Net-iquette Guidelines
Whether your classes are online, hybrid, or on campus, you are always expected to be professional and respectful not only to your professors, but also to the college's administrative staff as well as your fellow peers. Here are some tips to effectively communicate with others in an online environment:
- Address all faculty and staff members with appropriate titles (Dr., Prof., Mrs., Ms., or Mr.) and by last name, unless otherwise specified by the faculty or staff member.
- Phrase communications with faculty and staff in a polite and courteous manner. The tone of e-mails and phone conversations must be respectful.
- Do not use all caps, as this can be interpreted as yelling.
- Avoid sending a series of e-mails on the same topic. Think about what you want to say in your e-mail, and send one cohesive e-mail.
- Avoid "slang," texting abbreviations, or other language that you might use in other environments.
- All college-level communication should have correct spelling and grammar.
- Do not use obscene, profane, threatening, or disrespectful language or images in any communications with faculty, staff, and other students.
- For online classes or video conferencing, use a profile picture and video feed background that is appropriate for an educational environment.
- Treat online classes as if they are in a physical classroom. Commentary or conversations in the chat feature of your class' virtual platform can be distracting to others if your professor did not direct you to use the chat feature.
- Use an e-mail address that is appropriate for an educational/professional environment.
- All communications with other students in any educational forum, course-related e-mail, discussion post, etc., must be polite, courteous, and respectful.
- Be cautious when using humor or sarcasm, as tone is sometimes lost in an e-mail or discussion post and your message might be taken literally or offensively.
