** Reply to note from Pat Gannon-Leary <[log in to unmask]> Thu, 26 May 2005 09:58:44 +0100
> We have a discussion list for our Law students. One student has objected to
> receiving what he considers to be 'junk' e-mail on this and has asked to be
> removed from the list.
> Generally the postings to the list are academic in nature and should be
> considered part of the students' education.
> We could have the student in question removed from the list but he then may
> be disadvantaged by non receipt of other postings.
>
> Has anyone in HE or FE experienced similar issues? Does anyone have
> anything written in their student handbook or in their data protection
> statement about placement on a distribution list being part of their
> university/college education?
>
> I'd appreciate others' thoughts on this issue.
>
> Thanks in anticipation
Hi,
My pet hobby (lists and email not DP)
Because it is "junk" email it does not mean it has DP implications. However,
if there are marketing elements in the messages that fly around then I would
say the student has the right to be taken off the list.
What you are not really saying is -
a. even most of the messages are educational, to what extend do they add
value to the student's learning?
b. are the academic staff actively participating in discussions?
c. how many messages are irrelevant and how much irrelevant are they?
I am rather sure that you academic guidelines may go along the lines of
Lectures are optional, seminars are compulsory, course work is compulsory
(or some combination like the above). Participating in a mailing list is unlikely
to be compulsory.
Explain to the student what s/he might miss and if the student still wants out
take them off the list unless your academic regulations say otherwise. You
cannot compel someone to learn.
If it helps at all.
Regards
Charles
PS. Good busy mailing lists can tolerate significant amounts of Off Topic
(OT) posts. On a quietish list any OT material is too much OT. How "good" is
your list, not just educational but also relevant to law students?
--
Charles Christacopoulos, Management Information Officer,
Planning & Information, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HN,
Scotland, United Kingdom. Tel: 44(0)1382-344891. Fax: 44(0)1382-348845.
http://www.somis.dundee.ac.uk/ ::egothor http://www.egothor.org/
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