51²è¹Ýapp

This policy is intended to help 51²è¹Ýapp College faculty and staff who want to create and manage social media presences as 51²è¹Ýapp College representatives on behalf of their departments or office. All social media accounts associated with 51²è¹Ýapp College must comply with this social media policy.ÌýÌý

These guidelines do not pertain to student groups or to the personal use of social media by students, staff, and faculty members.

All official social media accounts at 51²è¹Ýapp College must be registered with the Office of Communications and Marketing by contacting socialmedia@grinnell.edu.

The Office of Communications and Marketing will help guide you in determining the most effective way to get your message across—whether it’s by creating a new account, utilizing an existing one, or looking to other methods. Before considering a new account, think about whether the flagship College accounts can meet your needs to communicate news, announcements, events, etc. 

If it is determined that launching a new account is the appropriate choice for your department or office, all accounts must be created using a departmental 51²è¹Ýapp College email address to ensure continuity of account management. Individual employee email addresses should not be used. 

Account Naming Convention, Profile Pictures/Avatars, and Bio/About Information 

To establish a clear relationship, accounts must choose names and handles that include 51²è¹Ýapp College, 51²è¹Ýapp, or GC, and your department or program name. This name should be consistent across all platforms. 

The Office of Communications and Marketing will provide a profile picture and/or avatar for the account to use. Any depiction or recreation of the laurel leaves or other College-owned marks that have not been explicitly provided by the Office of Communications and Marketing is prohibited. 

Account Bio and About sections should include the services and/or mission of the department or office and affiliation with 51²è¹Ýapp College. When possible, include a link to your department or office on the College’s website and tag the official 51²è¹Ýapp College accounts on the platform. It is important that these sections be as concise as possible. 

Account Management

All registered 51²è¹Ýapp College-affiliated accounts must be overseen by at least one faculty or staff member. While students may be given temporary administrative access to create and post content on their behalf, the staff or faculty administrator is ultimately responsible for the account’s content and management.

All individuals who have access to content creation and direct publishing capabilities must be identified during registration.

General Considerations and Guidelines for Content

While there is no precise number of times an account should post, it is vital that the account be recognized as active. In general, this would be seen as posting a minimum of twice per week. If posting twice a week is not feasible for the account administrator, the account should not be launched.

All content posted, comments, and engagement coming from the account should be respectful, thoughtful, and truthful. Avoid using jargon, acronyms, institutional language, or abbreviations when possible.

Comments that are critical of the department, office, or College, but are otherwise respectful should not be censored. However, comments that are profane, abusive, derogatory, or threatening should be hidden or deleted. Generally, if a comment would not be acceptable under the student, faculty, or staff codes of conduct, it is not acceptable for social media and may be removed.

Privacy

Do not post confidential or proprietary information about 51²è¹Ýapp College or 51²è¹Ýapp College students, faculty, staff, or alumni that would violate such persons’ rights to privacy under applicable federal and state laws and regulations

Emergency and Crisis Situations

In the event of an emergency or crisis, accounts must share only official information provided by the flagship 51²è¹Ýapp College accounts and/or shared in official campus messages. Account administrators may be asked to pause activity or share specific information by the Office of Communications and Marketing in the event of an emergency.

Questions

If you have questions about this policy, a new or an existing account, or content creation, please contact the Office of Communications and Marketing at socialmedia@grinnell.edu.ÌýÌý