Online Conduct

Our Mandate

Carleton University is committed to providing a living and learning environment that promotes student success inside and outside of the classroom. The Office of Student Affairs would like to remind all students that Carleton’s conduct policies and Students Rights and Responsibilities also apply to online communication. We are committed to ensuring a respectful and engaging online community.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is any online behaviour that is cruel, inappropriate, or threatening. It includes any behaviour that is harassing or abusive. Carleton does not tolerate any form of racism, sexism, harassment, or trolling behaviour that may take place electronically, on campus, or surrounding areas.

Your online conduct applies to all platforms, not just ones mediated by Carleton. Be mindful of what you are posting on all platforms and social media

Responding to Acts of Cyberbullying

If you see something online that has offended or upset you, remember the 3 R’s:

1. Reach out to the person directly in a separate chat and respectfully respond to the situation, if you feel comfortable doing so, to explain why their comment offended you. Reaching out directly gives them a chance to explain what they mean and gives you a chance to come to an understanding.
2. Report the incident to a moderator or by using a platform’s built-in reporting tools. In addition, you may report concerns to Dillon Brady, Manager of Student Conduct and Harm Reduction at dillonbrady@cunet.carleton.ca
3. Remove that person from your online network through muting, unfollowing or blocking the user – based on the application’s restrictions.

Reminder: It’s important to practice good social media habits, including regularly reviewing your account privacy settings and monitoring who you allow to follow your accounts.

If you are worried about your or someone else’s online behaviour, please fill out a care report. If you or someone you know is in need of mental health and well-being supports, please visit Carleton’s Wellness website.

Online Conduct for Class and Discussion Groups

Communicating online is something that comes naturally to many people in this generation. While this may feel like second nature, communicating in an online academic setting is quite different than other social media. 

Often, miscommunications and disagreements could be avoided or quickly corrected by having a face-to-face conversation. With classes moving online, the majority of connections will be made through cuLearn, virtual classes, social media, and online academic and social events. 

Practicing Appropriate Online Behaviour

• Think before you post: would you say this to someone if you were having this conversation face to face? Commenting online can give a false sense of security. If you wouldn’t say it in person, it’s best to reword, and rethink your comment.
• Check your tone of voice. Read your comment out loud and be mindful of how it may sound to other’s who are reading it. If possible, get someone else to read your comment before you post it to ensure it comes across how you mean it to.
• Stay on topic: Stick to the discussion topic and avoid going off on tangents.
• Be mindful that others may have a difference of opinion. If you disagree with something that was posted, remember to be respectful in your reply. Think “me vs the issue” not “me vs them”

Practicing Good Net-Etiquette

• Write in full sentences and avoid using slang that other students may not understand
• Avoid writing in all caps as it is often interpreted as yelling and may cause conflict
• If you’re planning on using emojis in your comments, stick to simple smiley faces and be sure to explain what you mean in words so that everybody understands.
• Avoid using sarcasm in an online setting as it is likely to be misinterpreted
• Be mindful that professors and students may be in different time zones, and that it may impact the length of time needed to respond to comments and questions.

Online discussion groups are most commonly used to develop critical thinking skills, foster innovation, and facilitate learning. In order for these to happen, everyone in the group must feel respected and safe.

Live Stream Lecture Etiquette

• Make sure you are in a quiet space for the live class, so that you and others can listen without being distracted by background noises. Additionally, mute your microphone when you aren’t speaking to the class, so that others aren’t distracted by outside noises.
• Ensure that you don’t have any posters, drawings, or writing in the background of your screen that could be offensive to others
• If you are using a platform where you are asked to create a username, it is good practice to use your preferred name instead of making a username that might be considered offensive.
• Lastly, behave as you would if you were taking the class on campus!

Reporting Inappropriate Content in a Class Setting

If you see something online that has offended or upset you, remember the 3 R’s:

1. Reach out to the person directly in a separate chat and respectfully explain why their comment offended you. Reaching out directly gives them a chance to explain what they mean and gives you a chance to come to an understanding.
2. Report the incident to the moderator, or professor. Alternatively, you can report the comment using the software’s built-in reporting tools. In addition, you may report concerns to Dillon Brady, Manager of Student Conduct and Harm Reduction at dillonbrady@cunet.carleton.ca
3. Remove yourself from the situation by choosing not to reply or engage with persons who are offending or upsetting you. If possible, leave the discussion group, breakout room or chat. Mute the user or their screen if the platform allows.

Resources

We understand these experiences can be quite difficult and encourage any student who is struggling to reach out for support. Students can access 24/7 counselling support through Empower Me or they can call Good2Talk at 1-866-925-5454. Students can also access a variety of provincial support resources across Canada. Additionally, students may contact Health and Counselling Services for counselling support and resources between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

• If you are worried about yours or someone else’s online behaviour, please fill out a care report
• If you are in need of mental health and wellbeing supports, please visit Carleton’s wellness page.

If you have any questions or concerns about online conduct, please contact the Manager of Student Conduct and Harm Reduction, Dillon Brady at DillonBrady@cunet.carleton.ca.