Southern New Hampshire University Social Media Policy

Overview Southern New Hampshire University and its various subdivisions, employees, and official representatives (hereafter SNHU) have established a presence in the social media space to better interact and communicate with students (current and prospective), parents, faculty, partners and other interested parties. The following constitutes the Agreement which governs your use of online channels maintained by SNHU. Your use of any of SNHUs online channels constitutes your acceptance of the terms of this Agreement. The Agreements terms are necessarily broad, but in simple language: By interacting with SNHU on any of SNHUs online channels, you agree to conduct yourself in a dignified and professional manner, as you would in person in any official SNHU meeting, function, office, class or event. Behavior which would not be permitted or tolerated in person at an official SNHU meeting, function, office, class or event will not be tolerated on SNHUs online channels. SNHU is not responsible and shall have no liability to you, with respect to any content posted by others, including defamatory, offensive or illicit content that violates the terms of this Agreement. Offending parties may be barred from posting at SNHUs discretion, and may be reported to the administrators of third-party channels Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. for further disciplinary action. Third-Party Policies Your activity on SNHU online channels shall comply with the policies of third-party platforms on which SNHU establishes a presence, including (but not limited to): 1. Facebook Statement of Rights and Responsibilities 2. Twitter Terms of Service 3. Instagram Terms of Use 4. Pinterest Acceptable Use Policy 5. YouTube Terms of Service Official/Emergency Reporting SNHU has established a presence in the social media space to better interact and communicate with students (current and prospective), parents, faculty, partners and other interested parties. However, this does not create an additional means to conduct official SNHU business or address emergency situations.

If you have official SNHU business to conduct, please contact the appropriate party via phone or email, or consult our online channels for the proper means to proceed. Though it may seem unnecessary and obvious to some, this statement must also be made: If you are faced with an emergency, dont use any of SNHUs online channels to report it. Instead, dial Public Safety or 9-1-1 immediately. Privacy All content posted on SNHUs online channels becomes public information. SNHU does not gather, collect or store any personal information about you or your activity on any online channels other than what you voluntarily share directly on the universitys online channels. You agree not to post content that infringes on the rights of privacy personal, financial, proprietary, medical, legal, or otherwise of any person, business, entity or organization on SNHUs online channels. Copyright/Fair Use/Financial Disclosure/Legal Procedures You certify that the content you post on SNHUs online channels does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any person, business, entity or organization. This includes compliance with relevant federal, state and local copyright, patent, trademark, fair use and financial disclosure laws. You also agree not to disclose any information which would materially affect legal proceedings or pending litigation. Liability/Disclaimer SNHU does not necessarily endorse, recommend, verify or agree with the content posted on its online channels. You agree that if anyone brings a claim against SNHU related to your actions on SNHUs online channels, you will indemnify and hold SNHU harmless from and against all damages, losses and expenses of any kind (including reasonable legal fees and costs) related to such claim. SNHU makes no warranty, express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any content posted by others on SNHUs online channels. Removal of Content SNHU expects users to conduct themselves in an appropriate, diplomatic manner. As such, the following types of content will be removed if posted on any of SNHUs online channels: Profane content Inflammatory, antagonistic or threatening content (e.g., cyber-bullying) Content that promotes, fosters or perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, age, religion, gender, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, national origin, physical or mental disability or sexual orientation Sexual content or links to sexual content Solicitations of commerce

Conduct or encouragement of illegal activity Information that may tend to compromise the safety or security of the public or public systems Posting of SPAM, which is defined as off-topic hyperlinks or comments, or repeated posting of identical or nearly identical content

While we understand social media platforms are 24/7 platforms, moderation of SNHUs social media platforms will typically take place during normal business hours. SNHU will attempt - when possible - to moderate effectively during off hours, holidays, breaks and weekends. SNHU encourages users to report any violations that occur outside of normal business hours to socialmedia@snhu.edu or directly to the social media platform on which the violation occurred.

Creation of Social Media Properties The creation of new on-campus social media properties of any kind must be approved in advance by the Director of Marketing and Communications. When considering creating a new account, the following questions should be asked beforehand: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. What is the overall purpose and goal of the account? Who are the primary and secondary audiences to be served by the account? Who will be the administrator(s) of the account? What types of content will be posted? What do you anticipate in terms of frequency of posting? What is the plan to promote the account? What would this account do that cant already be done through existing communications channels? 8. How will you keep the account fresh during down times? (breaks, vacation, etc.) 9. Are you sure that the platform youre choosing will meet your purposes? 10. How will you measure your success? All account administrators are required to provide the UC Marketing and Communications Department passwords and any other log-in information for any and all social media accounts. As account administrators leave the university, these passwords will be changed by the UC Marketing and Communications Department as a succession plan for the continuation of the account. (*The only exceptions to this policy are student clubs and organizations.) All pages must conform to the branding guidelines established by the UC Marketing and Communications Department. On Campus Social Media Meetings and Activities All discussions with off-campus entities (including vendors) regarding possible social media activities on campus require prior approval of the Director of Marketing and

Communications to ensure that such activities arent in conflict with current strategic direction and processes. Similarly, on-campus training sessions for departments and programs on the subject of social media must be approved in advance by the Director of Marketing and Communications. This does not apply to instructors enlisting the aid of guest lecturers.

Political and Charitable Activity The online channels maintained by SNHU are designed to support the day-to-day work of the university and its various functions, and are not designed or intended to conduct, promote or endorse political activity or charity endorsement of any sort. As such, content posted which supports or opposes 1) the candidacy of any person for appointment to a political position, 2) political campaigns or ballot measures, or 3) any political organization (other than the routine postings by on campus student political organizations) will be removed from the universitys online channels. Similarly, content posted to promote charitable concerns other than those directly supported by the university will be removed. Please note: This statement should not be construed as being intended as a restriction on the free speech of any publics utilizing university social media pages. SNHU welcomes open conversation on a variety of issues including those which deal with political and charitable matters. Rather, SNHUs online channels should be considered as a forum for discussion rather than as a vehicle for political or charitable promotion. Accessibility SNHU aims to make public information available to all people, regardless of ability. In making use of online social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, the university encourages users to refer to these resources to ensure accessibility: 1. Browser accessibility information from Internet Explorer, Firefox and others 2. Accessibility and Assistive Technology on Facebook 3. Applications which extend the accessibility of Twitter, such as Accessible Twitter If you have any concerns about the accessibility of information, please contact Steve Boucher at (603) 644-3158 or s.boucher@snhu.edu.

Records Retention Regarding SNHUs online channels, the content posted on these platforms is public and accessible freely by all, and archived by these platforms. Furthermore, the content is indexed by Internet search engines and searchable at any time with the exception of closed Facebook groups.