Users must report any suspected fake or impersonating accounts—those pretending to be the university, a university department, or an affiliated entity—to University Communications. Users should refrain from replying to or engaging with any suspected impersonation accounts.

All social media passwords must follow the Policy on Enterprise Passwords from Information Technology Services. University Communications recommends passwords include longer phrases rather than university-related names, nicknames, or acronyms. Passwords should be updated at least quarterly, and again when a social media administrator leaves their position at Northeastern. 

Any employee with responsibility for and/or access to a university social media account must be removed as an administrator upon leaving the university. A direct supervisor of the employee must do so in a timely manner, and in accordance with the HRM Off-Boarding Toolkit. 

Please notify University Communications of any new social media account administrators. 

Only centrally managed accounts may use Northeastern University alone. 

Although NU is not typically permitted for university use, it is acceptable for social media use (names and copy), where space is limited. 

Do not use NEU.

Accounts must follow the avatar, handle, and page description structure provided by External Affairs.  

The following groups will be provided avatars: 

• Campuses 
• Colleges and Schools 
• Research Institutes and Centers 
• Student-facing administrative units (i.e., Library, Housing) 

Athletics, Varsity teams, and Club Sports avatars are overseen by Athletics Marketing within the standards set by External Affairs. 

Official entities should use the following where available:

Account type	Avatar	Handle	Account name
Main pages	Provided by External Affairs	Northeastern	Northeastern University
Campus	Provided by External Affairs	Northeastern[locationname]	Northeastern University in [location]
Colleges and Schools	Provided by External Affairs	NU[approvedshortname]	[Full name College / School] at Northeastern University
Research Institutes and Centers	Provided by External Affairs	NU[name]	[Name Institute / Center] at Northeastern University
Academic administrative units (e.g., Admissions)	Provided by External Affairs	NU[name]	[Name] at Northeastern University
Student-facing administrative units	Provided by External Affairs	NU[name]	[Name] at Northeastern University
Varsity Athletics	Provided by Athletics Marketing	NU[gendersport]	Northeastern University [gender][sport]
Club Sports	Provided by Athletics Marketing	NU[location][gender]Club[sport]	Northeastern University [location] [gender] Club [sport]
All other units (e.g., departments)	Use template provided by External Affairs	NU[name]	[Name] at Northeastern University
Advancement	Provided by External Affairs (Affinity groups should use custom marks in avatars where appropriate. )	NU[name]	[Name] at Northeastern University
Faculty labs	May not use official marks or brand elements in their avatars.	NU[name] or [Name]	[Name] at Northeastern University
Student organizations	May not use official marks or brand elements in their avatars.	NU[name] or [Name]	[Name], a Northeastern University student group

Only official Northeastern University entities may use official marks in avatars. Personal accounts may not use any official marks. 

Use the following categorization on Facebook and anywhere else that page classification is required: Companies & Organizations > University

If you are near Northeastern’s Boston campus, use Northeastern University as your location. If you are at one of our other global campuses, use that location in lieu of Northeastern University in Boston. 

Link to your own department or school’s northeastern.edu website.