Social Media Procedures
Use of Social Media at Sacred Heart University
At Sacred Heart University, we recognize that social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Snapchat are very important and influential communication channels.
To assist in posting content and managing the University’s social media sites, the Department of Marketing & Communications has developed some procedures and guidelines.
Before creating any University account or page, you must submit a Social Media Request. If you already have an active social media account(s), you must register your account by completing the Social Media Account Registration form.
A request for social media approval must be sent to socialmedia@sacredheart.edu before any University page is approved (specifically Twitter, Facebook & Instagram). Please do this before you start using and updating a new page. Once your request is approved, you must connect your pages to the official SHU pages, along with replying to your approval email with the links/urls to your pages. By connecting with the official SHU pages, we can keep the SHU social media community connected.
General Social Media Guidelines
- Before you start participating in any form of social media on behalf of SHU, you should receive or be given permission from your direct supervisor.
- Always remember, you are acting as a representative of SHU when using any social media channel. SHU encourages faculty, staff and students to use social media but reminds you that you could possibly be perceived as a spokesperson or representative of the University.
- Confidential or proprietary University information should not be shared publicly on social media.
- Be mindful that content is subject to review by the Department of Marketing & Communications and should always be in accordance with SHU’s employee policies and the University’s mission.
- Always protect confidential information (for example, FERPA, HIPAA and NCAA regulations).
- It is extremely important to always respect copyright and fair use rules and regulations.
- Remember your audience can include prospective students, current students, parents, colleagues, peers, alumni, employers and more!
- Develop a plan to hand over pages or sites when an administrator graduates or leaves the University. The Department of Marketing & Communications is available to assist you through any transition.
- Generally, when administering a platform within social media, you should not remove posts by users. Social media is a chance for users to express opinions, messages and share information. Removing posts can result in a loss of users and, sometimes, retaliation. Be proactive and think intelligently about how to make the best of all user comments. Of course, there are instances where it may be appropriate to remove a post, such as those that contain extremely profane language, racial slurs, threats, etc.
- The Department of Marketing & Communications maintains the right to request account access or request account removal for any administrator who violates these guidelines.