Communication and Netiquette Policy

Summary

Ensure all digital communications are professional, respectful, and relevant to the intended recipient(s). Engage in responsible behaviors and respect others’ privacy in all online discussions. Report any inappropriate behaviors using the designated Netiquette Reporting Form. Violations will be recorded and may lead to disciplinary actions. 

Introduction 

The Department of Computer Science is committed to fostering a professional, respectful, and collaborative environment for all students, faculty, and staff. This Communication and Netiquette Policy provides comprehensive guidelines for all digital communications associated with academic and professional interactions within our community. Adherence to these standards is expected from all members of the Computer Science Department (CS faculty, CS staff including GTAs and UTAs, and students in all CS classes) and is essential for promoting constructive dialogue and maintaining the quality of our academic and professional interactions. Violations will be taken seriously and addressed promptly. 

Scope 

This policy applies to all digital communications related to departmental academic and professional activities, including but not limited to emails, discussion forums, and other online platforms. 

Netiquette Principles 

1. Professional and Respectful Communication: 
   1. All communications should be conducted with respect and professionalism. Offensive, rude, or disrespectful messages are strictly prohibited. 
2. Relevance and Purpose: 
   1. Communications should be relevant to course material or administrative matters. 
   2. Personal messages or content not related to departmental activities should not be sent through academic or professional channels. 
3. Privacy and Confidentiality: 
   1. Privacy should be respected; do not share personal information without explicit consent. 
   2. All course-related communication must be carried out using official channels. 
   3. Confidential matters should be handled privately with the concerned parties or through designated reporting channels. 
4. Responsiveness and Responsibility: 
   1. Respond to communications in a timely and appropriate manner. 
   2. Take responsibility for the content you share and ensure it is accurate and appropriate. 
5. Reporting of Inappropriate Student Behavior: 
   1. Inappropriate behavior must be reported immediately according to the protocols established in this policy (this is primarily for GTAs and Instructors). 
   2. Reports should be directed to the designated authority as outlined in the Procedures for Netiquette Violations document available to GTAs and instructors. 

Definitions of Inappropriate Electronic Behaviors 

1. Disrespectful Emails and Educational Platform Posts 
   1. Communications that are unprofessional, demeaning, or disrespectful in tone. 
   2. Educational platform posts that are threatening, harassing, or use language that is inappropriate or intended to provoke or demean others. This includes ad hominem attacks. 
2. Inflammatory Statements: Comments or posts that are intended to incite disruption or conflict, whether through provocation, escalation of tensions, or promoting divisiveness within the community. This includes remarks that undermine or disrespect individuals’ experiences or contributions. 
3. Spreading Misinformation: Engaging in the distribution of information that is known to be false or misleading. This includes sharing unverified facts as if they were facts, circulating false allegations, promoting conspiracy theories, and distributing fabricated news stories that could mislead readers, harm individuals, tarnish reputations, or disrupt the orderly conduct of academic and administrative processes. Such actions have the potential to confuse, sow discord, or incite conflict within the community. 
4. Inappropriate Demands: Demands that are unreasonable in their scope or timing, or that require actions outside ethical or institutional guidelines. This includes demands for special treatment that is not supported by documented needs or institutional policies. 
5. Harassment: Repeated and unwanted conduct (including contact and comments) that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment, or disruptive behavior that interferes with participation in University activities. 
6. Privacy Violations: Sharing or requesting personal information without consent. This includes posting personal contact details online, such as sharing personal emails or Discord usernames of instructional staff (instructors, TAs, etc.) with other students. 
   1. Instructional staff are not permitted to respond to communication over non-official platforms (including Discord). 
7. Online Class Disruptions: Actions that interrupt or undermine the facilitation and operation of virtual classroom activities. 
   1. This does not include asking questions during class, unless doing so constitutes repeated and unreasonable disruption of class (at the discretion of the instructor). 
   2. The same policy holds for in-person disruptions, including PSOs, Labs, Recitations, and office hours.  Please refer to the Code of Student Conduct for more information.

 

Specific Examples of Prohibited Behaviors 

• Communication that insults or belittles another person, including derogatory language, personal insults, and threats. 
• Using social media to spread rumors or make false allegations against peers or instructors. 
• Demanding immediate responses at unreasonable hours or insisting on preferential treatment (see Inappropriate Demands above). 
• Repeated unwanted physical and/or online contact, especially after a request to stop. 
• Posting or sharing another student’s or instructor’s personal information online without their explicit permission (see Privacy Violations above). 
• Including posting any contact information of any instructional staff on Discord or any other platform. 
• Deliberately interrupting live online lectures or discussions to derail the topic (distract from the topic) or harass others. 

Consequences of Policy Violations 

All netiquette violations will be documented. 

At the department’s discretion, additional consequences may be levied (including but not limited to): 

• A meeting with a course instructor and/or department advisor. 
• A formal written warning from the department. 
• Communications etiquette training. 
• Removal from the course-related forums. 
  • Any mandatory activities on these forums after removal will be facilitated equivalently at the instructor's discretion. 
• In severe cases, immediate referral to ODOS for further action, which may include a disciplinary mark on academic record, suspension or expulsion. 

Reporting Mechanisms 

• How to Report: Students, GTAs, and Instructors of Record should report violations of this Netiquette Policy through the dedicated Netiquette Reporting Form located on myCS: [TODO]. 
• Keep in mind that providing more detail and information in these reports will help the relevant support specialists resolve and take action on the reported incidents. 
• When to Report: Refer to the Procedures for Netiquette Violations document for when to report. Initial reports should never be made directly to CS administration (including the department head). 
• The CS departmental staff responsible for handling CS Student Concerns reports (via the dedicated form in How to Report) are trained to handle these issues impartially and confidentially. However, if reporting to the instructor or CS departmental staff would present a conflict of interest, if the incident involves non-CS courses/staff, or if you would like to report an incident anonymously, see other reporting forms in the Resources section. 
• Confidentiality: All reports will be handled confidentially to the degree allowed by law and University policy, unless disclosing information about the report is deemed necessary to resolve the issue. 

Resources 

A carefully chosen first point of contact is crucial to ensure quick and effective resolution. A list of various reporting options is provided below: 

• In the event of an emergency or other immediate concern, call 911 for 24/7 assistance. 
• Purdue CS Netiquette Reporting Form: [TODO] 
• Purdue CS Student Concerns / Ombuds FAQ: https://www.cs.purdue.edu/undergraduate/concerns.html  
• Purdue CS Undergraduate Student Concern Form (REQUIRES LOGIN): https://my.cs.purdue.edu/undergraduate/concern  
• Other reporting options: https://www.purdue.edu/hotline/reporting-options/index.php 
• Other guidelines and reference resources related to netiquette can be found here: 
• Email Etiquette for Students: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/email_etiquette_for_students.html  
• Purdue Office of Students Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR): Maintaining Classroom Behavior and Expectations: https://www.purdue.edu/odos/osrr/resources/documents/managing_classroom_behavior.html 
• Purdue Procedures for Resolving Complaints of Discrimination and Harassment: https://www.purdue.edu/ethics/resources/resolving-complaints.php