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This
policy applies to all users of the College computing and electronic
networks resources, whether affiliated with the College or not, and to all
uses of the system, on the campuses or from remote locations. By using the computing resources of the College users consent
to use such resources in accordance with and subject to this Acceptable
Use of Electronic Networks Policy (Policy).
Access to and use of the Delaware
Technical & Community College computing and electronic networks
resources are privileges granted to students, staff, faculty and members
of the College community for academic, research, operational and
administrative purposes. Electronic
networks are comprised of computing facilities, equipment, systems and
personnel. Use of these
resources includes accessing listservs, World Wide Web pages, electronic
mail, application software, and any other electronic communication.
Use of the Delaware Tech computer and electronic networks is a
privilege and all members of the College community who utilize these
resources are expected to do so in an efficient, effective, appropriate,
ethical, and legal manner that supports the mission of the institution.
Failure to adhere to this Policy,
applicable State, local government and Federal laws and regulations, other
College Board of Trustees policies and related administrative procedures
may result in suspension or revocation of network privileges.
Willful or intentional misuse could result in disciplinary action
or criminal prosecution under applicable state and federal statutes.
Additional policies and procedures may apply to specific computers
or computer systems at the various College property locations.
Delaware Tech will not provide a legal defense for any illegal use
of its electronic facilities, equipment, or software, or any activities
found to constitute violations of this Policy.
Users who violate this policy may be
subject suspension and/or revocation of network privileges, to
disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, for staff and faculty,
as outlined in the College Personnel Policy Manual and for students, the
Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy outlined in the Student
Handbook and may be subject to criminal prosecution.
All users of the College electronic networks must:
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- Comply with all federal, state, and other applicable
laws; all applicable Delaware Technical and Community College policies and
procedures; and all applicable contracts and licenses.
These laws, policies, and licenses include, but are not limited to,
the areas of libel, copyright, privacy, obscenity, and child pornography;
the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and the Electronic Communications Privacy
Act, which prohibit unauthorized “hacking”, “cracking”, and other
similar acts The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing
Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Ac of 2001
(USA PATRIOT ACT) which authorizes electronic eavesdropping; the College
Personnel Policy Manual, which includes the College’s Policy Statement
on Sexual Harassment and Conduct and Corrective Action; the College’s
Student Rights and Responsibilities policy, the State of Delaware
Acceptable Use Policy; and all applicable computer contracts and software
licenses, which prohibit the distribution of “warez” (copyrighted
software).
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Utilize only those electronic resources authorized by the College and use
those resources in the manner and to the extent of that authorization.
All accounts assigned to users are non-transferable.
All accounts and passwords must be kept confidential and may not be
released to or shared with any other party other than those authorized by
the College. A user’s
ability to access College networks, resources, and accounts do not imply
authorization to do so. It is
the responsibility of users to secure all necessary and proper
authorizations before proceeding on College systems.
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Refrain from using College resources for any commercial activities or for
personal financial purposes. These
restrictions include, but are not limited to, conducting a business
enterprise from the system, sending commercial advertising messages, or
solicitations for non-College related organizations from the system.
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Utilize all electronic and computing resources efficiently.
The College reserves the right to monitor usage and content,
restrict and/or prohibit excessive non-academic or non-work related use of
the network for downloading or transferring files or to impose or to apply
other limitations or restrictions on computing resources such as time
limits, storage space or amount of particular resources consumed by users
to ensure legal and effective administration of the systems and fair
access for all users.
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- Refrain from stating or implying that they speak on behalf of
or represent Delaware Technical and Community College without proper
authorization to do so. This
prohibition includes use of the College logo in computer communications. Use of College computing and electronic networks and
affiliation with College programs does not imply authorization to
represent the College to outside organizations.
Use of the official College logo or seal on College electronic
resources may only be authorized, in advance, by the Vice
President and Campus Director at the campuses and by the President
for the Office of the President or when applicable to college-wide
projects.
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Electronic
mail and other Network Activity (Use of the Internet) - Delaware Technical
and Community College utilizes numerous measures to maintain the
integrity, security, and effective operations of its electronic mail
systems. Users are advised,
however, that in light of both these efforts and the College’s intent to
limit network use to the purposes stated in this Policy, the e-mail
systems and network usage in general should in no way be regarded as a
secure or private medium for the communication of confidential or
sensitive information. Due to
the nature of electronic communication, system users may not expect
individual communications or activities on the College system nor the
confidentiality of specific messages that may be created, sent, received,
or stored in the system to be or remain private.
In
addition, all users are advised that, while the College does not routinely
monitor individual usage of computing resources, it reserves the right to
monitor activity when: 1) the maintenance and standard operations of the
system require the backup of data and communications, the logging of
system activity, monitoring of general usage patterns, and 2) in
circumstances where the College has reason to believe that network usage
may be in violation of this Policy and other procedures required in the
administration of the system. In
addition, the College may also monitor the activity and accounts of
specific users when: it appears to systems administrators necessary to do
so to protect the security, integrity, and effectiveness of the systems;
it is deemed necessary to protect the College from civil or criminal
liability; there is reasonable cause to believe that violations of the
College Electronic Networks Policy (including violations of State, local
or federal law or applicable College policy) has occurred; an account
displays an unusual amount of activity as indicated from general systems
monitoring or specific usage patterns; or, it is permitted or required by
law.
The
College, when it deems necessary or proper may disclose the results of
such monitoring activities to an appropriate College administrator or law
enforcement agency and may use this information in relevant disciplinary
proceedings. In addition,
electronic mail may qualify in certain circumstances as a public record
subject to public disclosure under applicable laws, including all Freedom
of Information statutes.
Only
College administrators, faculty, staff, students, and other individuals,
who have received permission under the appropriate systems administrator,
are authorized users of the College electronic mail system or network.
All authorized users must identify themselves accurately and
clearly in communications. Concealing
or misrepresenting one’s identity or using the identity of another user
or individual on the College system is prohibited and considered a
violation of this policy.
The
use of any College network resources must be related to College business.
Incidental and occasional personal use of the network including the
use of electronic mail may occur when such use does not create an
unreasonable direct cost to the College and is not inconsistent or
interfere with the user’s primary function as student, staff, faculty or
administrator. Such
incidental and occasional communications are subject to the provisions of
this policy.
Prohibited
uses of the Delaware Tech electronic mail and network system include, but
are not limited to, the following activities:
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using
foul, profane, obscene, offensive or defamatory language |
| b) |
sending
copies of documents or using materials in violation of copyright
laws |
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using
the system to harass, intimidate, or interfere with the employment
duties or learning process of others |
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attempting
unauthorized access to the email system, attempting to breach
security measures on any external email system, or attempting to
intercept electronic mail communications |
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attempting
to access, disrupt, or destroy the College’s or other computer
systems or files malicious code attacks or other means |
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using
the system for personal financial gain, outside commercial venture,
or illegal activity or for any activity that violates a State, local
or federal law or regulation or constitutes a violation of this
Policy or an other College policy |
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forwarding
chain letters and sending mass electronic mailings or using the
system for open mail relay; individual users may request prior
permission from the systems administrator to send electronic
mailings to more than 100 recipients on a case by case basis |
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excessive
non-academic or non-work related use of the network for downloading,
sharing or transferring large files |
The
individual systems administrators at the campuses and in the Office of the
President will investigate and document apparent or alleged violations of
the College Acceptable Use of Electronics Networks Policy.
The systems administrators may temporarily suspend a user’s
access to the system pending the outcome of an investigation of misuse.
Identified cases of alleged abuse of any system will be referred to
the user’s Dean or Director, who will consult with the campus Director
of Human Resources regarding appropriate action and immediately
notify the Vice- President and Campus Director of the alleged violation.
For alleged violations in the Office of the President, the
administrator will consult with the Chief Legal Counsel and Associate Vice President for Human Resources
for appropriate action and who will also notify the President.
In the event the case involves a student, the matter will be
referred to the campus Dean of Student Services for further investigation,
appropriate action, and who will immediately notify the Vice
President and Campus Director.
For
the purpose of enforcing this policy, the “systems administrators”
are: the Assistant Vice President for Computer Services & Information
Systems and the Assistant Vice President for Statewide Technical Services,
or their official designees.
Any
questions regarding this policy should be directed to: the Assistant Vice
President for Computer Services & Information Systems, the Assistant
Vice President for Statewide Technical Services, or the Chief Legal
Counsel and Associate Vice President for Human Resources.
(Added
Board of Trustees 9/19/1998; Amended Board of Trustees, 4/16/2002)
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