Electronic Communication with Students
The UM-Dearborn uses your assigned UM-Dearborn email address for all university email communications. You are responsible for accessing your UM-Dearborn email account on a frequent and consistent basis to stay informed of important University business such as information regarding your student account, financial aid, registration, grades or correspondence from faculty.
You may choose to forward messages from your UM-Dearborn email address to an alternate personal address. However, doing so may place you at risk of not receiving critical University communications. For additional information on your UM-Dearborn email account (including how to forward your UM-Dearborn email address), go to the Information Technology Services website and select Accounts.
This policy reflects UM-Dearborn’s commitment to using available technology to communicate among members of the campus community. It recognizes an expanding reliance on electronic communication among students, faculty, staff and the administration due to the convenience, speed, cost-effectiveness and environmental advantages it provides. This policy will define the proper use of electronic communications between University staff, faculty and students. Electronic communications may include, but are not limited to, electronic mail, electronic bulletin boards, and web sites.
UM-Dearborn authorizes the use of email for official communication between students, staff, faculty, and the administration. All members of the campus community are expected to comply with established guidelines and procedures that define the proper use of electronic communications.
To implement this policy, the following actions and services will be provided:
- Provision of University email
UM-Dearborn will provide all staff, faculty, and students with an official University email address. This will be the address listed in University directories. All official University email communications will be directed to this address. - Appropriate use of University email
Certain University electronic communications may be time-critical. Students, staff, and faculty are responsible for checking their official email address on a frequent and consistent basis in order to stay current with University communications.
In general, email is not appropriate for transmitting sensitive or confidential information unless an appropriate level of security matches its use for such purposes.
Confidentiality regarding student records is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). All use of email, including use for sensitive or confidential information, must be consistent with FERPA.
Email shall not be the sole method for notification of any legal action. - Redirecting of University email
Members of the campus community may elect to forward University email to an alternate address (e.g., aol.com, hotmail.com, comcast.net). They are responsible for ensuring that the configuration of their email service does not accidentally label University messages as spam. Users who redirect email from their official address to another email address do so at their own risk. The University will not be responsible for the handling of email by outside vendors or by departmental servers. Having email redirected to an alternate service does not absolve students, staff or faculty members from the responsibilities associated with communication sent to their official email address. - Access to University email
Students who are not in possession of a home computer, or do not have access to a computer at work, can use computers available in campus labs or in their local library. - Faculty use of University email
Faculty may determine how email will be used in their classes. It is highly recommended that if faculty have email requirements and expectations, they specify these requirements in their course syllabus. Faculty may reasonably expect that students are accessing their University email, and may use email for their courses accordingly.
Policy owned by: Information Technology Services