Acceptable Use Policy
Procedure No.:
1001
Title: Acceptable Use of Computing Systems, Software and New
College of Florida's Enterprise Network
Department: Information
Technology
Contact: Eileen Harrow, Chief Information Officer, ext. 4492,
eharrow@ncf.edu
Introduction and Applicability
The purpose of this document is to
establish and promote the ethical, legal, and secure use of computing
and electronic communications for New College of Florida.
New College of Florida acquires,
develops, and maintains software, computers, computer systems, and
networks for College-related purposes as part of its infrastructure.
The College's computing resources and infrastructure are made available
to users in support of the College's instructional, research, community
service missions, its administrative functions, its student and campus
life activities and to promote the free exchange of ideas among members
of the College community and between the College community and the
wider local, national, and international communities. This acceptable
use policy governs the use of the New College of Florida computing
resources and infrastructure. As a user of these resources and
infrastructure, you are responsible for reading and understanding this
document. This policy applies to all users of the College's computing
resources and infrastructure, whether or not affiliated with the
College, and also to all uses of those resources, whether from on
campus or from remote locations.
Rights & Responsibilities
The College is committed to intellectual
and academic freedom, the diversity of values and perspectives inherent
in an academic institution, and to applying those freedoms to the use
of its computing resources and infrastructure. However, as with any
other College-furnished resource, the use of its computing resources
and infrastructure is subject to the normal requirements of legal and
ethical behavior within the College Community. Thus, the legitimate use
of these resources does not extend to whatever is technically possible.
Although some limitations may be built into computer operating systems,
software, or networks, those limitations are not the sole restrictions
on what is permissible. Users must abide by all applicable
restrictions, whether or not built into the operating systems,
software, or networks and whether or not they are capable of being
circumvented by technical means.
Basic Requirements
All users must comply with all
applicable local, state, federal and foreign laws, all generally
applicable College rules, policies, procedures and all applicable
contracts and licenses.
These include, for example, the laws on
libel, privacy, copyright, trademark, obscenity, Sexual Harassment Policy, and child pornography; the Florida Computer Crimes
Act (Fl. Stat. Ch. 815),
the Florida Security of
Communications Statute (F. Stat. Ch.934), the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (18
U.S.C. §§ 2510 et seq.), and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (18 U.S.C.
§1030 et seq.) [which
prohibit unauthorized access to computers or networks, or disruption of
others' use thereof]; the Student Code of Conduct and all applicable
software licenses. Users who interact with others in different states
or countries should also be aware that they may also be subject to the
laws of those other states or countries, as well as the rules and
policies applicable to other systems or networks.
Users may use only those computing
resources which they are authorized to use, and use them only in the
manner and to the extent authorized. Respect the privacy of other users
and their accounts, regardless of whether those accounts are securely
protected.
The ability to access computing
resources, at the College or elsewhere, does not necessarily imply
authorization to do so. Users are responsible for ascertaining what
authorizations are necessary and for obtaining them before using
College computing resources.
Users are responsible for any activity
originating from their accounts, personal computers, or devices which
are attached to the College’s network to which they can reasonably be
expected to control. Users are responsible for performing basic
preventative measures with personal equipment which is attached at any
time to the College's network; such as running a personal firewall and
performing regular virus and spyware scans. The College may
periodically probe any computers or devices attached to its network for
evidence of such infections, and temporarily suspend/limit connection
when found.
Accounts and passwords may not, under
any circumstances, be used by persons other than those to whom they
have been assigned by Information Technology. In cases when
unauthorized use of accounts or resources is detected or suspected, the
account owner must change the password and report the incident to
Information Technology.
Users should respect the finite capacity
of the College's computing resources and infrastructure, and avoid
interfering unreasonably with the activity of other users.
Although there is no set bandwidth, disk space, CPU time, or other
limit applicable to all users of College computing resources, the
College may require users of those resources to limit or refrain from
specific uses if, in the opinion of Information Technology, such use
interferes with the efficient operations of the system.
The College may establish limits on
bandwidth, disk space, usage times or other aspects of usage of its
computing resources and infrastructure, with which users must
comply. Additionally, users may be required to refrain from
certain specific activities which adversely impact the operation of the
College's computing resources and infrastructure.
Users must refrain from using the
College's computing resources for any personal use that would consume a
significant portion of those resources, or interfere with the College's
operations or the performance of the individual user's assignments or
other responsibilities to the College.
Users may not state or imply that they
speak on behalf of the College without proper authorization to do so.
Affiliation with the College does not,
by itself, imply authorization to speak on behalf of the institution.
Use of the College's trademarks or logos without appropriate
authorization is not permitted.
Security and Privacy
The College is also committed to
protecting the privacy and integrity of computer data and records
belonging to the College, individual users, and commercial providers.
The College employs a variety of means to protect the security of its
computing resources and infrastructure. Users should be aware, however,
that the College cannot guarantee such security. Users should therefore
engage in responsible computing practices by establishing access
restrictions for their accounts where appropriate, guarding passwords,
and changing passwords regularly.
Users do not own accounts on College
computers, but are granted the privilege of the use of their accounts.
Use of the network does not alter the ownership of data stored on the
network. Users should also be aware that their use of the College's
computing resources and infrastructure is not completely private. While
the College does not routinely monitor individual usage of its
computing resources or infrastructure, the normal operation and
maintenance of those resources requires the backup and caching of data
and communications, logging of activity, monitoring general usage
patterns, and other such activities. The College may also specifically
monitor the activity and accounts of individual users of its computing
resources, including individual login sessions and communications,
without notice, when (a) the user has voluntarily made them accessible
to the public, as by posting to a Listserv or Web page; (b) when it
reasonably appears necessary to do so to protect the integrity,
security, or functionality of the College's computing resources or to
protect the College from liability; (c) when there is reasonable cause
to believe that the user has or is violating this policy; (d) when an
account appears engaged in unusual or unusually excessive activity, as
indicated by the monitoring of general activity and usage patterns; or
(e) it is otherwise required or permitted by law. Any such individual
monitoring other than that authorized by the user must be authorized in
advance by the Chief Information Officer for Information Technology.
The College may, in its discretion,
disclose the results of any such individual or general monitoring,
including the contents and records of individual communications, to
appropriate College or law enforcement personnel, subject to the Family
and Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. §1232(6) and
other applicable laws.
Subject to the exceptions set out above,
users have reason to expect the same level of privacy in personal files
on the College's computers (e.g., files in a user's home directory) as
users have in any other space assigned to them by the College (e.g., a
locker or an office).
Other organizations operating computing
and network facilities that are reachable via the College network may
have their own policies governing the use of those resources. When
accessing remote resources from College facilities, users are
responsible for obeying both the policies set forth in this document
and the policies of the other organizations.
Enforcement
Users who violate this policy may be
denied access to the College's computing resources and infrastructure,
and may be subject to other disciplinary action or penalties both
within and outside the College. Violations will normally be handled
through the usual disciplinary procedures applicable to the particular
user (i.e. faculty, administrator, staff or student) concerned.
However, the College may temporarily suspend or block access to the
College's computing resources or infrastructure prior to the initiation
or completion of such procedures, when it reasonably appears necessary
to do so in order to protect the integrity, security, or functionality
of the College's or other computing resources.
Questions Regarding this Policy and
Designation of Agent for Notification of Infringement
If you have any questions regarding the
New College of Florida Computer Use Policy or concerns regarding a
possible violation of this Policy please contact the Chief Information
Officer. Additionally, in accordance with the Online Copyright
Infringement Liability Limitation Act (17 U.S.C. 512), the Chief
Information Officer is designated as the College's agent for the
receipt of any notices concerning any alleged copyright infringements
occurring by reason of material being stored, transmitted, routed, or
connected through the College's computing resources or
infrastructure. For further information regarding the Act or
copyright law in general please refer to the U.S. Copyright Office
homepage <http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/>. Notices of any alleged infringements may be
sent to:
New College of Florida
5800 Bay Shore Road
Sarasota, FL 34243-2197
Phone: (941) 487-4492
Fax: (941) 487-4356
E-mail: ematola@ncf.edu
