Implemented November 2012
Social media and online content has been integrated into many aspects of today’s society. We recognize that social media and online content can be very beneficial to student education and can help students be 21st century learners and members of a global community.
Modern communication outlets, such as social media, are a powerful voice that can have a significant impact on organizations and individuals. Policies and guidelines described in this document are designed to protect our students and to promote positive online experiences for our users and users of our content. Brehm students, faculty, and staff should always keep in mind that information produced, shared, and retrieved by them is a reflection on the school community and is subject to the School’s policies. When accessing, creating, or contributing to any blogs, wikis, podcasts, or other social media for classroom or, in most cases, personal use, we expect you to keep these guidelines in mind.
For the purposes of this policy, social media and online content address all internet based media and communications. They are not directed at specific services such as Facebook, twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, etc. School network use policies still apply to social media and online content. Access to some social media sites may be allowed on the school network while others may remain restricted.
Representation of Brehm, Inc.
The Brehm Communications Department maintains the public image of Brehm Preparatory School, Inc. This image protection extends to the school’s online presence. Any site that references the school’s name or a derivative of the school’s name or brand must do so with the expressed consent of the Brehm Communications Department. Such sites and content must include the Communications Department as an editor or moderator to ensure accountability of the site’s content.
All content posted online should be checked for factual accuracy, grammar and spelling to maintain our image and reputation as a professional, educational institution.
- Teachers and staff using social media outlets or other online content, for school purposes, should make regular weekly updates to their sites or profiles. Stagnant and dated web information reflects poorly on the organization. Sites that are dormant should be brought offline.
- Logos and graphics used on the site must be consistent with the branding standards and usage guidelines of the School. All use of the school’s logo must be approved by the Communications Department.
- The Communications Office is currently responsible for regulating media releases and online content related to Brehm and it’s functions. Any announcements, updates, or photos you wish to publish should be coordinated with that office.
- Sites that accept comments or postings by anyone other than the site administrator must be diligently monitored to ensure that information displayed fits within Brehm Preparatory School, Inc. guidelines and is appropriate to the subject matter of the page.
- Site moderators and administrators are responsible for all content on their site.
- Students should not be expected to utilize the site as the only source of important information since student access to social networking sites may be restricted on the school network.
Pages, sites and profiles that are not approved by the Communications Department will be treated as personal sites and users may be requested to bring the content offline. This determination will be at the discretion of the Communications Department and the Executive Director of Brehm Preparatory School, Inc.
- The Use of social networking sites for educational purposes should be approved by your department supervisor and coordinated with the technology department prior to use. Effective monitoring with checks and balances should be in place as well as understanding the risks involved with using such a service and the implications it has for allowing minors to access it.
- Integrating social networking sites into the curriculum and thus into the existing technology at Brehm should be done only after careful planning is completed. Staff are encouraged to discuss this in detail with their department and research any legal implications using a specific service would have. They should bring their department approved plan to the technology department for planning out the integration and operation of their plan.
- The Technology Department has systems in place to provide faculty space online to support classroom related web content. This system was developed with the support of the Communications Department and meets their site deployment standards and guidelines.
Guidelines for Social Media and Online Content
Brehm Preparatory School, Inc. respects an individual’s right to access social media and web content for personal uses, on personal time; however, it is imperative that an employee’s or student’s use of such site does not negatively impact or damage the school’s image, reputation, or members of our Brehm family. Care should always be taken when posting any material online. Material that is posted to social media outlets or websites can be redistributed without your knowledge or permission.
Brehm faculty and staff are responsible for the information that they post, share, and respond to online. As information published online can be continuously re-copied and posted on other sites without your knowledge, what you do online can follow you for a long time. Protect your character and privacy.
- Audiences who may read your posts could include current and prospective students, faculty, staff , donors, alumni, parents, school counselors, the media, or future employers. Post only information that you would want to share with them.
- Only accept social network invitations from people you know. Utilize privacy settings to control access to your network, web pages, profile, posts, blogs, wikis, podcasts, digital media, forums, groups, fan pages, etc. Establish separate personal and professional social network accounts.
- Faculty and Staff must uphold the School’s value of respect for the individual and avoid making defamatory statements about the School, its employees, its students, or their families.
- Exercising appropriate discretion when using Facebook for personal communications (with friends, colleagues, other students, etc.) with the knowledge that faculty behavior on Facebook may be used as a model by our students.
- Recognize that many former students have online connections with current students. Information shared with school adults and former students may be seen by current students.
- Remind your network friends of your position as an educator whose profile may be accessed by current or former students. Regularly monitor posts linked to your network.
- Remember that others can view sites that you bookmark or items, such as photos, that you tag. Additionally, if you are tagged by friends, images may be posted that are outside of School guidelines.
- Do not misrepresent yourself by using someone else’s identity.
- Conduct yourself online according to the same standards of honesty, respect, and morality that you would at school.
- When posting online, all information is considered representative of your views and opinions and not those of Brehm Preparatory School. However, as a Brehm employee, your views and opinions reflect on this institution. Public statements should be in accord with the policies in the Employee Handbook.
- Joining the social networking sites of current parents or students is not permitted. You should never discuss sensitive school matters with parents or students using Facebook, blogs, and other social media outlets.
- To protect your privacy and the School, accepting invitations to non-school related social networking sites from current Brehm or Options Students is not permitted. Exceptions to this policy can only be made by the Executive and Associate Directors of Brehm Preparatory School.
- Never post private or confidential information online about Brehm Preparatory School, parents, or students.
- Faculty and Staff should communicate with students and parents on educational matters only, and only through school-based resources, such as school-provided email or web portal accounts. Use of one’s personal email account or social networking account to contact students and parents is not permitted.
- Student participation cannot be mandated for a project, assignment or event for the school. Parents reserve the right to dictate their child’s access to social media outlets.
- Existing age restrictions on social media sites also apply and may restrict a student’s ability to participate in a given online community.
Brehm Preparatory School Confidentiality Statement
Employees, Board Members, volunteers, independent contractors, and any other associated entities representing Brehm will, as humanly possible, guarantee confidentiality and privacy in regard to care, treatment, records, and discussions about any persons served.. Employees, consultants, and volunteers, etc. will not disclose any information about a person, to anyone outside of this organization unless disclosure is authorized by the Executive Director/Associate or Chief Operating Officer.
No records or lists are maintained where they may be seen or read by other people we serve, volunteers, or the public.
Staff, paraprofessionals, or professional personnel will be granted access to student records on a need-to-know basis only. Within Brehm, information regarding students is only discussed with those persons who have a need to know the information.
No information regarding a student is given to any person outside Brehm except with the student’s informed and signed consent, and then, only to the extent of the consent given. In the case of a minor, the custody holder grants consent. These protections also apply to photographs and names of our students. Photographs should not be posted online of any past or present student without prior approval of the Brehm Communications Department.
This confidentiality must be maintained even when no longer employed by Brehm.
If the School believes that an employee’s activity online or on a social networking site, blog, or personal website may violate the School’s policies, the School may request that the employee cease such activity. Depending on the severity of the incident, the employee may be subject to disciplinary action.
Definitions
Social Network – Any Internet service, platform, or website that provides a user with a distinct account — whereby the user can access such account by way of a distinct user name, password, or other means distinct for that user; and that is primarily intended for the user to upload, store, and manage user-generated personal content on the service, platform, or website. (Bill Text 112th Congress (2011-2012) H.R.5050.IH)
Online Content: forms of electronic communication (as Web sites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities or personal sites to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (as videos). (Merriam-Webster)
Network – computer network that uses Internet Protocol technology to share information, operational systems, or computing services within an organization or between other sites and organizations via the internet.
Student Use of Social Media and Online Content
Brehm encourages students to set and maintain high ethical standards in their use of social networking. Since social media reaches audiences far beyond the community, students must use social sites responsibly and be accountable for their actions.
Students who participate in online interactions must remember that their posts reflect on the entire Brehm Preparatory School community and, as such, are subject to the same behavioral standards set forth in the Student Handbook.
In addition to the regulations found in this document and in the Student Handbook, students are expected to abide by the following:
- To protect the privacy of Brehm students and faculty, students may not, under any circumstances, create digital video recordings of Brehm community members either on campus or at off-campus Brehm Preparatory School events for online publication or distribution.
- The use of social networking sites while at Brehm for any use besides educational is forbidden for students under the age of 18.
- In the online environment, a student must follow the Brehm Student Handbook as well as the Computer & Network Use policy.
- Social media venues are public and information can be shared beyond your control. Be conscious of what you post online as you will leave a long-lasting impression on many different audiences.
- Do not post or link anything (photos, videos, web pages, audio files, forums, groups, fan pages, etc.) to your social networking sites that you wouldn’t want friends, peers, parents, teachers, college admissions officers, or future employers to access. What you present on social networking forums represents you forever.
- If responding to someone with whom you disagree, remember to be respectful. Make sure that criticism is constructive and not hurtful. Do not use profane, obscene, or threatening language.
- Only accept social network invitations from people you know. Utilize privacy settings to control access to your network, web pages, profile, posts, blogs, wikis, podcasts, digital media, forums, groups, fan pages, etc.
- Online stalkers and identity thieves are a real threat. Never share personal information, including, but not limited to, social security numbers, phone numbers, addresses, exact birth dates, and pictures with parties you don’t know or on unsecure sites.
- Users should keep their passwords secure and never share passwords with others. If someone tampers with your blog, email, or social networking account without you knowing about it, you could be held accountable.
- Do not misrepresent yourself by using someone else’s identity.
- Cyberbullying is considered an act of harassment. See the Brehm Student Handbook for detailed information.
- Use of Brehm logos or images on your personal social networking sites is prohibited. If you wish to promote a specific Brehm activity or event, you may do so only by means of a link to the official Brehm announcement.
Failure to abide by this Policy, as with other policies at Brehm Preparatory School, may result in disciplinary action.
Content of this policy was modeled after the Social Networking Policies and Guidelines of the following institutions:
Ball State University
Bishop Lynch High School
Colorado State University
Input for this document was provided by:
Human Resources
Coordinator of Communications
Coordinator of Technology
Director of Information Systems and Technology
Chief Operations Officer