Social Media

At Saint Vincent College, we understand that social media can be a fun and rewarding way to share your life and opinions with family, friends and co-workers around the world. However, use of social media also presents certain risks and carries with it certain responsibilities. To assist you in making responsible decisions about your use of social media, we have established these guidelines for appropriate use of social media.

This policy applies to all students and staff who work for Saint Vincent College. With respect to members of the Saint Vincent College Faculty, this document is not meant to conflict with, alter or modify in any way the policies and procedures set forth in Section 3.4.2 (Computer Usage) of the Faculty Handbook. To the extent that there is any perceived inconsistency between Section 3.4.2 and this document, the provisions of Section 3.4.2 prevail with respect to any matter dealing with a member of the College Faculty.

In the rapidly expanding world of electronic communication, social media can mean many things. Social media includes all means of communicating or posting information or content of any sort on the Internet, including to your own or someone else's web log or blog, journal or diary, personal web site, social networking or affinity web site, web bulletin board or a chat room, whether or not associated or affiliated with Saint Vincent College, as well as any other form of electronic communication.

The same principles and guidelines found in Saint Vincent College policies and our basic beliefs apply to your activities online. Students and staff are personally responsible for any social media activity conducted with a Saint Vincent College email address or on a College website or page, and/or which can be traced back to a College domain, and/or which uses the College’s equipment or property and/or which expressly or implicitly identifies you as an employee of the College.

Ultimately, you are solely responsible for what you post online. Before creating online content, consider some of the risks and rewards that are involved. Keep in mind that any of your conduct that adversely affects your job performance, the performance of fellow staff or otherwise adversely affects students, parents, alumni, donors, staff, other college constituents, and/or Saint Vincent College’s legitimate educational and business interests may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Know and follow the rules

Carefully read these guidelines, the Saint Vincent Notice of Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity, Website Privacy Policy, Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy, Acceptable (Computer) Use Policy, IS Security Policy and policies contained in the Saint Vincent Handbooks applicable to you to ensure your postings are consistent with them. Inappropriate postings that may include discriminatory remarks, harassment, and threats of violence or similar inappropriate or unlawful conduct will not be tolerated and may subject you to disciplinary action up to and including termination or expulsion.

Be respectful

Always be fair and courteous to fellow alumni, donors, parents, staff, colleagues, students and others who are part of the Saint Vincent community. Also, keep in mind that you are more likely to resolve work- related complaints by speaking directly with your co-workers, supervisor, or HR Director than by posting complaints to a social media outlet.

Nevertheless, if you decide to post complaints or criticism, avoid using statements, photographs, video or audio that reasonably could be viewed as malicious, obscene, threatening or intimidating, that disparage students, parents, alumni, donors, staff or other college constituents that might constitute harassment or bullying. Examples of such conduct might include offensive posts meant to intentionally harm someone's reputation or posts that could contribute to a hostile work environment on the basis of race, sex, disability, religion or any other status protected by law or College policy.

Be honest and accurate

Make sure you are always honest and accurate when posting information or news, and if you make a mistake, correct it quickly.

Be open about any previous posts you have altered. Remember that the Internet archives almost everything; therefore, even deleted postings can be searched. Never post any information or rumors that you know to be false about Saint Vincent, fellow staff members, students, alumni, donors, or parents.

Post only appropriate and respectful content

Maintain the confidentiality of Saint Vincent trade secrets and private or confidential information. Trades secrets may include information regarding the development of systems, processes, products, know-how and technology. Do not post internal reports, policies, procedures or other internal business-related confidential communications.

You should not incorporate into any electronic communication any trademarked or copyrighted material of the Archabbey, Seminary, College, or other source without the specific permission of authorized officials of Saint Vincent.

Respect financial disclosure laws

Do not create a link from your blog, website or other social networking site to a Saint Vincent website without identifying yourself as a Saint Vincent staff member or student.

Express only your personal opinions. Never represent yourself as a spokesperson for Saint Vincent. If Saint Vincent is a subject of the content you are creating, be clear and open about the fact that you are a staff member or student and make it clear that your views do not represent those of Saint Vincent, fellow staff members, students, alumni, donors or parents.

If you do publish a blog or post online related to the work you do or subjects associated with Saint Vincent, make it clear that you are not speaking on behalf of Saint Vincent. It is best to include a disclaimer such as "The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Saint Vincent." This is necessary to preserve the College’s good will in the marketplace.

Using social media at work

Refrain from using social media while on work time or on equipment we provide, unless it is work-related as authorized by your department head or supervisor or consistent with the Acceptable (Computer) Use Policy and IS Security Policy. Do not use Saint Vincent email addresses to register on social networks, blogs or other online tools utilized for personal use.

Retaliation is prohibited

Saint Vincent prohibits taking negative action against any staff member or student for reporting a possible deviation from this policy or for cooperating in an investigation. Any staff member or student who retaliates against another staff member or student for reporting a possible deviation from this policy or for cooperating in an investigation will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination or expulsion.

Media contacts

Staff and students should not speak to the media on Saint Vincent’s behalf without contacting the Vice President of Marketing and Communications. All media inquiries should be directed to the Office of Marketing and Communications.