California Institute of Arts & Technology Viva Engage Usage Policy

Welcome to California Institute of Arts & Technology Online Community, facilitated by the Microsoft Viva Engage platform. The goal of the CIAT Online Community is to provide a collaborative environment to engage in meaningful discussions around your education and career goals, build or strengthen relationships with your classmates and CIAT staff, and stay connected to ongoing resources.

Our Viva Engage network is open to all current CIAT faculty, staff, and students. We encourage you to use this community to develop working relationships and stay motivated through your academic journey and beyond.

What to expect with the CIAT Online Community on Viva Engage:

• Find study partners for certification exams or coding labs
• Share insights on study strategies or technology tips to support your fellow classmates
• Stay up to date with ongoing CIAT hosted and industry events
• Get ongoing career and job networking tips
• Share constructive feedback about your experience
• Feel connected to classmates in different geographic locations
• Show off your wins!
• And more…

We ask that you remain respectful and follow some simple guidelines:

• Be respectful: Online comments can be easily misconstrued. Don’t post messages, images or content that are likely to cause harm or offense to others.
• Be aware. Don’t share personal information about you or others that is not intended to be shared to the entire CIAT community. Do not share user’s posts or comments publicly, outside of Viva Engage, without prior permission.
• Be secure. Don’t share your passwords or other access to your classes, computer, study materials, or other personal accounts.
• Be truthful. When providing support or feedback to your fellow classmates, be honest and truthful about your own experiences or technical facts. Do not intentionally mislead or misguide classmates that are seeking your advice.
• Be relevant. Don’t spam groups or post messages that are unrelated to the purpose of that community group. Post questions to appropriate sub-communities. Keep topics related to your technology education and career journey. Divisive or sensitive topics related to politics, religion, culture, or gender, or other personal beliefs are subject to moderation.
• Be helpful. Every student is at a different stage of their technical journey. When helping others, you learn new ways to grow your own skills. Think of ways to give back and support others.

Viva Engage is good for general conversation and questions. However, email may be more appropriate for more private communications to a small group.

What NOT to use Viva Engage for:

• Urgent support: If you need personal support with a course assignment, program, technical assistance, registration, or anything that requires immediate attention.
  • For personal support with a course assignment, please contact your instructor first
  • For technical help accessing your CIAT account, please submit a helpdesk ticket by emailing help@ciat.edu
  • For registration or program related questions, email StudentServicesTeam@ciat.edu
• Personal crisis: If you are undergoing personal, financial, or emotional crisis that impacts your ability to be successful at CIAT, please email StudentServicesTeam@ciat.edu.
• Voicing anger or frustration: If you have a concern or frustration you’d like to address with the CIAT management team, please email feedback@ciat.edu.

Usage and monitoring

CIAT reserves the right to monitor and moderate all discussions on the CIAT Viva Engage network. CIAT will remove and permanently delete text or images that do not comply with this usage policy, including, but not limited to:

• Profanity
• Racial injustice
• Cyber bullying
• Sexual harassment
• Threats, harassment, or references to violence of any kind
• Unkind words or negativity
• Cheating or academic dishonesty
• Inappropriate or irrelevant content

An atmosphere that is free of negativity will foster stronger relations and create an environment that encourages constructive feedback – benefiting all of us. Obscene, discriminatory, harassing, or defamatory postings will not be permitted. If such posts are made, one or more of the following actions may be taken:

• Content removal
• Academic probation
• Removal from class or CIAT program
• Legal and/or police involvement

CIAT Communication Channels

Agreeing to this usage policy and participating in the CIAT Viva Engage network acknowledges and confirms that you understand and agree to the following requirements:

• Viva Engage does not replace California Institute of Arts & Technology’s established student communication channels including phone, email, text, and Canvas. Any information posted on Viva Engage is provided as an added resource to students.
• Participation is entirely voluntary and a matter of individual choice.
• Never rely on information or opinions posted on the CIAT Viva Engage network by other users to replace CIAT policy or standards or information that you receive from CIAT staff.
• While the CIAT Viva Engage network contains plenty of useful information and our administrators strive to address incorrect statements, we cannot guarantee the accuracy, privacy or validity of information provided in the groups by other users.
• Information, opinions, statements, pictures and/or files posted onto Viva Engage cannot be considered as private.
• Any statements or comments posted on Viva Engage may be to be used in CIAT promotional materials

Policy Last Updated: 08/21/23