Look What I Did! Student Conduct, Online Communities, and You Derek Smith & Jessica Tittermary Delaware Valley College MACUHO Annual Conference October 19, 2007

Online Communities What they are What students use them for What institutions use them for Who else uses them Continuing growth, issues

Students in the Digital Age Millennial Generation Dependent on technology Ever increasing products and uses for internet communications

Online Postings Nature of postings –Public vs. Private information –Protected Speech? –Institutional awareness – in loco parentis Possible Violations/Concerns Institutional Jurisdiction

Online Postings Nature of postings Possible Violations/Concerns –ExampleExample –Suicide, harassment, stalking, parties… Institutional Jurisdiction

Online Postings Nature of postings Possible Violations/Concerns Institutional Jurisdiction –Usually defined in published material –Nutter Bill: Educational Housing District –Shin v. MIT (Established duties) –Public or Private institutions

Employment Issues Student staff members –Potentially problematic postings –Defined by employment contract –Privacy issues Professional staff members –Ethical issues – friends vs. administrators –Defined by staff handbook –Millennials in the workforce

Posting Monitoring Logistics –More than half of Facebook users visit daily –Requires massive man-hours –What department is responsible? –Hiring new staff? Students? –Ethics –Is it effective? –What are the obligations and duties?

Legal Issues Free speech –Are postings protected by the constitution? –Johns Hopkins Univ., Tufts Univ. Public vs. Private institutions Liabilities –Assumption of institutional responsibility –In loco parentis – dead or alive?

Survey of MACUHO Institutions 24 responses of 202 institutions (11.9%) 20.8% have a published statement regarding Online Communities 54.6% address electronic information as evidence in the judicial policy/code –In all cases above, this information is allowed

Survey of MACUHO Institutions Are staff allowed to monitor student postings? –No Policy % –Allowed % –Prohibited - 8.7% 17.4% of institutions practice active monitoring of student postings –None required this of any staff –Average of 2-3 hours spent weekly

Survey of MACUHO Institutions Institutional limiting of staff members postings –Limit paraprofessional/student staff % –Limit professional staff % –No limitations % Only 1 institution includes this as a written policy Most institutions consider this part of the expectations of the staff to be a positive reflection of the institution and a good role model

Survey of MACUHO Institutions 33.3% have used an institution specific/ sponsored online community –Of these, 71.4% monitored this community 47.6% have utilized an online community for institutional purposes –Most used for programming advertising or community development of freshmen halls prior to arrival

Structure Guide for Social Networking Policy Key ideas this policy addresses: Know what staff is doing in regards to Social Networking Sites Define, limit, and allow activities on Social Networking Sites Be intentional about this area, and publicize institutional stance

Structure Guide for Social Networking Policy A.Definitions –Define Social Networking Sites/Blogs –Define the institutions view of postings (Public material vs. Private journal)

Structure Guide for Social Networking Policy B.Institutions Role with Student Content Jurisdiction of school code of conduct/policies Declaration of activities related to Social Networking Sites –Should be specific –Activities should be decided intentionally Institutions right to access and use material –When will the school access/use student profiles –Why will the school access/use student profiles –Address when staff may access information for personal use

Structure Guide for Social Networking Policy C.Uses of Social Networking Sites by the Institution –Include any activities the school uses these sites for –Should be left open ended (including, but not limited to…)

Structure Guide for Social Networking Policy D.Duties Assumed by this Policy –Refer specifically to any activities in above policy –Include waiver of liability Using sites does not constitute knowledge of student content Institution is not responsible for any activities/incidents resulting from material published by students on these sites Students retain sole responsibility for content published

Structure Guide for Social Networking Policy When creating this policy, also: Update code of conduct/judicial code to reflect this policy (if applicable) and technology concerns Develop and distribute a student guide to online conduct and safety Update staff manuals and contracts to reflect policies and procedures Contact upper administration and legal counsel to ensure policies are legal, appropriate, and congruous with established policies

Thank you! Derek Smith Area Coordinator Delaware Valley College Jessica Tittermary Area Coordinator Delaware Valley College