VCOM Faculty Handbook

• When engaging on social media on VCOM’s behalf, do not express political opinions; support political candidates; engage in political activities; support or promote a cause; endorse people, products, services, or organizations. Your political, social, or product opinions can only be expressed in your individual capacity on your own social media accounts and, even then, avoid the appearance that you are speaking or acting for the college in these matters. • By posting content to any social media site, you agree that you own or otherwise control all the rights to that content, that your use of the content is protected fair use, or that you have permission to post the content; that you will not knowingly provide misleading or false information; and that you hold the College harmless for any claims resulting from the content. • VCOM will not be liable for and will not indemnify any student or employee for any liability that results from postings from personal social media accounts. Cyberbullying Do not engage in cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through social media via SMS, Text, apps, forums, gaming, or other methods where people can view, participate in, or share content online. • Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else, and can include sharing personal or private information about someone else or calling for • As future physicians, considering a classmate, faculty member, or staff member’s well-being and mental health should always be considered before posting, and permission must be obtained in using the other person’s name or image. • The college will act on reports of cyberbullying if it is against another student, faculty member, staff member, the institution, or a patient. • Cyberbullying is considered a form of harassment and when a student engages in cyberbullying it will be referred to the Honor Code Council and/or the Professional and Ethical Standards Board. When engaged in by an employee, disciplinary action will occur. • Any student or employee who is the subject of cyberbullying should report this to Human Resources or to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Official College Social Media Sites All college social media accounts must be pre-approved and set up by the Division for Communications, Marketing, Website and Publications. This office should be used as a resource for the college community for any social media needs and can assist in creating pages that are set up properly according to the social media site’s policy. If a student or employee would like to launch a presence on a social media platform, please make this request through the Division for Communications, Marketing, Website and Publications. Student organizations wishing to launch a presence on a social media platform must first seek approval from the Associate Dean for Student Affairs. The Associate Dean for Student Affairs will then make the request to the Division for Communications, Marketing, Website and Publications. VCOM divisions/departments that wish to create a social media page (not a VCOM website page) must obtain pre approval through the Vice President for Communications, Marketing, Website and Publications. Prior to seeking that approval, divisions/departments should have a plan developed for the use of the social media page and have approval from the Division Officer and Dean. The plan should discuss what they determine the message, audiences, goals, and strategy for keeping information on the social media site up to date. The requesting division/department should also provide a list of employees and their roles who are requesting access to contribute to the pages. Communications may grant editor privilege to employees who have been given permission for a VCOM social comments about another individual causing embarrassment or humiliation. • Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.

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