Dear UCSF Community,

Members of our community have recently asked about UCSF’s social media policies, a question that has taken on renewed importance in recent weeks. As a public institution dedicated to advancing health for all of the communities we serve, we value the academic freedom of our faculty, learners, and students, as well as the First Amendment rights that every UCSF community member enjoys. We also have a responsibility to guide our online activities according to our PRIDE values and to ensure that they do not negatively affect our patient-provider relationships. 

The number of patient complaints about social media posts by UCSF community members expressing their views of the Israel-Hamas war is increasing. We ask you to consider the impact that words may have on a given patient’s belief that they will be safe as they seek care from us. In addition, although our views may differ, let’s remember that there is no space at UCSF for antisemitism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia.

UCSF’s Social Media Policies and Best Practices provide a comprehensive guide for all members of the UCSF community, including faculty, learners, students, and staff. In particular, the section titled Social Media Conduct and Best Practices for UCSF Student, Employee, and Faculty Personal Accounts may be especially relevant. Please review these resources to guide your own social media activities, including those you conduct in any official UCSF capacity and those you participate in via your personal accounts.

In our interconnected world, social media plays an important role in our professional and personal lives, and it can be challenging to distinguish between the two. UCSF’s policies are designed to help ensure everyone’s ability to participate in online discussions and activities, and to protect the communities we serve and ourselves from discrimination or harassment. Adhering to these policies and guidelines will collectively strengthen our online presence, which is an indispensable tool for advancing our mission. 

Sincerely,

Won Ha

Vice Chancellor

Communications