Kentucky Wesleyan College
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY POLICY HANDBOOK

Table of Contents

Section 3:

Kentucky Wesleyan College
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY APPROPRIATE USE POLICY

This policy establishes guidelines for the appropriate use of computer equipment, software and networks owned or operated by Kentucky Wesleyan College. Access to the College’s information systems is granted to KWC students, faculty and staff with the stipulation that they follow these guidelines and abide by local, state and federal laws.

3.1 General Guidelines

A. In making appropriate use of information resources you MUST:

  1. Protect your userID from unauthorized use. You are responsible for all activities initiated under your userID.
  2. Access only files and data that are your own, that are publicly available, or to which you have been given authorized access.
  3. Be considerate in your use of shared resources. Refrain from monopolizing systems, overloading networks with excessive data, or wasting printer paper and other supplies.
  4. Use the FACULTY, STAFF and/or STUDENT e-mail groups to communicate only college-related information, including notices about events, activities, sports competitions and general business/academic information.

B. In making appropriate use of information resources you MUST NOT:

  1. Use another person’s files or data without permission.
  2. Use computer programs to decode passwords or access control information.
  3. Load software or data on the hard drive of any public access workstation.
  4. Engage in any activity that might be harmful to systems or to any information stored therein, such as creating or propagating viruses, disrupting services, or damaging files.
  5. Make or use illegal copies of copyrighted software or computer files (including music and video files), store such copies on College systems, or transmit them over College networks.
  6. Use mail or message services to harass, intimidate, or otherwise annoy another person.
  7. Use any e-mail group to distribute chain letters.
  8. Use the FACULTY, STAFF and/or STUDENT e-mail groups for socializing, personal comments, etc. Individual addresses should be used for personal messages and communications.
  9. Use another person’s userID and password.
  10. Place on any College-owned or operated system information or software which
    a. infringes upon the rights of another person;
    b. is abusive, profane, or obscene; or
    c. promotes a commercial enterprise or product.

3.2 Disclaimers

The College reserves the right to limit, restrict or extend computing privileges and access to its information resources.

The College supports each individual’s right to privacy of personal files and will take reasonable steps to ensure security of its systems. Computing resources, however, are potentially accessible to others through normal system administration activities and to the public through public records laws. Therefore, the College cannot guarantee absolute privacy of files.

The College cannot guarantee that, in all instances, data will be retained on its systems. It is the responsibility of the user to make secure backup copies of essential files for disaster recovery.

3.3 Enforcement

The College considers any violation of these guidelines to be a serious offense and reserves the right to examine files allegedly related to inappropriate use. Violators are subject to immediate loss of e-mail and/or network access privileges and possible disciplinary action.


Revised 1-24-03

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