5.26.1 Social Media Procedure
Related Minnesota State Board Policy: 5.22 Acceptable Use of Computers and Information Technology Resources
Related Minnesota State Board Procedure: 5.22.1 Acceptable Use of Computers and Information Technology Resources
Purpose: Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn are essential tools in outreach to Normandale Community College’s target audiences. This procedure establishes responsibilities and guidelines for creating and managing the college’s social media presence. This is done in pursuit of providing consistent, professional, engaging, and accessible content that aligns with the college's mission and brand.
Nothing in this procedure shall be interpreted to expand, diminish, or alter academic freedom articulated under college policy and system collective bargaining agreements.
Part 1: Content Creation
Subpart A: The Digital Media Producer creates content for the college’s Main Social Media Accounts, and Content Providers create content for Associated Social Media Accounts at the college. These include channels that are managed by recognized student organizations and departments at Normandale.
Subpart B: Content on Normandale’s Main and Associated Social Media Accounts should comply with the following content guidelines:
- Engaging: Captures audience interest and encourages interaction.
- Informative: Provides valuable information to the target audience.
- Relevant: Aligns with the assigned social media platform and audience.
- On-Brand: Maintains a consistent voice and message in support of Normandale's brand and mission, vision, values.
- Accurate: Provides factual information that is up to date
- Timely: Reflects current events including those that either happened recently or will happen in the near future
- Compliant: Adheres to local, state, and federal laws, including copyright and intellectual property rights, and accessibility standards
Part 2: Content Management
Subpart A: The Digital Media Producer will develop, maintain and follow a social media strategy for the college’s Main Social Media Accounts that include:
- voice and tone for messaging across platforms,
- visual identity standards (e.g., logos, images), and
- content formats and posting frequency.
Subpart B: The Digital Media Producer will periodically review the college’s Associated Social Media Accounts (those run by recognized student organizations and departments) for compliance with content guidelines (Part 1 Subpart B) and will address any content that is not in compliance.
Subpart C: Content Providers will report any content not in compliance with content guidelines to the Digital Media Producer who will take corrective action as warranted.
Subpart D: The Digital Media Producer will provide training to Content Providers on social media best practices, such as:
- platform-specific features and functionalities,
- content creation strategies,
- effective communication and engagement techniques,
- recognizing and responding to inappropriate content, and
- following content guidelines.
Part 3: Social Media Management
Subpart A: The Digital Media Producer and Content Providers will monitor comments and messages made on the college’s Main and Associated Social Media Accounts and will remove those comments that are:
- abusive, vulgar, obscene, racist, threatening, or harassing;
- spam, including content that promotes products or services or contains gratuitous links;
- unsupported accusations;
- suggest or encourage illegal, dangerous, or destructive activity;
- duplicate posts; or
- not relevant.
Content Providers will inform the Digital Media Producer of comments and messages that are not in compliance with the above.
Subpart B: The Digital Media Producer and Content Providers will respond to comments and messages promptly and professionally.
Subpart C: The Digital Media Producer will analyze social media activity on the college’s Main Social Media Accounts and report key metrics to inform and make strategy adjustments to meet goals.
Policy History:
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Next Review Date (4 years):