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810.1 Introduction

The purpose of this policy is to define the terms and circumstances under which Lower Columbia College employees, including faculty, staff and student employees, may use social media to represent the College; communicate College policy, or represent an official College position.

The term "social media" refers to any Web-based and mobile technologies that enable individual or entities to disseminate or receive information, communicate, or otherwise interact. The term includes email, texting, messaging, social networking, blogging, micro-blogging, photo/video/multi-media file sharing, bulletin boards, and so on, through providers including but not limited to Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

Washington State laws and regulations pertaining to records retention apply to all social media sites and/or pages posted on behalf of a College unit, department or division.

 

810.2 For All Employees

As an employee of the College, you are personally responsible for any social media activity you conduct using a College email address or on a College website; and/or which can be traced back to a College domain; and/or which uses the College's Information Systems.

You must observe and follow (i) existing College policies and procedures, (ii) applicable employee handbooks and collective bargaining agreements, (iii) the College's Acceptable Use of Information Systems and Services Policy, (iv) the College's Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy, (v) the College's Mission, Vision, and Core Values (Board) Policy (vi) the policies of the particular online/social networking venue governing the use and activity conducted on their sites, which are sometimes referred to as "Terms of Use," (vii) applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations including but not limited to FERPA, RCW 42.52 regarding ethics in public service, WAC 292-110-010 regarding use of state resources, and (viii) Guidelines and Best Practices for Social Media Use in Washington State (Office of the Governor).

When posting to social media sites, you must honor the copyright and intellectual property rights of others, including the College. For guidance, consult LCC's Copyright Compliance Resources.

 

810.3 For Employees Posting on Behalf of a College Unit, Department or Division

If you are creating, managing or posting to a social media site on behalf of a Lower Columbia College division, department or unit, you are considered to be acting in an official capacity, and the following rules apply:

• Social media accounts that represent an official Lower Columbia College entity (e.g. a department or unit) are considered to be College-sponsored social media. Creation of a College-sponsored social media site requires approval from the senior administrator in that area (e.g. president, vice president or dean).
• Departments or College units that have a social media presence or would like to start one must notify the Office of Effectiveness & College Relations (ECR). ECR will maintain a list of College-sponsored social media pages and sites on the LCC website. ECR must have administrative rights to all official LCC social media platforms, and will maintain a database of user access.
• All College-sponsored social media sites must designate an employee responsible for monitoring the site. Sites must be monitored to ensure that content is current and accurate, and posted comments are addressed in a timely fashion. Out-of-date or unmonitored social media sites should be removed.
• Aside from ECR, no individual Lower Columbia College unit should construe its social media site as representing the College as a whole. Consider this when naming College-sponsored pages or accounts, selecting a profile picture or icon, and selecting content to post. Names, profile images, and posts for College-sponsored social media should all be clearly linked to the particular department or unit rather than to the institution as a whole. Reposts of other official college-sponsored posts are strongly encouraged.
• Units that wish to use the College logo or other College graphics in College-sponsored social media must consult with and obtain permission from ECR prior to use.
• All social media sites and content created by College employees on behalf of the College remain the property of Lower Columbia College.

 

Historic Information:

• Adopted - May 22, 2017

2017 Version History:

• Reviewed by the Cabinet - January - March 22, 2017
• Reviewed by Governance Council - February 1, 2017
• Reviewed by Leadership Team - March 16, 2017
• Reviewed by UMCC - March 21, 2017
• Re-review by UMCC, Gov. Council, Operations Council & Leadership Team - April 10-21, 2017
• Re-review by Leadership Team - April 24, 2017
• Reviewed by Governance Council - May 3, 2017
• Campus Review - May 5-19, 2017
• Reviewed by Leadership Team - May 22, 2017

2016 Version History:

• Reviewed by the Cabinet - April – December 2016
• Reviewed by the Leadership Team - April 25, 2016; May 23, 2016; October 31, 2016
• Campus Review - November 28 – December 12, 2016

 

Resource/Reference/Procedure	Title	Unit Responsibility
Procedure 810.1A	Facebook Procedure for Social Media Management
LCC Acceptable Use Policy	Acceptable Use of Information Systems and Services Policy	Information Services
Employee handbooks	Employee handbooks and collective bargaining agreements	Human Resources
Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy	Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy	Administration
LCC Mission, Vision and Core Values	Mission, Vision, and Core Values (Board) Policy	Lower Columbia College Board of Trustees
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act	FERPA	Administration
State ethics laws	RCW 42.52 regarding ethics in public service	State of Washington
State laws regarding use of state resources	WAC 292-110-010 regarding use of state resources	State of Washington
Information about Copyright laws	LCC's Copyright Compliance Resources	Library and Learning Commons
List of official social media sites for LCC	Social Media at Lower Columbia College	Effectiveness and College Relations
Washington State laws regarding archiving	Washington State Archives	Archive Department, State of Washington
Facebook terms and policies	Facebook Terms and Policies	Facebook
Facebook business resources	Facebook Business Resources	Facebook
Managing Facebook pages	About Facebook Pages	Facebook