Electronic communications policy

This policy replaces the School of Social Work policy entitled Electronic Communications Policy. This document sets out guidelines for responsible use of social media and electronic teaching platforms that include but are not limited to internet, Brightspace, Zoom, Blackboard Collaborate, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Skype, YouTube, blogs, online chats, text, email, and other electronic means (smartphones, landline telephones, video technology).

This policy is consistent with:

• the mission of CASWE- ACFTS (CASWE Standards for Accreditation, (May 2014) which states that social work education is to promote excellence in social work education, scholarship and practice with a human rights and social justice focus;
• the CASWE accreditation standard that "the academic unit has a policy regarding ethical use of all forms of social media to ensure the privacy, confidentiality, and interests of the academic unit and its field practicum community and demonstrates how the policy and procedures are consistent with the relevant human rights legislation, with the mission of CASWE-ACFTS, and with the mission of the academic unit concerned;"
• the mission of the School of Social Work at the University of Victoria with its emphasis on social justice, social responsibility, equity, respect, curiosity, collaboration and risk taking; and
• Consistent with the CASW Code of Ethics (2005), the Guidelines for Ethical Practice (2005) and Social Media Use and Social Work Practice (2014). The CASW Code of Ethics outlines the core Social Work values as:

The School of Social Work values both academic freedom and freedom of inquiry and affirms these as pillars of a university education whether expressed in oral communication, print, or electronically. The School of Social Work recognizes the importance of electronic communication and is committed to supporting the right of School of Social Work members (faculty, sessional Instructors, staff, students) to interact knowledgeably and socially utilizing social media and electronic teaching platforms.

Members of the School of Social Work are responsible and accountable for their actions and statements. The guidelines for use of social media and electronic teaching platforms outlined in this document are designed to help make appropriate professional decisions about their ethical use. The following guidelines apply to faculty, sessional instructors, staff and students within the School of Social.

Guidelines for Communication Related to the School of Social Work and Field Education Settings

1. The School values and encourages freedom of expression and critical debate, consistent with the Faculty of Human and Social Development Guidelines for Professional Conduct of students. Electronic communications by members of the School of Social Work are informed by UVic policies on the protection of privacy, electronic communications, human rights, equity and fairness and discrimination and harassment.

2. Members of the School must refrain from publicly disclosing any confidential information (including identifying information) about the School of Social Work, staff, students, field education agencies and agency clients unless permission is obtained.

3. Any discussion or conversations held in the classroom (this includes electronic teaching platforms) should be considered confidential. We value and encourage critical self-reflexivity and thinking in class and students are encouraged to post only what they are comfortable sharing with others.¹

4. Any information posted on social media platforms should be considered public and parameters of privacy and confidentiality should be carefully maintained.

5. Consent must be obtained before uploading photographs of clients, classmates, peers, members of the School of Social work or field education agencies.

6. Unless given permission by the School of Social Work or the Field Education Instructor/Agency, students are not authorized to communicate on behalf of the School of Social Work or their Field Education agency.

7. Notes, electronic documents, lectures and other course related content should not be posted on social media platforms unless authorized by the instructor to do so.

8. In some courses, students have the option of loading video/audio assignments onto YouTube. Please note that while YouTube offers the option of a private/unlisted channel for posting video assignments, personal information, i.e. the name and email address used to set up the YouTube account, will be stored on a server located outside of Canada. If students do not want their information stored outside of Canada, YouTube is not an option. Instead, they can use the video upload function on Brightspace.

References

Canadian Association for Social Work Education (2014). Standards for accreditation. Ottawa, Ontario: Author

Canadian Association of Social Workers (2005). Code of ethics. Ottawa, Ontario: Author

Canadian Association of Social Workers (2005). Guidelines for ethical practice. Ottawa, Ontario: Author

Canadian Association of Social Workers (2014). Social media use and social work practice. Ottawa, Ontario: Author

University of Victoria (2018) Acceptable use of electronic information resources. Victoria, British Columbia: Author

University of Victoria (2015) Discrimination and harassment policy. Victoria, British Columbia: Author

University of Victoria (2005) Policy on human rights, equity and fairness. Victoria, British Columbia: Author

University of Victoria (2018) Protection of privacy policy. Victoria, British Columbia: Author

¹ Students cannot log into and gain access to their Brightspace course sites beyond the last day of term. Brightspace courses sites are automatically archived on a UVic server with student content held for approximately one year before it is deleted. A limited number of UVic employees with responsibilities for Brightspace have administrative access to course sites.

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