Social Media Takeover Guidelines

As a content creator for any 51社区-affiliated social accounts, you are entrusted with sharing the story of Union. By accepting this role, you agree to uphold and adhere to the following guidelines:

Tell Union's Story with Purpose
Every takeover should reflect Union's commitment to Christ-centered academic excellence and community. Showcase how your experiences at Union support your growth spiritually, academically, and socially.
Build Community and Foster Engagement
Content should encourage connection among current students while offering prospective students a genuine glimpse into life as a Bulldog. Share moments that highlight Union's unique culture, whether through involvement in student organizations, events, or academics.
Share Your Passion and Experiences
Your story is an important part of the larger Union story. When sharing, focus on your enthusiasm for the organizations, activities, and academic endeavors you're involved in. Let your passion and participation shine through in your content.
Plan with Intention
Thoughtful planning is essential for success. Please prepare a general posting schedule detailing what you will share and when. This plan should be submitted to University Communications for approval before your account takeover begins.

By following these guidelines, you will contribute to an authentic and meaningful portrayal of life at Union, helping others discover what makes our university exceptional.

Quick tips — story, audience, showcase (SAS)

Story: Tell a clear, engaging story. Set the scene — where are you, who's involved, and why are you sharing this? Instagram stories are linear, so plan ahead. Outline your posts but be ready to improvise on location as needed.
Audience: Your viewers are primarily current and prospective students, most under 30. Keep your content authentic, fun, and respectful. Avoid political references, profanity, or anything that doesn't align with Union's Christ-centered mission.
Showcase: What do you love about Union? Highlight what's special. Show your internships, campus job, favorite classes, or dorm life. Take your audience behind the scenes. If you need special access, ask for permission. Always ensure anyone you interview understands the purpose and is comfortable being featured.

Takeover Do's

Plan Ahead: Storyboard, outline, and arrange interviews in advance.
Follow Guidelines: Adhere to Union's Community Values, Policies, and the student handbook.
Feature Photo: Capture a great shot of yourself so we can feature it on Instagram during the takeover.
Stay on Campus: Keep content focused on Union's campus life.
Introduction: Start with a selfie video introducing yourself and why you're taking over Union's Instagram stories (e.g., "I'm showing life as a junior nursing student today!").
Daily Life: Share your typical day — organizations, clubs, campus events, favorite spots to eat or study, etc.
Q&A: Encourage questions related to your student life (use the question sticker) and consult administrators if you're unsure about any responses.
Ask Permission: Always get verbal consent before recording people, especially in close-up situations. If needed, ask for consent after recording.
Redo Content: If a participant says something inappropriate, kindly ask to reshoot. If they decline, thank them and move on.
Be Friendly: Respect boundaries, thank participants, and represent Union with grace.
Have Fun and Be Creative: Be yourself and enjoy the process.
Positive Representation: Reflect the university in a positive light (1 Cor 10:31; Ps 19:14).
Post Consistently: Aim for 10–15 posts, spread throughout the day. Use a mix of videos, photos with captions.
Follow Guidelines: Shoot vertically, and follow copyright laws. Use only public domain music.
Coordinate: Work with administrators to ensure your posts don't overlap with Union's updates.
Selfie Recap: End with a selfie and a summary of your day.

Takeover Don'ts

When in Doubt, Wait: If unsure about content, consult with administrators before posting.
Prohibited Content: No alcohol, drugs, profanity, nudity, harassment, political campaigning, or inappropriate content.
No Account Changes: Don't change settings, follow new accounts, or send individual stories. Only post to the university's story.
Respect Content: Don't delete existing content or go "live."
No Competing Merch: Avoid wearing apparel featuring other universities.
Balance Selfies: Focus on telling a story, not just featuring yourself.
Accept Administrator Edits: If an administrator deletes a post, understand that it's for curation purposes.
Ask Questions: Don't hesitate to ask for help from administrators.
No Unrelated Responses: Don't respond to messages outside of your takeover. University Communications will handle them.