Social Media

Social media is a useful and necessary tool to reach our key audiences. UH West Oʻahu Communications Department actively administers the following social media accounts on behalf of the campus:

Messages and communications posted on these social media channels are a part of our brand. Our goal is to share our university’s successes on behalf of our students, faculty, and staff. These channels will share information such as events, deadlines, news, accomplishments, and health and safety announcements.

Key Message

While representing the university on social media platforms, it’s important to integrate and align messages and posts with our pahuhopu, or institutional values, as well as our mission, vision, and value proposition.

Comments

UH West Oʻahu accepts comments posted in the tradition of academic freedom and spirit of aloha. UH West Oʻahu reserves the right to block or delete posts/comments that contain the following:

  • The use of language that creates a hostile environment (i.e. profanity, name-calling, or sexual content)
  • Personal attacks about the post author or other commenters
  • Discriminatory, harassing, slanderous, or libelous language. Likewise, comments that are threatening, obscene, a violation of intellectual property rights or privacy laws, or otherwise injurious or illegal
  • Language that encourages unethical or illegal activities
  • Personal contact information (i.e. home addresses and/or phone number)
  • Promote events, products or services unrelated to UH West Oʻahu
  • Spam and off-topic remarks

These guidelines were developed in accordance with UH Executive Policy 2.210.III.C.2.5 related to Use and Management of Information Technology Resources.

Helpful Hints and Practices

Be thoughtful: The keys to success in social media are being honest and thoughtful before you post. Exercise good etiquette and post things that you wouldn’t be ashamed to see on the front page of the newspaper or leading the evening news.

Be Accurate: Make sure that you have all the facts before you post. It is better to verify information first rather than needing to post a correction or retraction later. If you make an error, correct it quickly and visibly.

Be Respectful: Consider the intended audience when posting. UH West O‘ahu sites are frequented by prospective students, alumni, friends, and other interested parties. UH West O‘ahu encourages thoughtful social media interaction.

Be Relevant and Authentic: Be thoughtful, accurate, relevant and respectful on UH West O‘ahu sites. Consider using links to redirect a visitor to additional content on official UH West O‘ahu websites when applicable.

Think Before You Post: There is no such thing as a private social media site. Search engines can turn up posts years after the publication date. Comments can be forwarded or copied. Archival systems save information even if you delete a post.

Maintain Confidentiality: Use good judgment about content and respect privacy laws. Do not post confidential or proprietary information about UH West O‘ahu, its students, its alumni or your fellow employees. Follow UH West O‘ahu policies and federal requirements, such as FERPA. As a guideline, do not post anything that you would not print in a newspaper or present at a conference.

Use Correct University Name: The proper use of the campus name should still be used. Preferred use is “UH West O‘ahu” for social media. To keep within character limits, use of “UHWO” is allowed. Avoid alternative, incorrect spellings such as “UH-West O‘ahu,” and “University of Hawai‘i at West Oʻahu.”

Don’t forget, Social Media posts also have accessibility requirements! We outline them under our Fundamentals page, here: Accessibility for Social Media