Social Media: Legal and Policy Issues

Jeffrey Hawkins, University Legal Counsel, PA State System of Higher Education

Paul Redfern, Director of Web Communications & Electronic Media, Gettysburg College

Has your institution established rules for using social media? Do you know how Commonwealth law may be at odds with social networking companies’ policies? Learn

about free speech, copyright and liability issues, and more.

Gettysburg College is a highly selective national, four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences. With a student body of approximately 2,600, it is

located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. The

College was founded in 1832.

BAD POLICY

Organization

• VP of Enrollment & Educational Services• Admissions• Financial Aid• Institutional Research• Athletics• Communications & Public Relations• Web Communications & Electronic Media

Web Presence Committee

• The committee is charged with developing policy and assessing the effectiveness of strategies.

• The College web presence will include the College's official site, institutional mini sites, video, e-communications, self service portals, as well as other social media sites. (Including but not limited to sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter)

• http://www.gettysburg.edu/about/offices/ees/web_comm/presence/

Timeline

• November 2009 – first discussion• February 2010 – follow up discussion• April 2010 – final discussion

Questions to ask

• Policies vs. Guidelines vs. Best Practices• What can you enforce• What do you want to address• Do you need or want policy• What style fits your institution

Resources

• http://www.thesocialpath.com/2008/12/why-intels-social-media-policy-is-a-really-big-deal-really.html

• http://webcomm.fiu.edu/2009/05/social-media-guidelines/

• http://mashable.com/2009/06/02/social-media-policy-musts/

• http://alumni.depaul.edu/community/SocialMediaGuidelines.aspx

• http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/marcomm/social-networking-guidelines

• http://www.rwu.edu/newsandevents/mediarelations/policies/socialnetworking.htm

Roger Williams Example

• Employees who use a Roger Williams e-mail account must consult their supervisor and/or Dean in advance of their intention to use social networking sites. In addition, staff or faculty using either an RWU address or a personal address to create or post comments to blogs should include this disclaimer: The postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily reflect Roger Williams University’s opinion, strategies or policies.

Intel Guidelines

• Stick to your area of expertise and provide unique, individual perspectives on what's going on at Intel and in the world.

• Post meaningful, respectful comments—in other words, no spam and no remarks that are off-topic or offensive.

• Always pause and think before posting. That said, reply to comments in a timely manner, when a response is appropriate.

• Respect proprietary information and content, and confidentiality.

• When disagreeing with others' opinions, keep it appropriate and polite.

• Know and follow the Intel Code of Conduct and the Intel Privacy Policy

http://socialmediagovernance.com/policies.php

Questions

Jeffrey HawkinsUniversity Legal Counsel

PA State System of Higher EducationEmail: jhawkins@passhe.edu

Ph: 717-720-4070

Paul RedfernDirector of Web Communications & Electronic Media

Gettysburg College@coachfern

predfern@gettysburg.eduhttp://highedwebmarketing.wordpress.com/