faculty, and staff should ensure that their social media activity does not interfere with their academic commitments or the academic commitments of others. • Adhere to HIPAA and FERPA regulations. Do not use or disclose personally identifiable information (PII). Examples of such information include, but are not limited to, protected health information (PHI), student records, donor information, employee information, home addresses, and social security numbers. o Students and employees involved in patient care must maintain HIPAA regulations and maintain patient privacy and confidentiality at all costs. Students and employees must never post information about any patient or about a patient’s care, whether the patient is identified or not. o Do not display images of patients, cadavers, or body parts of patients or cadavers. o Do not display images from OMM or physical diagnosis labs unless VCOM administration has given approval for the use of such photos. • Do not give medical advice, as this may result in a violation of HIPAA and may cause danger to others. • Do not have interactions with patients on any form of social media. To do so may damage the doctor patient relationship and may have legal consequences. • Students, faculty, and staff are discouraged from “friending” one another unless they are sure that their social media communications are worthy of an academic relationship. • Do not promote or condone unprofessional or high-risk behaviors such as, excessive use of alcohol, high risk sexual behaviors, and other such behaviors that would be embarrassing or potentially harmful to the person or to VCOM. • Avoid using information or conducting activities that may violate applicable local, state, or federal laws and regulations.

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