Electronic Social Networking

The College recognizes the open nature of social media, which is used for both personal and professional purposes. Social media can create a sense of role ambiguity. It may not always be clear when one is speaking on behalf of the College, sharing facts, or sharing personal/professional opinions. This policy is designed to help the college community (students, faculty, and staff) navigate through this ambiguity and clarify certain responsibilities when posting material online. It is important to remember that we are subject to the same laws, professional expectations, and guidelines when interacting online as we would in person, both internally and externally.

Note that faculty and staff must also abide by Central Maine Healthcare Policies.

The College recognizes that members of the college community may wish to participate in electronic social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter. We respect the rights of these individuals to personal expression and individual views through these and any other media. Faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to maintain professional boundaries with students and refrain from communicating and having relationships with students on social media.

Depending on the material shared on these sites, individuals will be held accountable for their entries.

• Activities or statements which are determined to be harassment of others will not be tolerated.Members of the college community are expected to be respectful of others when posting to a blog or network site and should assume that because of public access, other people are reading such entries.
• Use of proprietary logos, other branding, and identities are prohibited. Only individuals officially designated to do so have the authority to speak on behalf of the organization.

College community members are expected to exercise freedom of speech with responsibility and common sense. If activity on a social networking site is reported as violating policy, it will be investigated and handled according to the college disciplinary process.

Members of the college community are expected to follow these guidelines when participating in social networking:

1. Protect confidential and proprietary information:
   Do not post confidential or proprietary information about the College, students, employees, patients, or alumni. All persons must follow the applicable federal requirements such as Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Healthcare Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. Adhere to all applicable institutional and legal privacy, confidentiality, and property policies and laws. College community members will not post or discuss any clinical experience or information regarding experiences with the clinical agency staff, clients, and patients on any internet social media.
2. Respect copyright and fair use:
   When posting, be mindful of the copyright and intellectual property rights of others and of the College.
3. Use College intellectual properties only with permission:
   No user may establish social networking sites that use the College logo or other intellectual properties such as photography, video, artwork, classroom presentations, and publications copyrighted to the College without authorization from the College. It is a violation of social networking site policies to represent an institution without authorization.
4. Personal Use:
   Personal use is use that is not coursework related. Internet access is permitted; however, personal use is prohibited if it:
   1. Adversely affects the efficient operation of the computer system, which includes the PC, network, or internet performance
   2. Violates any provision of this policy, any supplemental policy adopted by the agency supplying the Internet, or any other policy, regulation, law, or guideline as set forth by local, State, or Federal law
   3. Streaming of audio and/or video content for personal use. For example, internet radio
   4. Accessing, downloading, printing, or storing information with sexually explicit content as prohibited by law
   5. Downloading or transmitting fraudulent, threatening, obscene, intimidating, defamatory, harassing, discriminatory, or otherwise unlawful messages or images
   6. Uploading or downloading copyrighted materials or proprietary agency information contrary to policy
   7. Personal commercial purposes
5. Disseminating official information:
   The College is responsible for posting and publishing official online information on its ownvbehalf. Unauthorized persons doing so will be in violation of this policy.
6. Monitoring:
   The College reserves the right, whenever it deems it necessary and appropriate, to monitor Internet access use, with or without user permission. The Information Services Department uses tools such as internet blocking and spyware to ensure the performance integrity of the Network.
7. Consequences:
   Failure to adhere to this policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal or termination.

Approved:______________________________________________________________________
Monika Bissell, DBA
President