Students and Facebook

Specialties Educators

Published

Hello...

I am a full time instructor in a nursing program. A few months ago, we were forced to dismiss a student due to behavior. Recently, I found that a co-worker, one who assisted in this student's dismissal process, is friends with her on Facebook. I find this grossly inappropriate and am seriously questioning my co-worker's judgement. My question is, what should I do with this information? The better part of me is telling me to do nothing. However, I have a nagging feeling that I should address it.

Thanks for any and all feedback.

I would avoid becoming involved in this situation. She may have been fb friends with this student long before the situation happened, and may not even realize she is still friends with her. Also, other faculty may resent you monitoring their facebook pages and friends list. I can see why you feel the way you do, and I also get annoyed at these situations. But I would MYOB.

I am by no means monitoring anyone's Facebook page. The situation was brought to my attention by another student.

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Thank you for the replies.

I agree that Facebook is Facebook and much of it can be taken with a grain of salt. However, as professionals, I also believe there are boundaries when it comes to students. This particular student, when dismissed, did not go quietly. She filed a grievance, and lost, but has also threatened legal action against the school. Do I think she will pursue any such action? Not likely. But, if she does, our faculty having any contact with her outside of any legal proceedings is a huge conflict of interest. Not to mention that she bad mouths our school and our program all over town to anyone who will listen.

The social media policy at our school does not address interactions between student and faculty.

This is a troubling situation but you say yourself there is no policy. You could ask your board of visitors or whoever is your governing body to revisit the policy of teachers, students, and social media. That could at least help get a policy on the books. However, if she pursues legal action, just stay out of it and let the lawyers do their job. An attorney will sniff out anything inappropriate on social media in five minutes.

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People nowadays are stupid with social media. Don't become involved. Being a **** disturber doesn't help things. Let the stupid be stupid and Darwin will eventually get them.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Are you on good terms with this faculty member? If so, I would quietly tell her that another student had reported her Facebook friendship with the student. Emphasizing that you don't know the details, you could suggest that she consider the friendship in light of the dismissal and possible future legal action. Give her a chance to think about "how it looks" and how she could be in a bad position if this former student files suit.

See how she reacts before deciding whether or not to report it to the administration.

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