Social Media Guide

Guidelines & Strategies

General Guidelines

The following provides guidance about existing policies, laws and regulations that extend to social media.

Follow applicable policies and procedures. Follow University policies procedures, rules, and regulations as they relate to you, your unit, and Southwestern University – you are responsible for what you post.

Do not share private or confidential information. Be respectful of and do not post confidential, private, personal, or proprietary information about Southwestern University, its students, alumni, employees, partners or affiliates. If you’re unsure about a post, don’t post it.

Be mindful of copyright. Be respectful of intellectual property and do not post copyrighted material. It’s good practice to link to content instead of reproducing it, or obtain permission before posting it.

Comply with the terms of service. Be mindful that many terms of service agreements of social platforms, websites, and applications grant the service broad license to redistribute posted content.

 

Southwestern University Guidelines

The following provides guidance on University procedures.

Share University news from the University. The University’s official flagship channels should be the first to announce University news. Southwestern.edu is the University’s official news source. The University’s official flagship channels are:

It’s good practice to link straight to information that is publicly available on the University’s official websites – such as southwestern.edu/news-at-southwestern/ – or repost from Southwestern University’s official flagship accounts. It’s the most effective and preferred way to help promote the University and ensure information is public, accurate and approved for dissemination. Support major announcements, but do not announce news that is not yours to announce.

Support incident management and Emergency Alert communications – accurately. In the event of an incident or Emergency Alert, University-affiliated accounts are advised to share related messages directly from the University’s official channels.

Do not share misinformation, rumor, or speculation.

Consult on media engagement. If your social media account receives a media inquiry, consult the Marketing and Communications Department prior to responding. Our policy requires that all media inquiries must first be directed to our office. Contact Andrew Felts, feltsa@southwestern.edu, who will assist that particular outlet and request.

Escalate serious issues. If you see something, say something. Contact the appropriate resource immediately if you identify indications of health, safety or security issues or become aware an individual may present a danger to themselves or others in the University community.

Office of Marketing and Communications
sucommunications@southwestern.edu
512.863.1212
Website

Southwestern University Police Department
512.863.1944
Website

Counseling Center
512.863.1252
Website

Information Technology Services
512.819.7333
Website

 

Setting Up Your Social Media Account

Let the University know about your account. Discuss accounts with your supervisor and/or your unit’s communications staff, and let the Office of Marketing and Communications know about new accounts by emailing Morgan Halley, halleym@southwestern.edu. 

Set yourself up for success. Before creating your social media account, be sure to thoroughly review our best practices and style guide. 

Setting up Your Instagram Page

  • Choose a username and profile image: Please refer to our Style Guide for best practices. 
  • Craft a clear bio: Include who you are, what you do, and how to get involved. Add a link to your website, group sign-up form, or a Linktree for more info.
  • Switch to a professional account: Set your account to a Business or Creator profile to access analytics, schedule posts, and add contact options.
  • Start with an introductory post: Post a welcome message, highlights from past events, or a “Meet the Team” post to let followers know what to expect from your page.
  • Get your account seen: Tag @southwesternu so we can share your posts! 

Setting up Your Facebook Page

  • Choose the right page type: Set up a “Business or Brand” page to access tools for managing events, posts, and analytics.
  • Choose a username and profile image: Please refer to our Style Guide for best practices.
  • Complete your “about” section: Include who you are, what you do, and how to get involved. Add links to your website or other resources to help followers connect with you.
  • Start with an introductory post: Share a welcome post, upcoming events, or a “Meet the Team” post to build engagement right away.

Setting up Your X Profile 

  • Choose a username and profile image: Please refer to our Style Guide for best practices.
  • Complete your bio: Write a short, engaging bio that explains your group’s mission or focus. Include a link to your website or sign-up form.
  • Start posting: Post updates, event promos, and quick facts to introduce your group. Use hashtags and tag relevant campus accounts to boost visibility.
  • Pin a key post: Pin a tweet with essential info about your organization, like how to join or details about upcoming events, to make it the first thing visitors see.

Setting up Your LinkedIn Page