ACCEPTABLE
USE POLICY FOR COLLEGE COMPUTING RESOURCES
Purpose of Computing Resources
Security
Acceptable Use
Unacceptable Use
Sanctions
Appendix
Consent
PURPOSE OF COMPUTING RESOURCES
The primary purpose of
ENC's computing resources is to enhance and
support the educational mission of Eastern
Nazarene College. As a Christian community,
we take the stewardship of our resources seriously
since it is a means to develop effective servants
to address the needs of our world. These resources
include those microcomputers, workstations
and multi-user computer systems owned by ENC
or its students. In addition, computing resources
include local area networks including network
and telecommunication capabilities in the
residence halls, as well as connections to
other computer networks via the Internet.
All students, faculty and staff are responsible
for using ENC's computing resources in an
effective, ethical, lawful, and responsible
manner. Use of computing resources, much like
use of the library resources, is a privilege
to be utilized responsibly.
Computing resources are tools to enhance the
educational process. While they afford a vast
potential of resources, they also pose important
challenges. Users must be aware of the traps
inherent in this kind of technology.
• Time spent on the computer can quickly
become excessive and restraint needs to be
exercised for personal as well as institutional
reasons. Our society is now seeing many individuals
who are suffering from computer addiction
in ways similar to other addictions such as
alcohol or gambling.
• Networks can be used by unethical
individuals to deceive users. ENC urges all
users to exercise good judgment and caution
to avoid becoming victims of illegal, unethical
or immoral activity.
• Interaction with unknown users is
not recommended because of the potential for
harm.
ENC encourages any user to seek out appropriate
resources for assistance. This includes seeking
assistance for instruction from the Information
Technology Services (ITS) staff in the use
of resources, as well as accessing counseling
resources available through the Brickley Counseling
staff, Student Development staff, or faculty
members.
SECURITY
While the college makes
every effort to maintain the security of its
systems, it should be noted that no guarantee
of privacy of electronically stored information
or electronic mail can be supplied. Users
of college-operated computing resources should
also be aware that the college reserves the
right to inspect information stored on its
systems and monitor files accessed when there
is reasonable cause to suggest a violation
of the policies of the college or when the
college needs to access information that is
pertinent to its operations.
• No person shall gain or attempt to
gain access to any computer or computer network
without the consent of the owner of the computer
or the operators of the network system.
• No person shall knowingly alter, destroy,
delete or introduce programmatic instructions
that will cause the computer to do anything
unwanted by the owner.
• No person will attempt to circumvent
ENC's computer security system, or use ENC's
computer systems or computer networks to attempt
to circumvent security systems elsewhere.
• Users are responsible for the security
of their own network services accounts. Users
should follow the password guidelines distributed
when the account is created.
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ACCEPTABLE
USE
ENC encourages the college community of faculty,
staff and students to fully utilize the computing
resources at ENC in a manner consistent with
the mission of the college. Acceptable use
also means that while utilizing computer resources
for administrative, education, and research
purposes, the legal protection of copyrights
and licenses will be respected.
UNACCEPTABLE USE
While the potential
for appropriate use of ENC's computing resources
abounds, there are however aspects of use
that can be problematic both for the individual
and the institution. Unacceptable use of ENC's
computing resources can fall into three different
categories: unreasonable, unethical and illegal.
These categories are not necessarily mutually
exclusive nor do they create situations which
are equally problematic. All users are asked,
however, to consider the following categories
so that the resources may be accessed efficiently
and appropriately.
Unreasonable
Use:
Since the network operates
most efficiently when each user understands
that he or she is only one user among many,
activities that consume large amounts of time
on a computer or in the network may interfere
with the ability of others to use ENC's computing
resources or network connected services. Overuse
of connect time, information storage space,
or printing capacity can present problems
for other users.
Unethical Use:
Use of ENC's computers
or networks that violates ENC regulations
or policies, or is inconsistent with ENC's
ethical standards or mission. Some forms of
use which are unethical may also overlap with
the illegal use category.
Illegal
Use:
Use of ENC computers
or networks for any illegal purpose, including,
but not limited to the use of computers or
the network in violation of federal, state
or local laws regarding such subjects as obscenity,
pornography, child pornography, hate communications,
discriminatory harassment, or criminal activity.
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SANCTIONS
Out of respect for
the entire ENC computing community, violations
to the Acceptable Use Policy will be taken
seriously. Violations of written policy may
incur any of the following actions depending
upon the specific nature of the infraction:
• E-mail or letter of warning from the
Director of Information Technology Services
• Loss of computer account and network
privileges for specified time periods
• Director may refer some infractions
to the Student Development Office or the Academic
Dean for application of appropriate disciplinary
action. For instance:
• Incidents of plagiarism will be handled
through the Academic Dean's Office and may
result in a reduced grade or course failure
and/or loss of computing privileges.
• Incidents referred to the Student
Development Office may result in decisions
by the Judiciary Committee or by the Student
Development staff.
• In incidents of illegal actions, cases
may be prosecuted by local, state or federal
agencies.
APPENDIX
Without claiming to provide an exhaustive
list, here are some examples in each of the
previously mentioned categories that will
help the user understand the underlying principles
involved.
Unreasonable Use:
• Use of the computing resources for
computerized entertainment or games must be
kept to a minimum and should not interfere
with a user who needs to work on academic
projects.
• Excessive use of the computing resources
outside of specific academic assignments raises
issues of concern in terms of personal time
management, the effective completion of academic
assignments and the dangers of compulsively
spending time on the computer.
• Excessive use of resources for e-mail,
web browsing, etc. is generally not an effective
use of personal or computer time. Distribution
of chain letters or broadcasting to lists
of individuals in such a manner that might
cause congestion of the network.
• Participation in user groups such
as MUDs or MOOs or chat rooms.
• Printing of multiple copies of banners,
posters, resumes, and papers. One copy should
be printed.
Unethical
Use:
•
Providing, assisting in, or gaining unauthorized
or inappropriate access to ENC's computing
resources.
• Use of ENC computers or networks in
a manner resulting in the inappropriate access
to systems, software or data at other sites.
Do not use the College's computing system
to gain access to a computer system that you
are not authorized to use.
• Access and/or distribution of obscene,
pornographic, abusive or threatening information
of any data type including text, audio, graphic
images, etc. via the college network, Internet,
or other means. Simply because a user can
get access to objectionable material through
computer networks does not justify viewing,
downloading, or printing it.
• Activities (e-mail, chat groups, etc.)
conducted via the college network or the Internet
for the express purpose of soliciting sexual
favors and/or arranging meetings for the pursuit
of sexual activity .
• Use of ENC computers or networks for
commercial use or profit-making enterprise,
except as specifically agreed to with the
College.
• Attempting to circumvent ENC's computer
security system.
• Damaging hardware, software or data
that belongs to ENC or members of the ENC
community.
Illegal
Use:
•
Unauthorized reproduction of copyrighted material.
• Activities that result in the loss
of another person's work or unauthorized access
to another person's work.
• Racial, sexual or any other kind of
harassment of an individual or a group through
the computing resources of ENC. There is additional
material on harassment issues in the student
handbook and the employee handbooks.
• Altering, destroying data or utilizing
services that do not belong to you.
• Involvement in on-line gambling.
• Accessing or downloading obscenity
or child pornography images.
CONSENT
Authorized
use of ENC’s computing and telecommunication
resources and associated infrastructure implies
full agreement with this policy. As circumstances
warrant, this policy may be reviewed and modified
by the College administration and, upon official
adoption and publication, will supplant the
current policy. Such supplanted policy will
automatically be in effect for all current
authorized users of College computing, telecommunications,
and associated infrastructure.
The intent of this statement is to give an
overview of acceptable and unacceptable uses
of ENC's computing resources without exhaustively
enumerating all such uses and misuses. This
statement is intended as an addition to existing
College policies concerning academic honesty,
harassment, and usage of facilities. The predominant
goal of this policy is to promote honesty,
respect for individuals and respect for both
physical and intellectual property in the
use of computing resources. All expectations
regarding academic honesty and professional
ethics extend to electronic media. (Rev. 8.26.03)
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