Social Media Handbook

As an institution, Vanderbilt has been an early and eager adopter of social media. These tools enable the university to share what is happening on campus with the world, but more importantly let us hear directly and immediately from students, faculty, staff, parents, fans and friends about what is important to them. This “conversation” is what makes social media so different from traditional forms of institutional communication.

The primary tools the university is currently using are YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Flickr. Units across campus, such as Athletics and Development and Alumni Relations, are also successfully using blogs and Flickr to communicate with key audiences.

Vanderbilt’s primary official social media presences are:

• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/vanderbilt
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vanderbilt
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/vanderbiltu
• Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalvu

• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/vanderbilthealth
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vanderbilt-Health/99104920858?ref=nf
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/VUMCHealth

All of these top-level profiles use the same treatment of the Vanderbilt “V” or Medical Center logo to communicate to fans, followers and viewers that content found in these locations is official Vanderbilt information.

In addition to the sites mentioned above, many Vanderbilt departments and programs have launched official social media presences, similarly branded to communicate that the information they are communicating is official and reliable.

The university has created a family of icons that can be used and adapted for individual schools, colleges and programs – please contact the Office of University Web Communications for assistance in customizing those icons.