Student Employee Social Media Training

Owned by Valerie Pietra
Last updated: Aug 22, 2024 by Cathleen O'Hare
4 min read

Updated: February 2023

This information is for Syracuse University student employees who will use Falk College or Falk-affiliated (i.e. academic department, academic program) social media accounts. This is NOT for University faculty and staff who run Falk College or Falk-affiliated accounts, or for students who run social media for registered student organizations.

On this Page:

Training Video

Content

Before you start creating content, please complete an Image Release Form and return to your supervisor. You can obtain the Image Release Form from the Falk Communications office.

Use only original content. Take your own original photos and videos. Do not use any copyrighted materials, stock photography, or any images from other accounts/around the web on Falk social media.

Check your spelling and grammar. We're a higher education institution, so we need to demonstrate professionalism. Please be sure you double check your spelling and grammar!

Avoid using graphics (images with text on them, such as event fliers). Graphics are strongly discouraged as they introduce accessibility and brand-related restrictions. Rather than posting graphic, please use the following strategy: 

  1. Post an engaging photo.

  2. Include high-level details (i.e. date, time, location) in the post caption, and 

  3. Include a link to more information (i.e. a link the event’s page on Syracuse University Event Calendar).

If you and your supervisor determine that a graphic is absolutely necessary, please:

  1. Create your graphic using Adobe Spark (Training Session 1 and Session 2). All students have access to Adobe Creative Suite through Syracuse University).

  2. Follow accessibility guidelines (see "Accessibility" section below).

  3. Approve your graphic with your supervisor, who will ensure it meets University brand guidelines.

Tone and Personality

Our goal is to help people get to know Falk College, understand us, like us, and trust us.

If we misuse a hashtag, pop culture reference, meme, etc., we can look foolish, offend, alienate, or do other harm. Therefore:

  • Stay away from using pop culture references, memes, and humor.  

  • Say away from hashtags other than:

    • Basic Falk College program names (i.e. #PublicHealth or #Nutrition or #ExerciseScience),

    • University-sponsored hashtags being used by @SyracuseU accounts (i.e. #SUWelcome and #SUGrad and #SyracuseU), or

    • Pre-approved hashtags from your supervisor. If you're looking to start a new hashtag (i.e. #FalkFridays) please check to be sure it isn't already being used for something else, and then confirm with your supervisor prior to introducing it on Falk channels.

Accessibility

All social media content must adhere to Syracuse University accessibility policies and platform-specific accessibility standards.

Syracuse University IT Resources on Accessible Social Media

Platform-Specific Resources

Five Basics Best Practices

  • Include alternative text on ALL images.

  • Include captions for ALL videos.

  • Any text on images, such as for an Instagram story, must be a large, easily legible font. The text color must have a high degree of contrast to the background color to make sure the text is clearly visible.

  • Do not animate your images. Try using multiple images in a carousel or use a video instead.

  • Format hashtags using camel case (i.e. #GoSU and #OttosArmy) and include at the end of the post.

Privacy and Permissions

Campus community, which includes current students, faculty, and staff: If your photo or video prominently features one person or a small group, each person must complete a Model Release Form for the university. Wide shots in public spaces, like the Quad, etc. are OK without this form.

Non-campus community (local individuals, visitors to campus): Each individual should complete a Model Release Form. Return completed forms to your supervisor for Falk Communications records.

Children or minors: DO NOT take photos of children or minors! Unless you have specifically been instructed by your supervisor or Falk Communications that ALL children/minors in your shoot have completed Syracuse University Model Release Forms (MUST be Syracuse University's form, no other forms are acceptable.). No exceptions.

For large events: For large events where it is not feasible to obtain individual release forms for all participants, use the following three-step protocol:

  1. Obtain individual Model Release Forms (attached) for the prominent speakers, panelists. Return these to Falk Communications.

  2. Place an event sign-in sheet at the event entrance. The sheet should indicate that, by attending the event, participants consent to be photographed for use in university general marketing. Return this to Falk Communications.

  3. Make a verbal announcement of photography at start of the event. Participants who do not wish to be photographed should identify themselves to the photographer and be asked to move to a designated area in the room so they are not prominently featured in photographs.

Security

  • Do not share Falk passwords with anyone.

  • Log out of Falk social media accounts when you're not using them.

  • If you're borrowing a University device (i.e. laptop, phone, or tablet), do not leave them unattended.

Special Circumstances

  • Social Media During Crisis: In the instance of a crisis situation, such as serious campus issue, safety or public health emergency, major world event, or another serious matter, please cease ALL activities on Falk College social media immediately, alert your supervisor, and await further instruction.

  • Content that Violates Platform Rules of Conduct or Syracuse University Policies: If you see a user engaging in a way that violates platform-specific rules of conduct, or our University policies, alert your supervisor immediately, who will manage the issue in accordance with University policy. If you are unsure about whether something is in violation, please alert your supervisor to be safe.

  • Social Media Advertisements: Falk College social media accounts sometimes run advertisements. You may see other users engage with these advertisements, such as likes, comments, or shares. Student employees are NOT permitted to manage any engagement with social media advertisements on behalf of Falk College (i.e. respond to comments, hide/delete comments, etc.). If you see engagement with one of our social media ads, please alert your supervisor immediately and they will manage the engagement in accordance with University policy.