In Kansas, Professors Must Now Watch What They Tweet

NPR, In Kansas, Professors Must Now Watch What They Tweet:

The Kansas Board of Regents gave final approval Wednesday to a strict new policy on what employees may say on social media. Critics say the policy violates both the First Amendment and academic freedom, but school officials say providing faculty with more specific guidelines will actually bolster academic freedom on campus. ...

The new policy says that faculty and staff of the state's six universities, 19 community colleges and six technical colleges may not say anything on social media that would incite violence, disclose confidential student information or release protected data. But it also says staffers are barred from saying anything "contrary to the best interests of the university."

Critics say the broad nature of the guidelines would offer administrators enormous latitude in firing people — even those with tenure. Will Creeley, director of legal and public advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, says it's one of the most restrictive social media policies in the country.

• Inside Higher Ed, NYU's Balancing Act

(Hat Tip: Greg McNeal.)