Regents back away from new social media policy

The Kansas Board of Regents announced Tuesday it would reconsider a controversial social media policy that has upset academics around the country.

According to a news release, Fred Logan, the board’s chairman, requested that a workgroup examine the policy, which allows state universities to fire faculty and other staff members over improper social media use.

“Because of concerns expressed regarding the Board of Regents’ policy regarding the improper use of social media, board chair Fred Logan has asked Andy Tompkins, president and CEO of the board, to work with the university presidents and chancellor to form a workgroup of representatives from each state university campus to review the policy,” the news release said.

Logan has asked that the workgroup present its recommendations by April.

The regents passed the social media policy earlier this month, prompting sharp criticism from academics and groups in Kansas and elsewhere.

The American Association of University Professors called the policy “a gross violation of the fundamental principles of academic freedom.”

Last week, Kansas State University President Kirk Schulz called for university presidents to collaborate on revising the policy.

“As presently written, many members of the K-State family feel the policy seriously curtails both academic freedom and free speech,” Schulz said.

The regents’ policy followed an incident in September when a University of Kansas associate professor sent out a message via Twitter concerning the National Rifle Association.

“The blood is on the hands of the #NRA. Next time, let it be YOUR sons and daughters. Shame on you. May God damn you,” David Guth wrote after news broke of the Washington Navy Yard shooting that killed a dozen people.

Under the regents policy, universities can let faculty go if they use social media in a way that is “contrary to the best interest of the university.”

The regents said at the time that Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office had reviewed the policy and found it to be constitutional.