Dorothy, is this Kansas or Oz

scanned from 1900 Wizard of Oz book (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

High Ed admins can now limit employee's social net messages in the windy state.
http://chronicle.com/article/Unfettered-Academic-Speech-/143697/?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en

No more "improper" Tweets or you might get fired.
http://chronicle.com/blogs/ticker/kansas-board-says-universities-can-fire-employees-for-improper-tweets/70721

Here's the Tweet that got it all started:
http://www.kansascity.com/2013/09/19/4494140/ku-rebukes-journalism-professor.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2013

Board Amends Policy to Include Language Regarding
Improper Use of Social Media

(Topeka, Kansas) - Recognizing the Kansas Board of Regents Policy Manual currently has no provisions specifically dealing with the use of social media, today the Board approved a policy that aims to respect and protect the rights of individuals to speak freely while also addressing employees’ responsibility to the university.
Because of the proliferation of social media use for communication purposes, and its particular susceptibility to misuse and damage to our universities, the Board believes that a provision outlining improper uses of social media will be beneficial to all parties and uphold the universities’ need to operate in an efficient and effective manner. The Board utilized language from United States Supreme Court cases to acknowledge the right of employees generally to speak as private citizens on matters of public concern while also recognizing the right of employers to take action in situations involving unprotected speech.
“The goal of this policy is to provide guidance to all university employees and university administration regarding the use of social media. We appreciate Attorney General Schmidt’s office review of this policy and the determination that it is constitutional and does not violate any free speech or due process rights,” stated Fred Logan, Chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents.
An addition to Chapter II, Section C.6., the full policy can be found here:
http://www.kansasregents.org/policy_chapter_ii_c_suspensions

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About the Kansas Board of Regents:
The nine-member Kansas Board of Regents, founded in 1925 and established in the Kansas Constitution, is the governing board of the six state universities and the statewide coordinating board for the state’s 32 public higher education institutions (six state universities, one municipal university, nineteen community colleges, and six technical colleges). In addition, the Board administers the state’s student financial aid, adult education, GED, career and technical education programs, and the state university retirement plans. The Board also approves private proprietary schools and out-of-state institutions to operate in Kansas and administers the Kan-ed network, a statewide network that provides broadband Internet access and distance learning capabilities for schools, hospitals, and libraries. Visit the Kansas Board of Regents online at www.kansasregents.org.

For more information, contact Mary Jane Stankiewicz at (785) 260-5086 (cell) or mjstankiewicz@ksbor.org.
http://www.kansasregents.org/board_amends_policy_to_include_language_regarding_improper_use_of_social_media