The Marketing Department is responsible for maintaining and enforcing this policy, as well as ensuring the appropriate branding and representation of the University. The Marketing Department reserves the right to make changes to the social media policy at any time.
Affiliated User Sites
Affiliated user sites are defined as accounts or pages that are officially associated with and approved by RVU. These accounts or pages may be run by student clubs or interest groups, tracks, departments, or fellows. Any accounts or pages that bear the RVU name or branding must receive approval or action will be taken to close the account or page. To become an affiliated user site, the administrator should contact marketing@rvu.edu. Any existing account or site that bears the RVU name or branding must receive approval through the above process or action will be taken to close the account/site.
Posts must be service- or education-based or should further the objective of the student club, interest group, track, or department. It is the responsibility of the account or page administrator to ensure that posts accurately reflect RVU’s core values. Communications on social media sites must comply with all applicable University policies.
Official Class Groups on Facebook
Facebook groups offer a place for students to talk, share information, post advertisements or requests, and support one another. Every year, a representative of the Marketing Department will create a Facebook group for each new matriculating class. As this is an official RVU account, it will be subject to the Code of Conduct. Students may not create other groups for the class, though they may create personal groups that are not linked to RVU by name or branding.
Membership is open to students who have matriculated into or plan to matriculate into the cohort for the group page they are requesting membership for. Students from other classes may also join if they are representatives from the following student organizations: Student Government Association (SGA); Class Council; Peer Mentor; Tutor; or Ambassador. Students from other classes who do not meet that criteria and who wish to promote events, housing opportunities, or other appropriate content to the page are welcome to reach out to the Marketing Department or to student leadership to have the content posted to the page on their behalf.
Posting on Personal Sites
Members of the RVU Community are encouraged to share University news and events that are a matter of public record with their social networks. However, despite the site or account being personal, if there is a violation of RVU’s Code of Conduct or Appropriate Conduct and Discipline, students or employees may still face disciplinary action, particularly if RVU is tagged or mentioned in the post.
Confidentiality
Proprietary information about RVU should not be posted on social media. This includes, but is not limited to, personal information about students, alumni, employees, contractors, or partners. Information obtained from internal or confidential meetings—such as financial, legal, or operational information, strategies, and forecasts—should not be posted on social media or affiliated user sites.
Patients and their right to privacy is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Never disclose a patient’s name or identifiable information on social media, nor use their image without their permission (or that of a guardian, if the patient is a minor).
Protected information must not be disclosed through social media. This includes information about students’ personal or educational records, and all other sensitive information outlined in the US federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Violations of FERPA or HIPAA via social media will be referred to the Office of Student Affairs (students) or Human Resources (employees). Additionally, violations may result in an official site or account being deactivated. To view the Social Media Policy in full, it can be found on DynamicPolicy.
Professional Communications
Students and employees are expected to abide by the Code of Conduct and behave professionally in all types of communication—whether in public or private conversation. Online forms of communication include but are not limited to forums, gaming platforms, messaging apps, and social media platforms. The following communication is specifically prohibited:
- Personal attacks on any RVU community member, including fellow students, faculty, or staff.
- Any language which can be described as vulgar, obscene, threatening, abusive, intimidating, or harassing.
- Discriminatory comments, hate speech, or hostility towards others on account of race, religion, sex, ethnicity, nationality, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
- Any posts which are derogatory, disrespectful, demeaning, or disparaging.
- Content determined to be inappropriate, including offensive, obscene, racist, homophobic, sexist or sexually explicit language or photos.
Inappropriate communication should be referred to the Office of Student Affairs and may result in disciplinary sanctions, including reprimand, probation, suspension, or even dismissal. Refer to the section in this Handbook "Disciplinary Sanctions" for additional information.