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A group of staff and administrators from across the university recently came together to review and consider updating DePaul Social Media Guidelines. This review comes in the wake of concerns expressed by some in the university community about the social media environment and how DePaul accounts are managed. The effort culminated in updated standards which can be reviewed online.“The social media environment has become more charged over the past several years. We've heard concerns from a variety of community members about DePaul-managed social media accounts," says Eugene L. Zdziarski, vice president for Student Affairs. “In light of this, we felt it was important to review our social media guidelines, keeping in mind our Guiding Principles of Speech and Expression."
The group included representatives from the Division of Mission and Ministry, Student Affairs, the Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity, University Marketing Communications, and the Office of the General Counsel. After review and discussion, the group edited the guidelines to clearly state types of behaviors that would be addressed in a number of ways. The updates include:
- Additional language reinforcing DePaul's commitment to the dignity of all individuals.
- Specific examples of behavior that constitutes violation of policy and may warrant disciplinary action.
- An articulated process for addressing someone who violates the community standards.
The president's cabinet and Joint Council reviewed and approved the final version.
“While we are trying to be more mindful of the interactions taking place on DePaul social media accounts and our responses to those, our Vincentian value of honoring the dignity of all humans and our commitment to DePaul's Guiding Principles of Speech and Expression still factor into the balance," Zdziarski notes.
If you manage a DePaul social media account, consider linking to the standards and creating a post about the updated standards on your feed or page. If you are considering establishing a social media account, please first reach out to your direct supervisor.
If you have questions about DePaul's Social Media Standards, email studentaffairs@depaul.edu.