The CUNY School of Professional Studies expects all students to communicate with civility and professionalism across every platform used for coursework and University business. These guidelines apply equally to discussion boards, email, video conferencing, phone communication, and any course-based messaging or social media group. The platform does not change the expectation.
Why These Guidelines Exist
In an online program, instructors, advisors, and classmates come to know a student primarily through written communication, spoken interaction on calls, and conduct during video sessions. Without the visual and social cues present in a physical classroom, how a student communicates online often serves as the primary basis on which character, seriousness, and preparation are judged. Maintaining a consistent standard of civility across all platforms is therefore essential to a student's academic reputation and to the functioning of the learning community as a whole.
General Expectations
Regardless of platform, students are expected to:
- Communicate with the same respect and professionalism they would extend in a face-to-face setting. Before sending any message, ask whether it would be appropriate to say it directly to the recipient.
- Keep communication relevant to its stated purpose, whether that is a discussion topic, a course requirement, or a group project.
- Extend courtesy to instructors, advisors, staff, and classmates, and remain mindful that written or spoken communication may be interpreted differently than intended without the benefit of tone or body language.
- Protect the privacy of classmates by not sharing their contact information, coursework, or personal content without permission.
Best Practices for Communication
Students are encouraged to apply the following practices when communicating in any academic context:
- Respond in a timely manner. Check Brightspace and CUNY email regularly and reply to your instructor and advisor communications within a reasonable timeframe. Allow up to 48 business hours for a response before following up.
- Communicate proactively. Reach out as soon as a challenge, delay, or need for support arises, rather than waiting until a deadline has passed.
- Write clearly and proofread before sending. Complete sentences, proper grammar, and correct spelling reflect preparation and support clear understanding.
- Use a professional format. Include a clear subject line for emails, open with an appropriate greeting, and close with a full name and course or program.
- Consolidate messages. Send one clear, complete message rather than several partial or repeated follow-ups.
- Prepare for live interactions. For video or phone communication, identify oneself at the start of the conversation, join from a quiet setting, and remain attentive and engaged throughout. Per the CUNY Camera Use Guidance for Online and Hybrid Courses, your professor may require you to turn on your camera during a synchronous class period.
- Consider tone before sending. Written communication can be easily misread. Reviewing a message for tone, as well as content, before sending helps prevent misunderstanding.
Prohibited Conduct
Regardless of platform, the following are not permitted:
- Personal attacks, harassment, or derogatory remarks directed at instructors, staff, or classmates.
- Excessive or escalating communication, including repeated messages, calls, or follow-ups sent in place of allowing a reasonable response time.
- Initiating, contributing to, or escalating a hostile exchange. If a hostile exchange occurs, students are expected to disengage and report the matter to their instructor, advisor, or the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
- Circumventing academic integrity policies through any communication platform, including sharing exam content or answers.
- Recording or distributing a class session, calls, advisement meetings, conduct hearings, or private communication without the express permission of all participants.
Rights and Responsibilities
Students retain the right to free speech. This right is accompanied by a responsibility to exercise it in ways that respect the rights, privacy, and well-being of others in the University community, and to comply with University conduct policies on any platform used for coursework, official or not.
Acceptable Use Policy
As a CUNY student, your use of Brightspace, CUNY email, and every other CUNY-provided digital platform is governed by the CUNY Policy on Acceptable Use of Digital Assets and Resources. This policy covers appropriate use of University technology, protection of your account and password, respect for copyright and intellectual property, and prohibitions on harassment, threats, and unauthorized access to University systems. Violating this policy may result in loss of access to CUNY systems and referral for disciplinary action.
Disruptions of the Academic Environment
Just as a student would not be permitted to disrupt an in-person classroom, students may not disrupt the online academic environment. Examples of disruptive behavior include repeatedly:
- Sending mass irrelevant messages through email or a course chat.
- Repeatedly posting off-topic or duplicate content on a discussion board or in another asynchronous course forum.
- Flooding a discussion board, chat, or email thread with excessive posts that crowd out other students' participation.
Disruptive behavior in any online setting, including Brightspace, email, Zoom, phone calls, and course-based messaging platforms, may be addressed through the CUNY School of Professional Studies Student Conduct process. Students with questions about expectations for a specific course or platform should contact their instructor or the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. Visit Henderson's Rules of Public Order and other CUNY policies to learn more.
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