Student Social Media Policy
| Policy name | Student Social Media Policy |
| Policy number | ACA017 |
| Date approved | 5 June 2024 |
| Academic Board | |
| Responsible officer | Dean (Higher Education) and Provost (VET) |
| Implementation officer | Dean (Higher Education) and Provost (VET) |
| Next review date | June 2029 |
| Related Policies |
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| Related forms and documents |
1. PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY
The Cairnmillar Institute (the Institute) encourages social media use by students and is committed to ensuring that use of social media:
a) Increases engagement with the wider community
b) Protects personal privacy
c) Does not breach applicable laws
d) Does not adversely affect the reputation of students and the Institute.
The purpose of this policy is to:
a) Ensure students are aware of their rights and responsibilities in relation to social media
b) Establish a set of common-sense guidelines for social media use within which students must operate
c) Identify that a breach of this policy by a student is misconduct
d) Protect the Institute’s digital identity.
2. SCOPE
This policy applies if a student (whether using personal or Cairnmillar accounts) is commenting in the social media about:
a) The Institute including course content, teaching and learning, and staff and students.
b) Other education organisations including course content, teaching and learning.
c) The study or practice of psychology, counselling and/or psychotherapy including placements.
d) Allied professions and their interconnection with the study or practice of psychology, counselling and/or psychotherapy.
e) Professional bodies such as the Australian Psychological Society and the Psychology Board of Australia.
3. POLICY
3.1. The Institute expects that students will abide by the legal and regulatory requirements relevant to social media engagement and the Institute’s regulations relevant to the use of its information technology systems.
3.2. Regulatory requirements
3.2.1. Observe copyright law
a) Ensure the use of online graphics and information without written permission is not an infringement of copyright law
3.2.2. Protect others’ privacy
a) Do not provide any information that could result in a client or placement agency being identifiable
b) Reference only publicly available information about the Institute
c) Obtain third party consent where applicable
3.2.3. Act within the law – do not post or link to:
a) Defamatory statements
b) Pornography
c) Sexual jokes
d) Material amounting to harassment or bullying
e) Vilification
f) Material that is discriminatory, including on the basis of race, age, gender, marital status, nationality or religion
g) Cruel or violent material
3.2.4. Protect your privacy with the knowledge that student/practitioners are required to:
a) Maintain a professional profile
b) Maintain high security settings for privacy
3.3. Institute Information Technology (IT) systems
3.3.1. All information stored on or transmitted by the Institute’s IT systems, including computers and communications systems, is the property of the Institute.
3.3.2. The Institute has the capability to monitor the use of its IT systems.
3.3.3. The Institute reserves the right to examine and monitor, at any time and without notice to a student, all information that is stored on, or transmitted using its IT systems.
3.3.4. While the Institute manages its own social media sites, it does not monitor, censor or alter content posted externally by its students. In the event of a potential breach of this policy, the Institute may monitor a site as part of its investigation of an alleged breach.
3.4. Breaches
3.4.1. Students must comply with this policy.
3.4.2. A breach of this policy is classified as misconduct and a student may be penalised in accordance with the Institute’s Academic Integrity and Student Conduct Policy.
3.4.3. If the Institute identifies a potential breach of this policy, it must adopt the same process for investigation and decision making, with appropriate adjustments, as for other concerns about potential misconduct.
4. RESOURCES AND REFERENCES
Legislative and compliance framework relevant to the development of this policy:
5. SCHEDULE A: GUIDELINE FOR STUDENTS’ USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
The Institute recognises students are entitled to enjoy the same protections and rights and have the same responsibilities online as in the off-line world, such as academic freedom and general freedom of expression. If it would normally be acceptable to express an opinion about something off-line, it is equally acceptable online. However, it is important to remember:
- Participating in social media is a form of publishing
- Social media can mean a post or communication
- Is permanent and visible
- Can have a far wider and more permanent audience and impact than in the off-line world.
This means students must act, and express thoughts, and opinions rationally, respectfully, and appropriately. Students should also exercise good judgements in other aspects, such as selection of their social media “handles”, and in the nature of photographs and other material posted to social media, given that such material can be accessed by others interacting with the student in a professional manner (e.g., clients of students on placement may locate such material when searching online for information related to their therapists.
The Institute expects students to follow good academic practice and communication in their social media engagement:
Good academic practice
| Provide valuable information | Ensure any information provided is informed and factually accurate. |
| Identify your opinion | Identify that: • You are a student at the Institute • You are not speaking in an official capacity but offering a personal opinion |
| Be transparent | Post comments and information that is relevant and if you have a particular bias or agenda, be open about that |
| Avoid plagiarism | Act with academic integrity to ensure credibility is maintained |
| Exercise good judgement | Refrain from comments that can be interpreted as slurs, demeaning, inflammatory as these reflect individual integrity and can impact on future employment opportunities. |
Good Communication
| Maintain social media literacy | Ensure an understand of the nuances and accepted communication style of each tool before posting |
| Communicate using the right tone | Must be respectful, mindful and credible |
| Double check your content before clicking | Posting creates a record that is often permanently associated with the student and with the Institute, so check you are not posting something you are likely to regret later |