Students are required to read the guidelines below and agree to abide by them before being granted access to an online course.

UCLA Extension Writers’ Program online workshops require students to interact regularly in a discussion forum environment in which positive and constructive feedback will be exchanged. All UCLA Extension students must abide by the Student Code of Conduct as set forth by UCLA Extension (and as outlined below). In addition, due to the sometimes sensitive nature of these interactions, the Writers’ Program has established specific guidelines for acceptable and unacceptable discussion in our forums.

You are required to read and agree to these guidelines prior to continuing your online course.

Expectations of Writers’ Program Online Students

Writers’ Program students are expected to engage in collegial communication with classmates and instructors over the course of the quarter. Student communications must remain civil in tone even when proposing constructive edits to works-in-progress. Responses to student feedback must also remain civil and respectful.

Studies have shown that of all the information exchanged in in-person communication, the words themselves comprise only 7% of the overall perceived meaning, with tone, facial expressions, body language, and gestures making up the remaining 93%. In online workshops, the words you choose carry more weight because these other communication cues are missing. Therefore, it is easier for your words to be misinterpreted online. We ask that all students exercise good judgment in online messages and postings, making sure all communications are well-thought out, polite, and respectful.

We realize that you may not always agree with conversations about published writing or about other students’ work. While this is to be expected and there is value in sharing different perspectives or points of view, it’s imperative that discussions always be respectful, well-reasoned, explanatory, and considerate.

The following forms of language and conduct are expressly prohibited from Writers’ Program online workshop discussion forum posts and communications:

Vulgar or obscene comments aimed at students or instructors, or their work
Comments that malign an identifiable group or culture, even if no members of the targeted group are present in the class
Comments that mock or belittle students or instructors
Comments that direct other students to purchase goods or services from the commenter
Off-topic comments, especially those that divulge observations or overly personal information that do not directly contribute to the subject of the course

How do I know if I’m violating these guidelines?

An important step in communicating in your online class is to consider how your words could be perceived. Sometimes what you intend to communicate is not what people will read; always review your comments before posting and remember this: “When in doubt, take it out.”

Your comment addresses the writer, not the writing
Your comment focuses too intently on writing mechanics or style rather than craft
Your comment does not offer any constructive suggestions for editing or revision in a collegial manner

Instructor Responses to Violations of these Guidelines

Depending on the nature and severity of the comment(s), instructors will take one or more of the following steps at their discretion:

Removal of the comment
Email to commenting student regarding the removed post
Email to Writers’ Program staff with content of the removed post
Email to UCLA Extension Student Compliance Office

If your instructor removes your comment, do not post again until the instructor contacts you. Instructors remove posts if they perceive that the content may be misconstrued by other students or if the content directly violates the guidelines as outlined in this document.

Please note that even private communication exchanged between students or between a student and instructor is subject to the UNEX Code of Conduct and may be reviewed as whole or part of a claim by a student.

If you feel that inappropriate behavior has taken place in your classroom and you are not satisfied with your instructor’s response, please contact the Writers’ Program as soon as possible.

What do I do if I feel someone is violating this policy?

It is always good to ask questions if you are unclear about any feedback or instruction you receive. Keep in mind though that you are not bound by the recommendations or suggestions made by the instructor or your classmates; creative decisions are ultimately your own. The goal is to understand the issues presented—not to challenge or argue things out, and not to prove a point. It is inappropriate, disrespectful, and a waste of class time to try to get your instructor or fellow students to agree with your point of view. Simply ask questions so that you understand the point the commenter is trying to convey.

If you have an issue with another student, send a private Canvas email to your instructor. Never make negative and/or combative statements on the Discussion Boards or class forums.

Suggestions for Success

Writers’ Program students join our classes from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. You may feel more advanced than some classmates, while others may seem more advanced than you are. It’s important to recognize that there is much you can learn from one another. Workshops are collaborative environments. The following guidelines will go a long way in ensuring a successful classroom experience.

Never assume a narrator or character in classmates’ work is based on their own lives.
Never make a negative comment about your classmates' personal or private life.
Never contact a classmate outside of the online classroom unless you have both agreed this is appropriate.
Never share a classmate’s work, forum posts, or messages outside your online classroom.
All comments and questions to your instructor or classmates should be respectful, courteous, and nonjudgmental. Avoid sarcasm, complaints, and snark, which are easily misinterpreted in online environments.
While it is generally beneficial to participate in feedback and class discussions, remember that it is not your job to teach or school your classmates. Leave that to your instructor.
Limit your feedback comments within the parameters of the assignment. You will be given guidance on what issues to consider. If you are told to focus on broad storytelling issues, do not bring up other topics (for example, grammar issues) that are not part of the assignment parameters.
Remember the instructor’s role is to both teach you content and to lead the classroom. Respect their authority over classroom discussions, heed advice or warnings thoughtfully, and reach out to the instructor if you need assistance. All course lectures, discussion prompts, and assignments are the copyrighted material of your instructor and must not be shared outside the course.

UCLA Extension Code of Conduct

Underlying our educational mission are basic values that bind students and instructors alike into a community of learners. These values include an expectation for intellectual honesty; mutual trust; the expression of respect to earn its reciprocation; regard for another's right to freedom of thought and belief; freedom of inquiry; joy in learning; freedom from discrimination; and a rejection of all forms of intimidation, harassment, disruption or violence aimed at or resulting in limiting these freedoms, or interfering with a student's, instructor's or staff member's performance of his or her University responsibilities.

Students are subject to disciplinary action for several types of misconduct or attempted misconduct, including but not limited to:

Coercion regarding grading or evaluation of coursework. Threatening personal or professional repercussions or discipline against an instructor to coerce the instructor to change a grade or otherwise evaluate the student's work by criteria not directly reflective of coursework;
Sexual harassment, sexual violence, domestic or dating violence; or retaliation against those who report these and other forms of misconduct wherever it might occur;
Harassment, defined as conduct that is so severe and/or pervasive, and objectively offensive, and that so substantially impairs a person's access to University programs or activities that the person is effectively denied equal access to the University's resources and opportunities;
Physical abuse including but not limited to assault, sex offenses, other forms of violence; threats of violence; or other conduct that threatens the health or safety of any person wherever it might occur;
Stalking, which is conduct repeatedly directed at another person with the intent to place that person in reasonable fear for his or her safety, or the safety of his or her family; and where the behavior is reasonably determined by the University to seriously alarm, torment, or terrorize the person, wherever it may occur;
Disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, or failure to comply with directions of a University official or Extension instructor acting in the performance of his/her official capacity