Social Media Standard Operating Procedures (SMSOP)

These guidelines are designed to assist Penn State Educational Equity staff and students in making appropriate decisions when managing and/or creating social media content on behalf of Educational Equity, its multiple offices, programs, and Penn State university.

Standard Operating Procedures

(SMSOP)s extend to all Educational Equity (EE) offices and programs subscribing to social media platforms and intend to complement Penn State’s policies regarding social media creation and distribution.  

See policy AD61 University Marketing and Communications, social media. 
University Marketing and Communications | Penn State Policies 

Purpose: 

To ensure all social media content created and distributed in Educational Equity through the subscription of, but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, blogs, etc. exercise respect, accuracy, and inclusivity when used for the purpose of communicating with its many audiences under the main Educational Equity Office and individual office spaces as well as the University at large.  

The guidance below will help social media managers support basic ways that will begin to evolve our social media communications by being conscious of the content and visuals we choose to promote on our pages as well as how we present them. 

Student work: 

Encourage student reflections by promoting authentic responses as they are communicated through social media in the form of video, imagery, and individual expressions representative of Penn State and Educational Equity values. 

Support and respect student commentary and opinion created for social media content, framed as appropriate for Penn State University, Educational Equity, and the national landscape in recognition of the positivity of student life. 

See Penn State Values. Penn State Values - Penn State Office of Ethics and Compliance 

Social Media Content Posting Checklist 

1. Permissions & Privacy 

  • Do I have written consent from all identifiable individuals featured (photos, videos, names, quotes, etc.)?
  • For minors under 18, do I have documented parental/guardian consent?
  • Have I confirmed that any personal or sensitive information shared (e.g., disability, military service) is explicitly approved for posting?

2. Accuracy and Verification

  • Have I verified all names, titles, and affiliations?
  • Are event details, dates, and program names correct and up to date? 

3. Language & Tone

  • Am I using respectful, neutral, and inclusive language?
  • Am I highlighting achievements and contributions in a way that centers strengths, not circumstances?
  • Is my wording aligned with Educational Equity’s mission of belonging and free of stigmatizing phrasing?  

4. Representation Guidelines

  • Military: Have I included formal identification and rank when recognizing service members.  
  • Student Disability Resources: Am I focusing on accomplishments and opportunities, sharing disability information only with consent?
  • Office of Scholars Programs & TRIO: Am I emphasizing academic success and program benefits without implying deficit narratives. 

5. Imagery Standards

  • Are images appropriate, inclusive, and respectful?
  • Do the images accurately represent the individuals or groups featured?
  • Are captions and hashtags accurate, contextual, and non-sensational? 

6. Accessibility

  • Have I added concise, descriptive alternative text for all photos?
  • Are all videos captioned using embedded closed captioning (CC)? 

7. Sensitive Content (e.g., Memorial or “In Memoriam” posts)

  • Am I using formal identification for the individual being recognized?
  • Have I confirmed all details with family or official sources? 

8. Monitoring and Commenting

  • Do I have a plan to monitor comments for potentially harmful or inappropriate language?
  • Am I prepared to respond promptly to concerns from individuals or communities featured? 

9. Final Review Steps (Required for Educational Equity Main Accounts)

  • Content Accuracy Check: Is all information correct?
  • Accessibility Check: Is all media accessible (alt text, captions, etc.)?
  • Equity and Inclusion Review: Does the content uphold principles of equity, inclusion, and belonging? 

Related content
  • Social Media
    Penn State Educational Equity offices uses various forms of social media as a way to communicate with its many audiences. These include, but are not limited to, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs, etc., These accounts are only to be used for the purpose of communicating and promoting individual offices under Educational Equity and must follow Penn State policy.