New social media policy could pose risk to KU accreditation

[Mr. Laz]

New social media policy could pose risk to KU accreditation
By Ben Unglesbee
January 7, 2014

A critical accreditation review of Kansas University next year could be jeopardized by the social media policy recently passed by the Kansas Board of Regents, according to a professor involved in the process.

Susan Twombly, a KU professor of higher education and chairwoman of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, said accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission "seems to be at risk with the policy."

Twombly became familiar with the issue from her work as chair of the self-study steering committee that is currently reviewing KU's upcoming reaccreditation with the Higher Learning Commission, or HLC, set for February 2015.

Her concerns largely center on one of the criteria for accreditation through the HLC, which requires that the university be "committed to freedom of expression and the pursuit of truth in teaching and learning," as stated in an HLC accreditation guide. Another component requires the university to establish and follow "fair and ethical policies for its governing board, administration, faculty and staff."

It's possible, Twombly said, that the Regents social media policy — which gives university heads the power to fire employees for social media posts deemed improper — could be seen as a violation of these criteria by the peer reviewers who will assess the university next year. "I am deeply concerned about this," she said.

The HLC, a regional commission of the North Central Association, is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as an independent accrediting organization to help ensure educational and institutional quality among colleges and universities. Accreditation can be critical to receiving federal student aid and research dollars. Twombly calls it "necessary to function" for KU.

Sara Rosen, KU senior vice provost for academic affairs and member of the steering committee, said the issue came to her attention from members of a subcommittee working on the reaccreditation process. Rosen wouldn't comment on whether she thought KU's accreditation might be at risk with the social media policy, but she said that it, along with many other policies at the university, will likely be reviewed in the self-study during the year.

Rosen also said that whether the policy could be interpreted as violating academic freedom or would pose an issue for the HLC are open questions. With the regents saying they will review the policy, Rosen said, "I have confidence that we will come up with a solution that will ensure academic freedom."

After realizing the risks to accreditation, Twombly expressed her concerns to KU Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little. In an interview last week, Gray-Little said accreditation issues related to the social media policy "certainly would be a problem if that is the case," and it would be "an important topic to discuss" as the regents revisit the policy in the spring.

The regents passed the social media policy unanimously in December, partly as a response to KU journalism professor David Guth's anti-NRA tweet in September, which ignited anger among gun-rights supporters and provoked condemnation from KU administrators and Kansas lawmakers.

The new policy authorizes the leaders of Kansas public universities to fire employees for social media posts that conflict with the best interests of the university or its ability to efficiently provide services, among other violations. Members of the regents have said they did not think the policy violated academic freedom or speech rights.

In response to widespread outcry from faculty and staff at Kansas universities, the regents announced they would revisit the policy and set up a work group made up of representatives from regents universities to review the policy and suggest changes. Currently the new rules on social media rest in the regents policy book in their original wording.

[Bambi]

ahhhhh, it's good to see KU still upsetting all the whack jobs in the state of Kansas.

Carry on.

[Donger]

Ban social media.

[mr. tegu]

There is no violation. Also, the policy they established probably is considered a fair and ethical policy for the governing board, faculty, administration, and staff.