As a representative of the UT System, your social media activity plays a crucial role in shaping the public’s perception of our statewide enterprise. These guidelines are designed to help you effectively manage your social media presence while upholding the values and integrity of the UT System.
- Be respectful and professional: Always engage respectfully and professionally. Your interactions should reflect the UT System’s commitment to our Be One UT values.
- Be accurate and honest: Ensure that the information you share is accurate, factual and up-to-date. If you make a mistake, correct it promptly.
- Be transparent: Clearly identify yourself and your role within the UT System. Transparency builds trust and credibility.
- Protect privacy and confidentiality: Respect the privacy and confidentiality of students, faculty, staff and stakeholders. Do not share personal or sensitive information without proper authorization.
- Follow University policies: Adhere to all relevant UT System policies, including those related to confidentiality, privacy and intellectual property.
- Maintain professionalism: Use professional language and tone in all posts. Avoid using offensive or inappropriate language.
- Engage positively: Encourage constructive discussions and positive interactions. Refrain from engaging in or endorsing negative or harmful behavior.
- Visual consistency: Use approved logos, colors and branding elements to maintain a consistent visual identity across all social media platforms.
- Content quality: Share content that is relevant, informative and adds value to our audience. High-quality images, videos and well-written posts enhance engagement.
- Timely responses: Respond to questions and comments in a timely and respectful manner. Engaging with your audience fosters community and trust.
- Personal use: When using personal social media accounts, make it clear that your views are your own and do not represent the UT System. Use a disclaimer if necessary.
- Crisis communication: In the event of a crisis or emergency, defer to the official UT System social channels for accurate and timely information. Do not post unofficial updates.
- Copyright and fair use: Respect copyright laws and fair use guidelines when sharing content. Attribute sources appropriately.
- Monitoring and reporting: Regularly monitor your social media accounts and report any inappropriate or concerning content to the UT System Division of Communications and Marketing.
- Engage authentically: Be genuine in your interactions. Authenticity builds stronger connections with your audience.
- Stay informed: Keep up with social media trends and platform updates to utilize the latest features and best practices.
- Plan your content: Develop a content calendar to plan and organize your posts. Consistent and strategic posting improves engagement.
- Measure performance: Use analytics tools to track the performance of your posts. Understanding what works helps refine your social media strategy.
- Training and support: Take advantage of training resources and support offered by the UT System to enhance your social media skills.
- Student takeovers: While the UT System is not typically in an environment to host student social media “takeovers,” we strongly recommend exercising caution when involving students in social media “takeovers.” Instead of providing direct account access, consider having students submit content for account manager review and posting.