VCOM Faculty Handbook

creates the appearance of discrimination, favoritism in grading, or inappropriate access to educational opportunities exists. Faculty engaged in unethical conduct of this type are subject to disciplinary procedures. This may include dismissal from VCOM. Relationship to the College Community VCOM is a professional osteopathic medical college where expectations of the medical community are often higher than that of the general population. Professional and ethical behaviors are expected of the college students, faculty, and staff always, whether at work or in the community. Illegal acts, unethical acts, and acts that discredit VCOM, and are not worthy of a professional college employee are reasons for suspension and possible dismissal. The employee should not represent themselves as acting as an agent of VCOM, except when the program is deemed to 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.

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