Social Media Guidelines
Social media is a great tool to use to reach a large number of people in a short amount of time. Prairie View A&M University encourages the use of social media to promote the university; garner active participation in PVAMU programs and inform people interested in PVAMU and what’s happening on “The Hill”.
However, the University encourages responsible social media use. The following guidelines are given to assist anyone interested in setting up an official PVAMU sub-social media group to maximize the efficiency of these wonderful communication channels.
Always consult with the Office for Marketing and Communications before starting a social media presence aimed at University students.
- The Office for Marketing and Communications “owns” the official PVAMU social media sites/channels. If you want something posted on the official University social media sites, please contact the Office. The Office reserves the right to repost, retweet etc…messages posted on an official sub-social media group.
- All social media administrative users, user names and passwords must be given to the Office for Marketing and Communications for its records. (The MarComm Office will not post to your site, however, we have found that when staff/faculty start a site then leave the university, no one has the login information and the site sits unattended).
- Update your social media site regularly. Your site be shuttered if more than 90 days pass with no updates. Social media is meant to be active. Readers won’t have a reason to follow you on Twitter or check your blog if they can’t expect new content regularly.
- Confine your social media posts to university related information and events. While you can post social media messages about events or information relevant to your student population, we would like for you to ensure that you are posting events that help promote your college/school.
- When posting, avoid using statements, photos, video or audio that reasonably could be viewed as malicious, obscene, threatening or intimidating, that disparage customers, co-workers or suppliers, or that might constitute harassment or bullying. Examples of this type of 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, color, religion, sex/gender (including pregnancy), gender identity and expression, national origin, disability, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship status, Veteran status or any other classification protected by applicable law, rules or regulations.
- Respect copyrights and fair use always give people proper credit for their work, and make sure you have the right to use something with attribution before you publish.
- Always protect confidential & proprietary information.
- Remember that you are representing PVAMU in your posts and content. Use your best judgement.
- If social media site messaging becomes harmful to the reputation of the University, the University has the right to ask that it be shuttered immediately.