Social Networking

The university does not currently have a social networking or Facebook policy. In lieu of a policy, we provide the following guidelines/recommendations:

• If you do choose to use social media, don’t  start it without having a solid communication plan about how/why you will use it and how it will be maintained, how it will coordinate with other communication tools/vehicles, etc.
• Do not abandon or neglect your area’s Web site in favor of any social media.
• Determine whether your audience is using Facebook and try to assess whether this would be an effective way to communicate with them.
• If you do choose to create a Facebook site, ensure that it has adequate resources for maintenance, review, updates (again, not at the expense of your Web site).
• If you do choose to use Facebook, explore the differences between creating a PAGE or a GROUP. Note that groups cannot be removed.
• In general, social media tools are in their infancy. Take great caution when investing time and resources. Emerging Web technologies have short lifespans and are often quickly replaced by the next best thing.  Take full advantage of what makes the technology unique; do not just participate to appear trendy or cool. Make calculated and informed decisions as you would with your primary Web sites.

 We have provided standard icons for linking to social networking pages.

  UC Web Communications Delicious RSS feed for social networking articles

Speaker notes from March 24, 2009, Social Networking Presentation:

- Brian Warner, Web Communications (PPT)

- Kerry Overstake, Undergraduate Admissions (PDF)

- Candice Terrell, Alumni Association (Word)