Roger Williams University provides access to the World Wide Web for all of its employees as a privilege and in many cases a necessity to meet the responsibilities of their job. This includes the use of social networking sites, and access to an array of blogs—and even permission to write a blog of one’s own—as part of one’s professional activities. The University defines “professional activities” as those that advance the University’s mission of education, research and public service.

In light of that definition, each employee is reminded when he or she blogs or accesses a social networking site with a Roger Williams University e-mail address, the employee is a representative of the University and must act accordingly. That means an employee can access such sites as Facebook or MySpace to communicate with students, faculty, staff or other professional colleagues in matters related to their teaching and/or professional responsibilities at Roger Williams.

Employees who use a Roger Williams e-mail account must consult their supervisor and/or Dean in advance of their intention to use social networking sites. In addition, staff or faculty using either an RWU address or a personal address to create or post comments to blogs should include this disclaimer: The postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily reflect Roger Williams University’s opinion, strategies or policies.

Some activities that would NOT be considered acceptable uses of the Internet from a Roger Williams account include but are not limited to:

• Posting items anonymously or under a pseudonym
• Conducting personal social relationships unrelated to University activities
• Using and creating an account with dating and/or matchmaking sites
• Engaging in partisan political fundraising activity
• Engaging in online gambling
• Posting comments or writing blogs that are obscene or untrue
• Using social networking sites or blog postings to harass others
• Selling goods or services for personal financial profit

If individuals on campus wish to use personal e-mail accounts on social networking sites or to maintain a blog, the University encourages its employees to keep in mind these recommendations:

• Blog at your own risk: When you air your personal opinions via a blog or a social networking site, you are legally responsible for your commentary. Outside parties actually can pursue legal action against you for postings. Please note that the University will not indemnify an employee for anything she or he writes on a blog, either under the RWU e-mail account or a private one. Furthermore, the University reserves the right to take personnel action against any employee who uses the Internet with University equipment or e-mail addresses for illegal or inappropriate activities.
  
  
• Social network and blog postings may generate media coverage—be prepared to attract media interest and observe the University policy, summarized below, for fielding queries from reporters.
  
  
• Be thoughtful and accurate in your posts regarding the University and colleagues.  All University employees can be viewed as representative of RWU—even if they use non-University addresses—and that can add significance to your postings/comments. 
  
  
• Be discreet, respectful, gracious and as accurate/factual as you can be in any comments or content you post online. Take particular care of spelling, punctuation and grammar—it DOES reflect on you professionally, as well as on the University.

Blogs often attract the attention of reporters and you may find a member of a media outlet, whether print, broadcast or Internet site, contacting you for additional comment about a subject in your postings or area of expertise. The Office of Public Affairs strongly urges faculty and staff to refer all such media queries directly to our office prior to responding to such queries. Queries directed to staff must be handled in collaboration and consultation of the office of Public Affairs.

Revised June 29, 2007