Information Technology Acceptable Use Policy 300-35

Information Technology Acceptable Use Policy

(formerly Network Computing Policy)

Approved by the Board of Trustees, June 2007

Purpose:

All users of the Hutchinson Community College (HCC) computer system – defined as a computer, hand held/cell phones, computer system, computer network, computer software, computer program, data base, or any part thereof owned and controlled by HCC –  hereby agree to abide by the procedures and policies of HCC and the State and Federal laws.  Outlined in this policy are expected standards of conduct on the use of the HCC computer system and the disciplinary actions taken for not adhering to those standards.

Mission and Rights:

HCC owns a variety of computing systems that are provided for the use of HCC students, faculty, and staff in support of the educational programs of the college.  All computer use shall be consistent with the mission and goals of HCC.

Unauthorized commercial uses of the HCC computer system are prohibited.

All users are responsible for seeing that the computing facilities are used in an effective, efficient, ethical, and lawful manner.

HCC reserves all rights, including termination of service without notice, to the computing resources that it owns and operates.

This policy shall not be construed as a waiver of any rights of HCC, nor shall it conflict with applicable laws.

Computer User Names and Passwords:

It is the responsibility of all HCC users to maintain and protect their user names and passwords.  HCC users are solely responsible for all computing operations executed under their user names.

Sharing a user name and/or password with others is prohibited.

Disguising an identity to acquire a user name falsely is prohibited.

Users may not, under any circumstances (except for system administrators), transfer or confer computer information privileges to other individuals.

System Resources:

Users are responsible for maintaining an environment in which resources are shared equitably between users.

Any attempt to deprive other authorized users of resources or access to any HCC computer is prohibited.

Any attempt to gain access to unauthorized computer resources is prohibited.

Any unauthorized modification or destruction of computer resources is prohibited.

The willful introduction of malicious software, such as computer “viruses” is prohibited.

Harassment:

HCC’s Harassment Policy applies with full force and effect to any use of the HCC computer system.  Harassment of any kind is prohibited.  No messages with derogatory or inflammatory remarks about any individual or group’s race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical or mental attribute, age, gender, and/or sexual preference will be transmitted.  A user who violates this policy shall bear full responsibility for his or her actions.  Further, by their use of HCC’s computer system, users agree that individuals who transmit such remarks shall bear sole responsibility for their actions. 

All users have the right to be free from any conduct connected with the use of HCC’s computing systems that discriminates against any person on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, disability, age, gender, and/or sexual preference.  Discriminatory conduct includes, but is not limited to, written or graphic conduct that satisfies the following conditions:

1. Harasses, denigrates, or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group based on that person’s race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, age, gender, and/or sexual preference; and
2. Has the purpose or affect of creating a hostile, intimidating, or offensive environment.
3. Users agree that HCC’s role in managing this system is only as an information carrier and that they will never      consider transmission through this system as an endorsement of said transmission by HCC.

Internet Access, including Internet II and other private networks:

The purpose of allowing or providing internet access through HCC’s computer system is to facilitate communications and research in support of the public purpose, mission, vision, and value statements at HCC.  Users have the responsibility to act consistent with and to enhance the public purpose of HCC including the mission, vision, and value statements of HCC.  Within these purposes, users must comply with the following guidelines for using the internet through the HCC computer system:

1. Users accessing the internet are representing HCC.  All communications should be for or related to the purposes, mission, vision, and value statements of HCC;
2. Users are responsible for ensuring that the internet is used in an effective, ethical, and lawful manner;
3. Users are responsible for the content of all text, audio, or images placed or sent over the internet.  Messages that are inconsistent with the HCC Acceptable Use are prohibited, including but not limited to, fraudulent, harassing, or obscene messages;
4. All messages communicated on the HCC computer system should have the user’s name attached.  No messages will be transmitted under an assumed name;
5. Information published on the internet through the HCC computer system should not violate or infringe upon the rights of others;
6. Any network traffic that originates at HCC and moves to other networks must conform with any applicable policies of those subsequent networks.
7. HCC reserves the right to restrict access to internet or any other outside network.

Unacceptable uses: 

1. Uses that violate any local, state, or federal statute;
2. Uses that interfere with the user’s duties and responsibilities to HCC;
3. Downloading software that does not follow the procedures outlined in HCC’s Software Acquisition Process;
4. Accessing, uploading, downloading, or distributing any text, graphic, video, or audio clip that is obscene, sexually explicit, profane, or harassing in nature;
5. Accessing, uploading, downloading, or distributing any test, text, graphic, video, or audio clip that is for personal financial gain;
6. Uses that interfere with or disrupt any network services – disruptions include, but are not limited to, introducing malicious software, such as computer viruses, and unauthorized entry into any other machine or system (hacking);
7. Uses that violate any other provisions of the HCC Acceptable Use Policy and/or the HCC Conflict of Interest policy.

Software Licensing, Copyright and Unauthorized Distribution:

Computer software protected by copyright shall not be copied from, into, or by means of HCC computing facilities, except as permitted by law or by the contract with the owner of the copyright.

HCC may not duplicate any software or related documentation for use either on HCC premises or elsewhere unless HCC is expressly authorized to do so by agreement with the licenser.  Unauthorized duplication of software may subject the user to both civil and criminal penalties under the United States Copyright Act.

HCC computers are organization-owned assets and must be kept both software legal and virus free.  Only software approved through the software acquisition/standardization procedures may be used on HCC machines.  Software purchased outside of this procedure is not permitted to be loaded on HCC computers.

Generally, institution-owned software is not licensed for home use; however, some software companies permit home use under certain circumstances.  If software is needed for home use, and is not covered in its license agreement, a separate license should be purchased and recorded as an institution-owned asset in the software register.  Before taking any software home, please check with the software manager.

Assume that all software is bound by copyright.    

          Any unauthorized release of printed or computer-based information is prohibited.

Disclaimers:

While reasonable attempts have been made to ensure the privacy of users’ electronic information, this in no way guarantees that electronic information is private.  The HCC computing system is not necessarily secure.

System administrators will respect users’ privacy to the extent possible and will not examine electronic information except when investigating an apparent violation, investigating systems resource over-utilization or abuse, performing preventive maintenance, forwarding misdelivered messages, or closing an account.

Violations:

          Any violation of this policy or applicable laws will result in disciplinary actions by the proper authorities.

          Any user’s privileges may be suspended immediately upon the discovery of a possible violation of this policy.

Such suspected violations will be confidentially reported to the appropriate college official(s).

Violations of these policies will be dealt with in the same manner as violations of other HCC policies and may result in disciplinary review or termination of employment.

Appendixes:

A.  E-mail Use Policy 

B. Software Acquisition/StandardizationProcedure

C. Social Networking Policy