Electronic Communication Policy
Electronic communications should not contain remarks that would be inappropriate in formal communication. Derogatory remarks will not be tolerated. Electronic communication should not violate the College’s policies on harassment and discrimination.
- Email: All MACC students and employees, excluding temporary employees, are provided an email account by the College. Authorized users of MACC’s email system are subject to the following rights and responsibilities:
- Email is an official communication of MACC for faculty, staff and students. It is the responsibility of all users to check/review messages sent to their MACC email account on a frequent and consistent basis and respond as necessary.
- Users are responsible for managing their account efficiently and ensuring there is sufficient space for email to be delivered. Users are responsible for archiving, retention and deletion of all emails within their accounts. See Records Retention and Destruction Policy, B.040.
- Employees may not use external or private email accounts (i.e. Gmail, Yahoo, or account through another institution, etc.) to conduct college business. This includes but is not limited to automatically forwarding college email to a personal account or listing a personal email as primary contact information.
- Employee email addresses are not confidential.
- Supervisors who have employees without a computer at their work station are required to work with such employees to ensure they have regular access to a computer in order that they may receive/check their college email accounts.
- Attempts to send threatening or abusive email to another user are prohibited. MACC reserves the right to review any material stored in files or programs to which all users have access and to edit or remove any material which it deems unlawful, obscene, abusive or otherwise objectionable.
- Once no longer employed or enrolled with MACC, email accounts will be deactivated by Computer Services.
- Instant Messaging: Instant messaging services can be provided for employees of the College by request. As with email and all other forms of communication, these services should not be used to send inappropriate or discriminatory information to other users.
- Texting: Texting services may be utilized to contact students. As with email and other forms of communication, these services should not be used to send inappropriate or discriminating information to others.
- Social Media: Social media communications on behalf of MACC must be professional, open, transparent and readily acknowledge connection to Moberly Area Community College. MACC faculty, staff and students must follow MACC’s best practices for use of social media in their work or educational capacity. Faculty, staff, and students are also encouraged to adhere to these guidelines in their personal capacity as well. The best practices for use of social media may be found in the Social Media and Website Policy in the Policy Handbook.
- Phone System: The phone system at MACC should be used by MACC employees for conducting College business.
Security and Management
It is important to realize that any form of electronic communication is by no means completely secure. Whether you are sending email, talking on a telephone, or transmitting over air waves, most mediums can be either monitored or “tapped.” The College will strive to make sure that electronic communications are as secure as possible. Computer services personnel, in the course of their job responsibilities, may occasionally view email files, or other electronic communication records. The need for doing so would include, but not be limited to, routing improperly addressed email and repairing damaged user mail directories, etc. This will only occur when absolutely necessary, and the person receiving the message will be notified in those instances. Any faculty or staff who are concerned about any aspect of email should contact the Chief Information Officer.