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Social Media Policy

BAKER UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS
SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

Baker University Athletics is dedicated to graduating champions for life by developing leaders through competition, academic achievement, diversity, and community service in the pursuit of personal excellence. Student-athletes should recognize that as representatives of our institution they are held to a high standard of behavior.

Baker University student-athletes are not restricted from using social media sites. However, student-athletes must understand that any content they make public - regardless of privacy settings - via social websites is expected to follow acceptable social behaviors and also to comply with federal government, state of Kansas, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), Heart of America Athletic Conference, Baker University and the Baker University Department of Athletics rules and regulations.

The following guidelines outline the expectations of every student-athlete in regards to social media:

  • Understand and follow the rules of each particular social media site.
  • Do not post anything private, confidential or sensitive.
  • Do not post comments that attack a student-athlete, coach or athletic administrator from Baker University or another institution.
  • Do not post information, photos, or other representations of sexual content, harassing language, inappropriate behavior or items that could be interpreted as demeaning or inflammatory.
  • Do not comment on student-athlete injuries, playbooks, rosters, officiating or any other team information that should remain confidential.
  • In addition to adhering to the Baker University Department of Athletics social media policy, student-athletes must also follow social media policies set forth by his/her head coach.
  • The social media policy set by Baker University Department of Athletics works in conjunction with the policies described in the student handbook.
  • An official page for a Baker University sports program must be administered under the supervision of full-time university staff members.
  • An official page for a sports program must have “Baker University” denoted on the account page, i.e. “Baker University Men’s Soccer”.
  • Full-time employees must notify the Department of Athletics regarding any new official accounts. Contact Assistant Director of Athletics - Communications Kyle Pattrick at: kyle.pattrick@bakeru.edu

In an effort to guide social media practices, the Department of Athletics suggests the following:

  • Understand that freedom of speech is not unlimited. Social media websites are NOT a place where you can say and do whatever you want without repercussions.
  • Think twice before posting. If you would not want your parents, family, coaches or boss to see your post, do not post it!
  • Remember the Internet is permanent. Even if you delete something on the Internet, it still exists out there somewhere.
  • Remember many different audiences will see your posts, including fans, alumni, children, student-athletes, parents, staff, faculty, etc.
  • Be honest, respectful, and positive.
  • Be professional and polite.
  • Be accurate. If you make a mistake, own up to it and correct it quickly.
  • Avoid topics that may be considered objectionable or inflammatory like religion or politics.
  • Do not post anything that you would not speak about openly in a work place or public, such as comments on drug use, sexual humor, skin color or ethnic slurs.
  • Be in the proper state of mind when you make a post. Do not post when your judgment is impaired in any way.
  • Remember coaches and administrators monitor social media websites.
  • Remember potential employers use social media websites to screen candidates. Your career path can be directly impacted by your actions on social media websites.
  • Protect yourself by maintaining a self-image that you can be proud of years from now.
  • Use the privacy/security settings made available on social media sites.

Violation of the student-athlete social media policy may result in one or more of the following disciplinary actions:

  • Meeting with the Director of Athletics, and/or the Head Coach, and/or the Dean of Students.
  • Requiring removing the unacceptable content
  • Deactivating the social media profile.
  • Temporary suspensions from the team until the prescribed conditions are met.
  • Suspension from the team for a prescribed period of time.
  • Indefinite suspension from the team.
  • Dismissal from the team.