FAMU provides Guidance through New Social Media Policy

Dear FAMU Community,

I am pleased to introduce you to the new Florida A&M University policy for social media (UP-01-05). The University strongly supports freedom of speech and expression, and we recognize that social media is a powerful tool for sharing ideas and staying connected with students, alumni, faculty, staff, colleagues, and the broader community. This University Policy applies to all FAMU faculty, staff, and students who are employed by FAMU in any capacity, as well as third party vendors that manage, maintain or support a University-approved and operated social media site. The Policy also applies to other individuals, such as volunteers and appointees, who use internally managed or owned University computing resources.

This Policy sets forth standards:

(1) supporting appropriate uses of social media;

(2) prohibiting conduct on social media that may be unlawful, contrary to FAMU regulations or policies, or violative of applicable professional standards;

(3) providing guidance for identifying and managing occurrences involving social media activity that could violate this Policy or adversely impact the University or its constituents;

(4) providing instruction on how FAMU manages posts on official University social media platforms; and

(5) providing guidance for employees choosing to use social media to communicate, collaborate, and interact with students, faculty, staff, alumni, stakeholders, and the general public on matters concerning or impacting FAMU.

Community Commenting Guidelines:

FAMU Social Media Accounts are limited public forums. Any responsive comments to a post must be related and responsive to a post. FAMU reviews comments made on FAMU Social Media Accounts and reserves the right to moderate or block comments that are:

• Threatening or encouraging harm to people or property;

• Constituting or encouraging illegal activity;

• Obscene or vulgar;

• Discriminatory, threatening, or harassing;

• False or defamatory;

• Commercial posts or spam;

• Inclusive of confidential information;

• Made in violation of Florida or federal law;

• Knowingly false and malicious statements regarding FAMU or a FAMU employee that may objectively cause reputational or other harm; or

• Derogatory statements, slurs or insults regarding FAMU or a FAMU employee based on protected characteristics (e.g., race, religion, sex, age, or disability) that may objectively cause or contribute to a hostile, intimidating, or offensive work environment.

Comments to the FAMU Social Media Accounts are solely the author’s/poster’s views and opinions and do not reflect the views or opinions of FAMU. By posting a comment on FAMU’s social media pages, you agree to follow this Policy, these Guidelines, and applicable Florida and federal laws and regulations, now existing or as may be amended. Your comments may be removed if they violate this Policy, these Guidelines, or applicable laws or regulations, now existing or as may be amended, and may be referred to law enforcement if appropriate.

FAMU, in its sole and absolute discretion, may elect to:

(i) post Social Media content without enabling the comment feature;

(ii) deactivate the comment feature at any time; or

(iii) to archive all posts and related comments in conformance with Florida law and University regulations.

Reminder: Under Florida law, the content of and engagement on FAMU’s Social Media pages are subject to public records law. By engaging with our content, posting comments, or messaging these pages, your information may become a public record. FAMU and all parts of the University – such as colleges, departments, and all other units – shall maintain all public records in conformance with Florida law and University regulations.

For additional details, please review the policy in its entirety on the University Policies website.

Thank you for your attention to this update!

Sincerely,

Alonda Thomas, Ph.D.

Vice President and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer

Florida A&M University

Back to Stories