Offending posts may affect staff performance reviews and salary adjustments, according to university rules that came into effect on February 20.

The rules describe the use of online media harmful to the university’s image as inappropriate behaviour, warning that staff engaging in such action shall not get more than a “fair” mark in performance evaluations, which determine salary increases.

“Fair” marks for two consecutive years also mean staff risk losing their jobs.

Critics have said the rules are an attempt to muzzle university lecturers, who sometimes speak up on social media to promote transparency at their institutes.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a lecturer said some faculty members turned to social media to raise their concerns about some dubious activities at their workplaces because a petition to external organisations usually took too long.

“I can’t help thinking the rules are … to restrict faculty staff’s moves on this front,” he said.

Another critic complained that faculty members at the university would not have the courage to expose executives’ questionable behaviour via online media after the new rules took effect.

“Many have gone to online media to reveal information because they can stay unanimous,” he said.

If a complaint about the university’s alleged irregularity was submitted to the Office of Higher Education Commission (Ohec), it would order the university to set up a fact-finding committee.

“That’s when the identity of the complainant will be exposed. He or she then risks facing persecution from university executives,” one critic pointed out.

Ohec secretary general Supat Jampathong said his agency would ask the accused university to launch an investigation because it wanted to ensure fairness to both sides.

Asked about the new rules at the northern university, Supat said university staff could petition to his office if they felt their performance was evaluated unfairly.