Class Etiquette

Trigger Warning:

• Sometimes we will address sensitive topics. If at any time you feel that you cannot read, write or engage in conversations about certain topics presented in class or on assignments, please do not hesitate to alert me. I have dealt with this issue before. Your relationship with the topic is none of my business. I will excuse you from the activity, and we will think of an alternative way for you to fulfill requirements associated with that segment of the course

• Occasionally, students request to write on a topic or bring a topic up for discussion in class that is “sensitive.” Perhaps, that topic elicits strong negative feelings which will result in a hostile or silencing environment in the classroom. Occasionally, a student has voiced privately to me a trauma related to a specific topic. For those reasons, I respectfully ask you to consider other topics for your work as all your work will be shared openly among classmates. It would be unfair to foster an environment that is not conducive to the subject at hand- improving your writing!

Class Rules of Conduct:

• Any comments that are construed as threatening, cruel, or silencing to any members of the class will not be tolerated.

• While the college will be monitoring all of your Blackboard interactions, we cannot monitor your other online engagements with other students. However, if I learn that students are being trolled by their peers online or in person, I will refer the situation to campus authorities.

• In order to limit the possibility of inappropriate online interactions, I suggest that you not add or friend your classmates on social media and only communicate with them through Blackboard and your school email address for course-related purposes.

• If you feel uncomfortable at any time, please reach out to me, so that I may deal with the situation accordingly.

• Document any inappropriate behaviors you witness and send any materials to me and public safety immediately.

Name/ Pronoun Use:

• If you have a preferred name or pronoun, please speak to me privately and I will honor your preference and ensure its usage among your classmates.