Managing Your Success

Your DSC-Issued FalconMail Email Account 

Your FalconMail, (Microsoft Outlook) email account helps you stay organized with seamless email, calendar, and task management all in one place. Select the link How to Install Microsoft Outlook to your iPhone or Android phone for instructions.

Each course at the College has something called a course shell and it is housed in Falcon Online. That is where your course content is housed and where you will submit assignments, quizzes, discussions, etc. Another tool found there is called Classlist. You can find it in the navigation bar at the top of the page. Classlist is simply your FalconMail embedded in your course to allow easy access to contact your instructor. Learn more about Classlist on the Falcon Online InfoGuide.

Read more below about the three key factors to effective communication with your instructors:

1. Knowing how to contact them
2. Contacting them in a timely manner
3. Providing enough information in your communication that they can easily and thoroughly respond to you. 

How To Contact Your Instructors

• Instructor provide their contact information (email, phone and office hours) on their syllabus, in Falcon Online, and in lecture (all of which is posted for each class in Falcon Online).
• Office Hours for each instructor will also be posted both on their syllabus and on Falcon Online for easy access. Be sure to respect these times when visiting your instructors in-person.

Instructor Contact & Communication

• It is important to discuss all questions and concerns about assignments and other issues with your instructor in a professional and timely manner in order to provide both you and your instructor the best possible solution. If you are having any extended difficulties finding your instructor's contact information, please use the Employee Directory below:

• EMPLOYEE DIRECTORY  https://www.daytonastate.edu/faculty-and-staff/employee-directory/index.html

What does 'timely manner' mean?

• Don't wait until it's too late. Be proactive. When you have a question, ask the question. Especially if you are leaving a phone message or email, you are unaware of when the instructor will hear/read it and how long it will take to get a response. Do not procrastinate. There is no shame in not knowing an answer or having questions about your course content, an assignment or anything else your instructor can help you with. 
• If you are experiencing a personal situation (health, family, personal struggle, computer access issues), contact your instructor(s) immediately. They want to help you but cannot do so unless they are aware of your situation. Oftentimes, accommodations can be provided or due dates can be extended when there are extraordinary circumstances beyond your control. Let them know AS it is occurring, not AFTER the fact. That may be too late to recover your grades or to provide you with any legitimate assistance.

How much is 'enough' information?

• You should always err on TOO MUCH information. 
• If you have a question about an assignment or how to navigate your course, be specific - WHICH assignment (by name) - WHAT can't you find/use/isn't working properly. 
• If you get an error message, take a screen shot and share it. That really helps when instructors are trying to trouble shoot. This is also helpful if you need to contact the IT Helpdesk for assistance. 
• Make sure to include your request. Oftentimes students will share a story of a situation, but never actually include a request such as, 'Could you extend the deadline until tomorrow to allow me to submit?'  By not including a specific request, you delay your final answer. You now need to go back and forth with emails to determine what you actually want/need. This could last well past another due date, so make sure to include your detailed questions within your request. 

Make sure to watch the video below to help you understand the level of detail and the tone/quality of emails.