By default, private messaging is enabled on your site. Think of private messages like email, except that private messages only exist on your site. This can be useful, because course communication may be aggregated in one place instead of spread across multiple applications. More importantly, Private Messages are secure and may only be seen by the intended recipient. For this reason, Private Messages should be used to transmit grade information instead of email. Students may also attach files to private messages to turn in electronic work, but any such files should be locked, because they will exist on the internet (which ultimately means that they will be accessible).

You may send and receive private messages by clicking on the My inbox link. You may send a message to a user by clicking on the "Compose" tab. The "To:" blank should contain the recipient's username (this blank will auto-complete, so you only need to type the first few letters). Then enter your message and subject, attach any files, preview it, and click "Send private message." Only administrators (you) and the message recipient will be able to access the message.

Site users may also send you private messages using the same procedure (or by clicking the "Reply" button in messages). Messages sent to you will appear in your inbox. When you have new messages, a number indicating the number of new messages will appear in parentheses next to the My inbox link.