VCOM Administrative and Classified Staff Handbook

be a VCOM program or is preapproved by VCOM. Employees wearing VCOM attire should be mindful of their behavior in public settings. Social Media Policy The VCOM Policy on Social Media Usage is to provide clarification on how to best enhance and protect personal and professional reputations as well as intellectual property of VCOM’s students, faculty, and staff when participating in the social media environment. This policy defines the rules and procedures for the use of official college social media sites to ensure that college-sponsored social media is both legal and in compliance with college policies. In addition, this policy defines the guidelines for students and employees who participate in other forms of social media such as posting to his/her personal media or when commenting on other community or public sites. VCOM encourages the use of social media to connect with others, including students, employees, alumni, and the college. Social media sites are excellent venues to communicate and encourage engaging discussions about college current events, issues, accolades, organizations, and people. However, these technologies must be used with caution, as what students, faculty, or staff write can disclose protected information, damage reputations, offend, and be considered unethical or unprofessional. In addition, what individuals post can have legal ramifications. Damage can be done to students, faculty, staff, VCOM and/or the profession. VCOM reserves the right to consider how a prospective student, faculty or staff candidate, current faculty or staff member, or current student presents themselves via social media. This information can be used to determine whether that person has the appropriate characteristics (ethical and professional) necessary to be a successful VCOM employee or student (candidate), continue their employment with VCOM (current employee) or to continue enrollment as a VCOM student and future physician based on the ethical and professional nature of the social media content. This information can also be used to determine whether that person represents a threat to self or other faculty, staff, or students and to whether HIPAA or FERPA standards are being followed. These policies apply to all types of use of social media on behalf of VCOM, including departmental use and use by individual employees whose job duties entail such use, or when using social media for personal use. Students and employees should use good judgment when using social media and be mindful that their actions and statements have the ability not only to affect themselves, but also others at VCOM and the college. Social media is “real life.” Behavior in social media is no different from behaviors expected on campus, including expectations for speaking in the classroom, hall, in conversation with friends, or public postings on a wall. Please bear in mind that posts on social media may be replicated quickly, be taken out of context, and will remain public for an indeterminate amount of time. • In all forms of communication, students and employees are expected to be professional, use good judgment, and be accurate and honest. • Students and physician faculty are expected to follow the Osteopathic Oath and the AOA Code of Ethics, which includes the affirmation to never cast imputations upon themselves, their peers, or the college. • Students must adhere to VCOM’s Honor Code of Conduct and employees must adhere to their respective professional code of conduct. Any verbal comments or actions that would be considered inappropriate or unprofessional offline are also considered inappropriate online and may result in referral to the Honor Code Committee for students or disciplinary action for employees. • If a student or employee communicates inaccurate or unprofessional information, they will be asked to correct it immediately. Depending on the nature of the information, further disciplinary action may be required. • Unless pre-approved, your social media name, handle and URL should not include VCOM or VCOM’s logo.

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