Code of Conduct

Communication Center Code of Conduct

All speakers and consultants are expected to follow this Code of Conduct when interacting with the Communication Center.

Participate Actively

Appointments are collaborative. Speakers should come prepared to participate, respond to questions, try suggested activities, and engage with feedback.
Consultants can help you brainstorm, prepare, practice, and revise. However, consultants will not complete work, create assignment content, or provide answers on your behalf.

Maintain Professional Boundaries

Help us create a respectful and professional environment for everyone.

Do not ask consultants for personal information.
Do not contact consultants through their individual GMU email accounts or personal communication channels.
Direct all appointment-related communication to gmspeech@gmu.edu.
Refrain from speaking negatively about professors, classes, assignments, speakers, or consultants.
If assignment instructions are unclear, contact your professor for clarification.

Follow Zoom Appointment Expectations

During a Zoom appointment, speakers are expected to:

Keep their camera and microphone on*.
Communicate directly with their consultant.
Give the appointment their full attention.
Join from a quiet, safe, and appropriate environment.
Remain appropriately dressed throughout the appointment.
Protect the privacy of the appointment.

Do not attend a Zoom appointment while driving, lying in bed, participating in another activity, or remaining in a loud or distracting environment.

Other individuals should not participate in or listen to an appointment unless they are approved participants in a group session. If joining from a shared or public location, use headphones and choose a space where you can communicate without interruption.

*If a circumstance or accommodation prevents you from using your camera or microphone, please contact the Communication Center in advance whenever possible.

When an Appointment May Be Ended

Consultants will immediately end an appointment if a speaker is driving or operating a vehicle.

If a speaker’s environment, behavior, or level of participation prevents a productive and respectful session, the consultant may ask the speaker to correct the issue. If the issue cannot be resolved, the appointment may be ended and rescheduled.

Ask Your Professor About Grades and Assignment Requirements

Consultants provide constructive feedback on oral presentations, but consultants do not grade student work or predict the grade an assignment will receive. Contact your professor if you have questions about:

Assignment instructions or requirements
Grades or grading decisions
What types of AI use are permitted

Speakers are responsible for ensuring that work shared during an appointment complies with their instructor’s AI and academic-integrity policies. Consultants may provide guidance on citations and direct speakers to resources from the Office of Academic Standards.

Respect Cultural and Linguistic Diversity

We welcome multilingual speakers and value cultural and linguistic diversity. The Communication Center does not believe there is one “proper” way to speak English. Our feedback focuses on helping speakers communicate their ideas clearly and understandably to their intended audiences.

If you would like to work on articulation or vocal presentation, please include that information in your appointment notes.

Speakers seeking additional support with conversational fluency or vocabulary development may also use George Mason University’s Learning Resource Center.