Student Handbook 2010-2011 - Holyoke Community College

Posting of Social Media Content: Facebook,Blogs, etc.Social media can create numerous issues for the college. Forexample, most people do not realize that by posting collegecontent to Facebook, they authorize Facebook to make copiesof the college content posted and to use the content forvirtually any purpose. In addition, copyright claims could beasserted against the college if a department posted content(such as text, image, or video) in which a third party claimsa copyright. Further, posting of inappropriate content, couldsubject the college to embarrassment or legal action.Consider the following prior to posting content—Dos andDon’ts:Remember that content posted may be redistributed throughthe Internet and other media channels and may be viewedby the general public. If deleted or modified, older versionsmay continue to exist online. Content should not be postedunless it is related to official college business and is consistentwith the college’s mission. Share only informationappropriate for the public.Content that promotes or depicts illegal activity, is threateningor harassing, includes obscenities, or defames a person isprohibited. Further, social media shall not be used for politicalor commercial purposes.Do not include any personally identifiable information thatcan be used to locate someone offline. This includes anyone’sscreen name, personal photo, hobbies, identification numberssuch as social security numbers or student IDs, addressesand phone numbers (other than an authorized businessaddress or business phone number).Do not upload, post, transmit, share, store or otherwise makepublicly available on the site any private information ofany third party, including, addresses, phone numbers, emailaddresses, Social Security numbers and/or credit card numbers.Student record information shall not be transmitted viaFacebook or other social media. The Family EducationalRights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy ofstudent education records. The college must have writtenpermission from a student in order to release any informationfrom his or her education record, other than directory informationas defined by HCC. In order to comply with FERPA,the college’s email system (and not Facebook) must be usedwhen communicating about an issue involving a specific student.For questions regarding FERPA, contact Tony Sbalbi,registrar, at (413) 552-2550, tsbalbi@hcc.edu.To avoid discrepancies and minimize the need for updating,social media shall not be used to post policy or detailed information,for example, program admission criteria. Rather,users should be directed to the official college sources (electronicand print publications) for such information.Use of college logo, marks, and imagesUse of college marks, such as logos and graphics, must complywith the college’s graphic identity, image use, and styleguidelines available from the marketing & communicationsdepartment. Questions regarding the use of college marksshould be directed to the e-communications manager (413)552-2183, jrome@hcc.edu or the director of marketing &strategic communications (413) 552-2259; asroka@hcc.edu.Use of copyrighted or proprietary materialsAll faculty, staff and students must adhere to the college’s“Use of Copyrighted Materials” policy and respect the intellectualproperty of others and use works owned or created byothers only to the extent such use is permitted by law. Thecollege must secure written permission prior to using/incorporatingany copyrighted or proprietary materials. Permissionto use or reproduce copyrighted works is required unless theintended use is clearly permitted under the doctrine of “fairuse.” This includes music, art, literary works, copyrightedphotographs or texts, snippets of copyrighted video, audiovisualworks and sound recordings, or information consideredto be a trade secret by a college contractor. Questions regardingfair use and HCC's “Use of Copyrighted Materials” policycan be directed to the vice president of Administrationand Finance at (413) 552-2800; email: bfogarty @hcc.eduQuestions about the appropriateness of a posting should beaddressed to JoAnne Rome, e-communications manager(413) 552-2183, jrome@hcc.edu, or Anne Sroka, directorof marketing & strategic communications (413) 552-2259,asroka@hcc.edu.Use of e-commerceAt present, HCC has not authorized the sale of college publications,products, or paraphernalia via e-commerce.Use of people’s imagesThe marketing & communications department makes it apractice to obtain permission in the form of a model releasefrom individuals whose readily identifiable images will beused to promote the college on the web and in publications.We encourage this practice among other college departments.Forms may be downloaded at http://www.hcc.edu/about/camp_news_deptofmktg&pr.html.Because there is no expectation of privacy, the marketingand communications department does not obtain modelreleases from those participating in and/or attending publicand HCC events and activities. They include but are notlimited to: commencement, alumni events, open houses andinformation sessions, student activity period events, as wellas other gatherings.Use of identifiable images of minors is prohibited withoutwritten permission from parent or guardian.44