University Marketing and Communications

While North Park University encourages the use of social media, all users should remember that social media tools are a powerful form of communication that can have a significant impact on organizational, professional, and individual reputations. Lines between personal and professional content, and between public and private content, are often blurred. Whether participating on behalf of the University, a University-related group, or personally, all users must follow the same behavioral standards online as they would in face-to-face or one-on-one interactions. Remember that the internet is not anonymous, nor does it forget.

• Guidelines for Use
• Unacceptable Posts That Will Be Removed
• Complaints and Reporting Violations
• Faculty and Staff: Personal Profiles
• Employee and Student Groups Posting on University Sponsored Sites
• Posting on Behalf of the University
• Non-Interference with Applicable Laws
• Questions About This Policy

Guidelines for Use

A. Take Responsibility and Be Transparent

1. You are responsible for anything you post online. Reflect and use sound judgment before posting. Check your spelling and grammar.
2. Practice academic integrity. Never post content that invites academic dishonesty. Remember both the enabler and the student taking advantage of the material are equally guilty. Do not plagiarize—give proper attribution.
3. Practice personal integrity. Do not make or endorse reckless or malicious false statements. Never misrepresent or conceal your identity. Anonymous communications are unethical and have no credibility.
4. If writing in your personal capacity about University matters, make clear that the views you express are your own, not necessarily those of the University.

B. Respect Your Audience and Your Colleagues

1. Abide by the ethical, moral, and professional standards of North Park University as outlined in the Student Handbook, Employee Handbook, and Manual of Academic Personnel Policies. In particular, this includes the Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and Retaliation.
2. Do not express, communicate, or link to libelous, defamatory, harassing, or pornographic content, even by way of example or illustration.
3. Never make statements or post photos or videos that directly or indirectly threaten harm (whether through violence, economic intimidation, exclusion, or other means) to an individual, group, or the University.
4. Do not promote illegal conduct such as sexual violence, vandalism, underage drinking, or involvement with controlled substances.
5. Except for legitimate academic or business purposes, members of the community should be mindful of their position of power over others and should avoid personal social media relationships with those individuals.

C. Respect the Property of Others

1. Respect intellectual property rights. Do not distribute copyrighted materials without the permission of the copyright owner. Do not use trademarks or logos without the owner’s permission. Adhere to the user agreements (terms and policies) for each social media site.
2. When using North Park University-owned computers or the campus network to access social media sites, comply with all Acceptable Use policies.

D. Respect Confidentiality

1. Respect personal boundaries and individual privacy rights. Public disclosure of private facts may cause serious emotional or psychological injury.
2. Do not post sensitive personally identifying information (such as social security numbers, student identification numbers, addresses, or birthdates). Such information may enable identity theft.
3. Do not post any information about another person that is protected from disclosure by law or professional standards (such as medical information or student education records). Check with your program or department to determine whether it has a specific social media usage protocol to ensure compliance with professional and privacy requirements of particular fields or governing/accreditation bodies.

E. Respect the University’s Interests

1. 1. Do not post anything that interferes with your work, the University’s educational mission, or the welcoming and diverse environment the University promotes as a Christian, city-centered, and intercultural institution.
   2. If you find negative posts by a third party about the University, its faculty, staff, or students that you believe need a response by the University, contact the Office of Marketing and Communications.
   3. Compliance with non-profit status: As a 501(c)(3) organization, North Park University is “absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office” (see:  https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/the-restriction-of-political-campaign-intervention-by-section-501c3-tax-exempt-organizations). To safeguard the university’s non-profit status, this prohibition applies to the university’s social media accounts. While promoting particular candidates is improper, nonpartisan efforts to encourage members of the North Park community to vote are acceptable, as long as specific candidates or political stances are not part of the message.

F. Be Wary

1. People who communicate with you online may not be who they claim to be. They may have an improper motive or seek information to which they are not entitled.
2. Posted information is often repeated and linked to other sources—anything you post may go viral, including your off-hand comments.

Unacceptable Posts Will Be Removed

Actions that are unacceptable in other settings are also unacceptable on University social media channels. Posts or interactions that violate our community standards and policies will be removed at the discretion of the University. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Harassment in any form.
• Failure to respect the rights of others, such as the right to privacy.
• Forgery or other misrepresentation of one’s identity.
• Distribution of copyrighted materials without the permission of the copyright owner.
• Posts containing personal attacks, profanity, nudity, hate speech, illegal material, or that otherwise violate the Social Media Guidelines.
• Advertising/soliciting for non-University-sponsored products, programs, and events.
• Spam

North Park-sponsored online forums should be used for discussion of general interests and issues relating to North Park, not specific individuals and situations.

The University cannot immediately review every comment posted on a North Park sponsored page. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University and the University does not guarantee the accuracy of these posts.

Requests that content be removed from University social media channels, as well as comments about content, should be addressed to North Park University’s Office of Marketing and Communications.

Complaints and Reporting Violations

If you feel that you have been harassed or victimized by another individual’s social media use, please report it by following the complaint procedures outlined in the University’s Policy against Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation. If the individual you have a complaint against is another member of the North Park community, the University will take all the appropriate steps as outlined in the applicable University policy.

Most social media channels offer a method for reporting offensive or harassing posts. For North Park-sponsored sites, contact the University Marketing and Communications Office at feedback@northpark.edu.

Students may also find it helpful to seek the support and advice of their Resident Director, the University’s Digital Content Specialist, another trusted North Park University staff member, or the Dean of Students. Faculty and staff may contact Human Resources.

If you become aware of other violations of this Policy, please report the violation to the University Marketing and Communications Office at feedback@northpark.edu.

Posting on Behalf of the University

Only administration-designated employees are permitted to post on behalf of the University. If you receive an external request for comment “by the University” or an inquiry requiring a response on behalf of the University, you should direct the request or inquiry to the Office of Marketing and Communications.

Social Media Takeover Guidelines

The primary purpose of social media takeovers is to showcase what life is like as a student at North Park University — from classes to clubs and activities to just hanging out with friends. You have been personally selected to use North Park’s social media accounts and to represent the University for up to 24 hours publicly. So have some fun!

During this time, you are encouraged to highlight your unique personality in a respectful and responsible way and to let the University’s followers get to know you and North Park a little bit better.

Here are some things we would love for you to share:

• Classes and academic projects
• Your student organizations
• Life in Chicago
• Campus events
• Your job/internship
• Hobbies outside of school
• Volunteer work and service projects

However, because you are representing North Park University, you are to keep the University’s reputation in mind as you post at all times.

Here are some things we need you to stay away from sharing:

• Profanity
• Drug or alcohol use
• Personal attacks
• Pictures or videos containing nudity or other sexual content
• Personal information about individuals without their permission
• Commercial promotions
• Opinions regarding politics or University policies

Non-Interference with Applicable Laws

This Policy is not intended to restrict or interfere with the legal rights of any student or employee, including, but not limited to, any and all rights under the National Labor Relations Act, Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, or other equal opportunity laws, or any whistleblower protection law.

Questions about This Policy

Please contact the Director of Human Resources if you have any questions about this policy.

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