Effective Date: August 30, 2026
1. Purpose
The messaging feature on the FETP Alumni Platform allows members to communicate directly with other alumni for professional networking, knowledge exchange, collaboration, and other relevant purposes.
This policy establishes standards for the appropriate use of private and direct messaging and is intended to help ensure that communication between members remains respectful, professional, and appropriate.
By using the messaging feature, members agree to follow this policy.
2. Appropriate Use of Messaging
Members may use direct messaging to:
- Connect and network with other FETP alumni.
- Discuss professional or public health-related topics.
- Exchange knowledge, experiences, and resources.
- Explore professional collaboration or mentorship opportunities.
- Follow up on discussions or opportunities shared on the platform.
- Communicate for other legitimate purposes related to the FETP alumni community.
Members should use good judgment and respect the professional nature of the platform when contacting others.
3. Respectful Communication
Members are expected to communicate with others respectfully and professionally.
Messages must not contain:
- Harassment, bullying, intimidation, or threats.
- Personal attacks, insults, or abusive language.
- Hate speech or discriminatory content.
- Sexually explicit or inappropriate content.
- Unwanted or repeated messages intended to annoy, pressure, or intimidate another member.
- Content intended to humiliate, embarrass, or deliberately distress another member.
Disagreement between members is permitted, but disagreements should remain respectful and focused on the issue rather than the individual.
4. Unwanted Contact and Repeated Messaging
Members should respect another person's boundaries.
If a member does not respond to a message, declines to continue a conversation, or indicates that they do not wish to be contacted, members should respect that decision.
Repeatedly contacting a member after they have indicated that they do not wish to communicate may be considered harassment and may result in action under this policy.
5. Spam and Solicitation
The messaging feature must not be used to send:
- Unsolicited bulk messages.
- Repeated promotional or commercial messages.
- Irrelevant advertising.
- Fraudulent or misleading offers.
- Requests for money or financial assistance that are inappropriate or unrelated to the purpose of the platform.
- Messages intended primarily to promote products, services, organizations, or personal interests without a legitimate professional purpose.
Professional opportunities, events, training, research, collaboration, and other relevant information may be shared where appropriate.
6. Privacy and Confidentiality
Members should respect the privacy of others when using direct messaging.
Members must not share another person's private messages, personal information, contact details, photographs, or other private communications outside the platform without their permission, unless required or permitted by applicable law.
Members should also avoid sharing confidential, sensitive, or personally identifiable information through the messaging feature, including patient or case information, confidential workplace information, or sensitive information related to public health investigations.
7. Impersonation and Misrepresentation
Members must not impersonate another person or organization or deliberately misrepresent their identity, professional role, qualifications, or affiliation when communicating with others.
8. Safety and Personal Boundaries
Members should use appropriate caution when communicating with people they do not know personally.
The platform does not require members to respond to messages, accept connection requests, or continue conversations.
Members are encouraged to discontinue communication and report the interaction if a message makes them feel uncomfortable, threatened, pressured, or unsafe.
9. Reporting Messages
Members can report messages or conversations that they believe violate this policy or are otherwise inappropriate.
Reports may be reviewed by the platform administrators or designated moderators in accordance with the platform's procedures.
Where possible, members should provide sufficient information to help administrators understand the nature of the concern.
10. Action on Reported Messages
We reserve the right to take appropriate action in response to reported or otherwise identified misuse of the messaging feature.
Depending on the circumstances, this may include:
- Issuing a warning to a member.
- Restricting or disabling messaging functionality.
- Removing or restricting access to the platform.
- Suspending or terminating a member's account in cases of serious or repeated violations.
- Taking other appropriate action where necessary.
We reserve the right to take action at our discretion where messaging activity is abusive, inappropriate, unlawful, or inconsistent with this policy or the purpose of the platform.
11. Responsibility of Members
Members are responsible for the messages they send and for their interactions with other members.
The platform does not endorse or assume responsibility for the personal views, advice, offers, or other communications exchanged between members through direct messaging.
Members should exercise professional judgment and appropriate caution when sharing information or engaging with others.
12. Our Messaging Standard
The messaging feature is intended to make professional connections easier—not to give anyone a backstage pass to someone else's inbox.
Use it to connect, collaborate, learn, and communicate professionally.
Respect boundaries, respect privacy, and remember that no response is also a response.