Social Media Guidelines

• Are you looking to promote a department, program, service, campaign? 
• Would you like to engage students or the New York Tech community at large? 

• Determining your audience will help you develop the right tone.  

• Concentrate your efforts on one channel first before expanding to multiple platforms. 
• Consider the audience you are trying to reach to determine the most appropriate platform(s). 

• We recommend posting a minimum of 1-3 times each week per channel. If your account is semester-based, we still recommend a consistent posting schedule during the slower time periods, even if the posting becomes less frequent.
• If you don’t think you can grow a strong following and/or maintain a consistent social media presence, our social media team will be happy to offer advice and assistance in collaborating and promoting your message, event, or school. 

• Set goals for followers and engagement to help inform your content.  

Choose an account name that includes NYIT and your school, college, department, program, etc. Examples:

• nyit_management
• nyit_artsandsciences

Profile images should consist of the New York Tech logo and the name of the school, college, department, program, etc.

• View our brand assets, which includes downloadable files for schools and departments. For assistance on creating your profile image, please contact Carly Kleinwaks.  

Describe the area you are representing with this account and clearly state that is it part of New York Tech.

• All social media channels have bio/about sections. Write a professional bio for your account that includes the name of your area and that your are part of New York Tech. Refrain from using emojis in your bio.
  • Example: The official Instagram of New York Tech’s College of Engineering and Computing Sciences. 
• Include relevant links to your website or department page, and/or prepare a lnk.bio to highlight multiple links.  

Some channels allow for cover images, allowing for more visual opportunities to communicate your sub-brand.

• Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube allow cover images.  
• By incorporating photography of our campus, interiors, students, and environments in your profile, you can showcase a sense of place. 
• Text, logos, and other graphic elements on the cover image is not recommended.

• Be respectful, authentic, and constructive in all posts.
• Share only accurate, verified information; correct errors promptly.
• Protect confidential and sensitive data at all times.
• Follow all laws, university policies, copyright rules, and platform Terms of Service.
• Represent New York Tech ethically and transparently.

• Establish a consistent voice that reflects the personality of your school, department, or area.
• Consider your target audience and craft a voice that is appealing to your followers.
• Social media is somewhat informal, so it’s okay to be casual. It’s also important to remember that you represent New York Tech, so let the university’s brand and culture be your guide. 

• Follow New York Tech brand and editorial standards.
• Use approved, current logos and avoid outdated names or graphics.
• Ensure visuals and audio are clear, high-quality, and appropriate.
• Avoid distracting or inappropriate content (e.g., political imagery, strobe lights, explicit or unsafe visuals).
• Proofread all posts for spelling, clarity, links, and media accuracy.

• Post only photos, videos, music, or graphics you have rights or licenses to use.
• Stay current with platform specifications for images, videos, and captions.
• Avoid QR codes in images; use URLs or “link in bio” instead.

• Highlight students, campus life, and authentic New York Tech experiences.
• Participate in trends only when aligned with the institution’s values and permissions.
• Create content that is worthwhile, relevant, or insightful for your audience.
• Maintain a consistent, approachable voice that reflects your school, department, or area.

• Respond to questions and acknowledge comments regularly.
• Keep posts concise when possible; vary length for best reach.
• Maintain a steady posting rhythm—prioritize quality over quantity.
• Observe conversations and trends selectively; engagement should be intentional.

New York Tech may remove content that:

• Violates laws or university policies.
• Includes hate speech, harassment, or threats.
• Contains false or misleading information.
• Promotes unrelated commercial products/services.
• Constitutes spam or disrupts constructive dialogue.

• It is in your best interest to have at least two people handle your social media channels. This will ensure there is coverage during instances of employee time off, sick time, or leaving the university. Monitoring your channels may require off-hours work. 

• Make sure your supervisor or colleagues can access your account in case of an emergency. 

Students can be useful resources for managing your account. They can help with content creation, posting, and other needs. Please be mindful of these tips on student access to institutional social media accounts.

• It is not recommended for a student to have sole access to your channel(s). If a student needs long-time access to an account, please thoroughly vet the student. 

• Students should read and agree to New York Tech’s social media best practices, design style guide, and editorial style guide.  

• Students should sign a statement of responsibility or understanding.  

• The account password should be changed once the student no longer needs access to the account. This is the case for long- and short-term student access. 

• Be Responsive: You are responsible for engaging with your audience. Followers, including current and prospective students, often post questions on any number of university-related topics. Avoid answering questions of a personal nature publicly, as it could violate Federal privacy laws. FERPA and HIPAA policies apply. Comments are subject to the policies and standards set by each platform, which the New York Tech team does not control.  
• Handle Negative Comments: Negative comments will eventually come your way. While we recommend deleting comments with profanity and/or harassment, please keep in mind that deleting comments may lead to more negativity and has even created public relations disasters for some institutions and companies.
  • Focus on determining whether you should respond or just let the comment be. Avoid engaging with trolls who try to incite reactions. 
  • The New York Tech social media team may advise you to remove spam or irrelevant comments. 
  • Need help deciding how to handle a negative comment? Contact Carly Kleinwaks for support. 
• Manage Followers: It is a good idea to follow other New York Tech accounts.  
  • Use professional judgement to determine who to follow back.  
  • If students are involved with your program, feel free to follow them back, engage with their school-related content, and share/repost if appropriate.  
• Closing an Account: If your account is no longer needed, you should inactivate it to avoid potential cyber threats and loss of access. This includes not only closing the account, but also looking through any media that you control—such as webpages—for references to the now-closed social media account(s) and removing those references. 

Privacy does not exist on social media. Public posts are indexed in search engines, and private comments can be forwarded or copied and easily made available to the public. Remember that what you post on your personal page could hurt you professionally. Learn more about academic freedom in the Faculty Handbook. 

A common practice among individuals who write about the industry in which they work is to include a disclaimer on their site, usually on their “About Me” page. This is particularly important if you are a department head or administrator. If you discuss higher education on your own social media site, include a sentence similar to this: 

The views expressed here are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of New York Institute of Technology.  

If you identify your affiliation with New York Tech in your comments, readers will associate you with the university, even with the disclaimer that your views are your own. Remember that you’re most likely to build a high-quality following if you discuss ideas and situations civilly. 

Digital accessibility ensures that everyone—including individuals with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities—can engage with and benefit from our content. Accessible content improves usability for all users and reflects our commitment to equity and inclusion. 

Social media can be a great platform to promote your program and extend your reach to new audiences. If you are interested in advertising opportunities, please reach out to Briana Bronchick, director of marketing and promotions.