Bryan College of Health Sciences recognizes that social media and other digital platforms are valuable tools for communication, self-expression, advocacy, and engagement. The College expects responsible interaction on such platforms and recognizes them as valuable opportunities for educational, personal, and professional growth. As students prepare to enter healthcare professions and other pathways, they are also engaged in the ongoing development of their professional identity. Professional identity formation includes learning to exercise sound judgment, communicating respectfully, and considering the impact of one's words and actions on patients, colleagues, healthcare organizations, and the communities they serve.
When a student's affiliation with Bryan College of Health Sciences is identified or reasonably apparent through social media platforms, students are expected to communicate in a manner consistent with the ethical and professional standards of healthcare education and practice. All interactions should uphold the standards of professionalism expected within the College community and reflect positively on the individual, the College, its clinical partners, and the healthcare profession.
Students are Expected To:
- Engage respectfully and professionally: Communicate with honesty, integrity, and respect, expressing concerns or differing viewpoints in a constructive and professional manner.
- Think before you post: Consider how your content may be perceived by patients, employers, clinical partners, peers, and the broader community, and ensure your communication reflects positively on you and the healthcare profession.
- Be clear and responsible in your role: Distinguish personal opinions from official College positions and use social media in ways that align with College policies and professional expectations.
The following guidelines have been developed for Bryan College of Health Sciences students when using social media communication for both personal and professional use:
- Always uphold patient confidentiality: Students are expected to refrain from capturing, posting, or sharing any patient-related photos, videos, or written information from clinical settings, and to conduct themselves in a manner that protects privacy and aligns with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Policy requirements and professional healthcare standards.
- Represent your role with clarity and integrity: Students are expected to avoid posting content that suggests or implies they are speaking on behalf of the College, Bryan Health/Bryan Medical Center, clinical sites, or classroom settings, and to ensure their online presence reflects personal perspectives rather than official institutional positions.
- Protect academic integrity and student privacy: Students are expected to refrain from sharing comments, photos, or videos from classroom settings or College activities and to ensure their actions uphold Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) requirements and Academic Integrity standards as outlined in the Student Catalog.
- Use appropriate channels for concerns: Students are expected to address concerns, challenges, or negative experiences through established College processes rather than sharing them on social media platforms.
- Maintain professional standards in online content: Students are expected to ensure that all content they share aligns with professional expectations and to take responsibility for removing content that does not reflect the standards of the College and the healthcare profession.
- Foster a respectful and inclusive online environment: Students are expected to refrain from posting content that is offensive, harassing, or bullying in nature and to ensure their online interactions align with the College’s standards for respect and nondiscrimination. Students are responsible for removing any content that does not reflect these expectations.
Students are expected to follow social media and technology use standards aligned with Bryan Health, including Bryan Medical Center. These expectations are based on guidance from Bryan Health’s Acceptable Use Agreement for Information Technology Resources, which students have previously reviewed and acknowledged during the registration process. Students are responsible for maintaining these standards and applying them consistently in their social media use and professional conduct.
- Safeguard confidential and proprietary information: Students are expected to refrain from sharing or disclosing any Bryan Health confidential, proprietary, or patient information when engaging in blogging or social media activity. Proprietary information includes materials owned or protected by Bryan Health—such as internal documents, policies, processes, trade secrets, trademarks, and non-public operational or organizational details—that are not intended for public use or distribution.
- Protect the integrity and reputation of affiliated organizations: Students are expected to ensure that their social media and blogging activities do not harm or tarnish the image, reputation, or goodwill of Bryan Health, Bryan Medical Center, Bryan College of Health Sciences, Mary-Lanning Hospital, or affiliated partners. Students are also expected to refrain from creating or sharing content during clinical experiences and from including others in posts (e.g., photos, recordings, or attributed statements).
- Respect intellectual property and legal requirements: Students are expected to follow all laws and guidelines related to protected materials when using social media, blogging, or other content creation. Intellectual property includes content owned by an organization or individual such as logos, trademarks, course materials, publications, and original work that may not be used or shared without permission. Export-controlled materials include certain technical information, data, or resources that are restricted by law from being shared outside approved settings. Students are expected to refrain from using or distributing these materials in ways that are not authorized or appropriate.
- Engage appropriately with institutional content: Students are encouraged to share or amplify official content from Bryan Health or colleagues in ways that align with professional standards and College expectations.
Students are expected to report inappropriate social media content or potential policy concerns to the Vice President of Student Affairs (VPSA) or a College administrator. The Student Code of Conduct will take appropriate disciplinary action when a student is found to have violated the policy, up to and including loss of clinical privileges, suspension or dismissal from the College. Social Media content involving confidential or protected information must be managed in accordance with HIPAA requirements and may affect clinical placement and program progression.
Social Media and Professionalism Sanctions
Violation Level: Minor
- Policy-based Parameters: Unprofessional content; no FERPA/HIPAA; no harm
- Clinical Student Impact: Meeting with VPSA. VPSA notifies Academic Program Dean. Sanctions can include loss of college leadership roles, scheduled meeting with senior leaders, debrief presentation meeting.
- Non-Clinical Student Impact: Meeting with VPSA. VPSA notifies Academic Program Dean. Sanctions can include loss of college leadership roles, scheduled meeting with senior leaders, debrief presentation meeting.
Violation Level: Moderate
- Policy-based Parameters: FERPA risk; classroom posts; implying representation; improper branding; boundary violations; no patient information.
- Clinical Student Impact: Suspension of Clinical Privileges, resulting in course failure
- Non-Clinical Student Impact: Course Failure
Violation Level: Major
- Policy-based Parameters: Harassment/bullying; reputational harm; repeated violations; involving others without consent
- Clinical Student Impact: One-year suspension from the college
- Non-Clinical Student Impact: One-year suspension from the college
Violation Level: Severe (HIPAA/Legal)
- Policy-based Parameters: Patient information; clinical images; HIPAA violation; confidential/proprietary information; created during clinical
- Clinical Student Impact: Immediate investigation with Human Resources, resulting in college dismissal
- Non-Clinical Student Impact: Immediate investigation with Human Resources, resulting in college dismissal