The Kansas Board of Regents has approved a new social media policy for state university employees. Violating the policy could lead to sanctions, including dismissal. Regents Chairman Fred Logan says there is a concern that social media can lead to what he calls “extraordinary damage” to institutions very quickly. Logan says the requirements are narrowly drawn and highlight exceptions to First Amendment protections that have been created by the courts.
The new policy was crafted after a University of Kansas professor made a controversial statement about the Washington Navy Yard shooting on the social media network Twitter. The Board of Regents had the Kansas Attorney General’s office review the policy before issuing it. According to the Lawrence Journal-World, Sheryl Lidzy, chair of the Council of Faculty Senate Presidents, says the policy is overly broad and doesn’t fully protect employees.