VCOM Administrative and Classified Staff Handbook

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 media page. • The Division for Communications, Marketing, Website and Publications will ensure duplicate accounts are not created and that all platforms associated with the college are similarly branded and consistently maintained. This includes following the guidelines for naming your account and using institutional logos and graphics. • All social media pages created for VCOM are the property of the college and should not be deleted or altered without first contacting the Division for Communications, Marketing, Website and Publications. • All social media accounts officially recognized by VCOM must always have the Vice President for Communications, Marketing, Website and Publications and a staff member of that Division as administrators. The college’s Vice President for Communications and the campus-specific Director of Communications, Marketing, Website and Publications must also have account administrator access on all comments about another individual causing embarrassment or humiliation. • Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.

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