Discourse in an online setting is subject to the same responsibilities and rules as discourse in a face-to-face environment. All students are expected to express themselves respectfully and avoid the use of offensive language or behavior. This applies to both synchronous (real-time) online settings, e.g., web-conferencing via Zoom, and asynchronous online settings, e.g., communication via discussion forums, Chat, e-mail, or voice mail.
Synchronous settings. Links to faculty private or scheduled Zoom rooms, which might be shared via Moodle or another way, may not be shared with others. There are media reports of unwanted visitors dropping in on Zoom sessions and behaving inappropriately, forcing the sessions to end early. If you are found responsible for sharing a link, you will be held responsible for any inappropriate behavior enacted by the person/s with whom you shared it.
Asynchronous settings. Since written communication lacks nonverbal cues that might signal that a person is joking, avoid any possibility of misinterpretation. Additionally, do not assume your audience, including the faculty member, will interpret an emoji or common abbreviation as you intended. Err on the side of clarity.
E-mail related to your courses is also an academic form of communication. When communicating by e-mail:
- Use your Hiram College e-mail address.
- Include a descriptive subject line.
- Keep your e-mail focused.
- Verify to whom you are sending it. E-mail addresses can “auto-complete” to the wrong person, or you can send a private e-mail in error to a group. You are responsible for any e-mail communication, intentional or not.
- Avoid sending attachments that will close down a recipient’s mailbox due to size.
- Do not forward chain letters or jokes.
- Do not share the e-mail addresses of classmates with others.