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Computer Policies
Information Systems Policies and
Procedures
2007-2008
Introduction
The policies contained in this section apply to all faculty, staff,
students, volunteers, and guests of Monmouth College who use the Monmouth
College Network and to all the Web and information servers operating on
the Monmouth Network.
The Monmouth
Information Network may not be used in any manner prohibited by federal,
state, or local law or disallowed by contracts and licenses. Examples of
such laws, rules, policies, contracts, and licenses include the laws of
libel, privacy, copyright, trademark, obscenity, and child pornography;
the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and the Computer Fraud and
Abuse Act, which prohibit "hacking," "cracking," and similar activities;
the College’s policies contained in the current printed versions of the
Monmouth College: Scots’ Guide, Administrative Staff Handbook, Monmouth
College Catalog, Faculty Handbook, Support Staff Handbook, and all
applicable software licenses. Users who engage in electronic
communications with persons in other states or countries or on other
systems or networks should be aware that they may also be subject to the
laws of those other states and countries and the rules and policies of
those other systems and networks. Users are responsible for ascertaining,
understanding, and complying with the laws, rules, policies, contracts,
and licenses applicable to their particular uses.
Policy on
Appropriate Use of Information Technology
Monmouth College provides computing resources in order to advance the
College’s mission and to meet the educational and professional needs of
students, faculty, and staff. Ability to access computing resources does
not, by itself, imply authorization to do so. Users are responsible for
ascertaining what authorizations are necessary and for obtaining them
before proceeding. Accounts and passwords may not, under any
circumstances, be shared with, or used by, persons other than those to
whom they have been assigned by the College.
Monmouth College
supports the statement on software and intellectual rights adopted by
EDUCOM, a consortium of several hundred colleges and universities with
active interest in educational used of computers.
Respect for
intellectual labor and creativity is vital to academic discourse and
enterprise. This principle applies to works of all authors and publishers
in all media. It encompasses respect for the right to acknowledge, right
to privacy, and right to determine the form, manner, and terms of
publication and distribution.
Because electronic
information is volatile and easily reproduced, respect for the work and
personal expression of others is especially critical in computer
environments. Violations of authorial integrity, including plagiarism,
invasion of privacy, unauthorized access, and trade secret and copyright
violations, may be grounds for sanctions against members of the academic
community.
(Copies of the complete
EDUCOM statement are available from the Information Systems Center.)
Users should also be
aware that some types of computer abuse (notably intentional damage, and
unauthorized alteration of or access to computing systems) are also
violations of Illinois and Federal criminal codes, as is the unauthorized
reproduction of copyrighted software.
Authorized Use
Use of the Monmouth College
computers is limited to those persons identified below and is subject to
the following standards of use:
Users
Monmouth College information technology is intended to support all of
its member constituents. This includes all students, faculty, and
staff. Special accounts can be created for institutionally recognized
groups of committees, constituent family members, or alumni. These special
accounts are considered on an individual basis and should not be regarded
as a normal benefit. Application for a special account is made through the
Information Systems office.
Personal use unrelated
to College instruction or business is also permitted, but only during
non‑peak use periods. However, no employee or student may use Monmouth
computers for profit‑making ventures or on behalf of external
organizations or persons unless such use is directly related to Monmouth
courses or to faculty/staff research and professional development.
Students
Computer accounts are disabled after students graduate or withdraw
from the College. Accounts may be reactivated for up to one year after a
student leaves. Request should be made through the Information Systems
office.
Employees
Computer accounts are disabled after an employee leaves.
Faculty/Staff
Emeriti
Monmouth faculty/staff emeriti may have limited access to Monmouth
academic computing systems. Faculty/staff emeriti must make their request
for computing privileges to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Accounts
All information technology
support is managed through the distribution of system accounts. The system
is utilized by first "logging on" to the system account (verifying the
operator identity) using a log on name and secret password.
All account applicants
must read and sign the Monmouth College Information Technology Account
form. These accounts are a privilege granted to those who use them
responsibly.
Cost of Computing
There is currently no extra fee for Monmouth College information
technology use. This includes hardware and software. Expendable resources
(printer paper, toner cartridges, etc.) are charged out to separate
departments as they are used. It is expected that all use of information
technology services are for Monmouth College academic and administrative
use only. Students may use these services to produce single copies of
papers or class handouts (not including draft copies). Copy machines are
available if multiple pages are needed.
Rules and
Regulations
Monmouth College is not responsible for any fines or legal fees that may
result from use or misuse of the Monmouth computing systems.
Computer software and
electronic transmissions of text and photographs are protected under the
Copyright Act of 1976.
The use of the
computing systems to harass or threaten others may result in the
suspension of computing privileges as well as disciplinary action by the
College. The harassment policy is outlined in the Scots’ Guide.
Employees and students
should refer to the appropriate handbook regarding disciplinary
procedures. Users who tamper with system security, access accounts of
others without appropriate authorization, send or forward chain letters,
maliciously attempt to degrade system performance, change or erase the
work of others, send mass emails, post messages containing profane or
abusive language could lose their computing privileges and could be
subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal as an
employee and/or student. This list of inappropriate use is not exhaustive.
No person may use or
access any other system account without the express permission of the
account owner. If a person, through negligence or naiveté, permits
unauthorized access then it is the responsibility of the discoverer to
promptly exit the account (if opened) and then alert the Information
System staff. For example, if a person leaves a workstation without
properly logging out of the system, the discoverer should simply log that
person out! Any access to the account owner’s files or account
information would be considered a breech of the discover’s account
contract with Monmouth College and could result in loss of account
privileges. Users will be held responsible for activities taking place
within or from their own accounts.
Privacy and Security
Users should be aware that their uses of College computing resources may
not be completely private. While the College does not routinely monitor
individual usage of its computing resources, the normal operation and
maintenance of the College’s computing resources require the backup and
caching of data and communications, the logging of activity, the
monitoring of general usage patterns, and other such activities that are
necessary for the rendition of service. The College may also specifically
monitor the activity and accounts of individual users of College 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 Usenet or a web page; (b) it reasonably appears
necessary to do so to protect the integrity, security, or functionality of
college or other computing resources or to protect the college from
liability; (c) there is reasonable cause to believe that the user has
violated, or is violating, this policy; (d) an account appears to be
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
specified in "(a)" or necessary to respond to perceived emergency
situations, must be authorized in advance by two vice presidents of
Monmouth College or the president and one vice president of Monmouth
College. The College, in its discretion, may disclose the results of any
such general of individual monitoring, including the contents and records
of individual communications, to appropriate College personnel or law
enforcement agencies and may use those results in appropriate College
disciplinary proceedings.
Communications made by
means of College computing resources are also subject to Illinois’ Public
Records Statute to the same extent as they would be made on paper.
The Information Systems
office makes every effort to secure account information from unauthorized
use. However, no computer system is absolutely protected. Account owners
must take reasonable precautions as well. Passwords are the key to system
accounts. If your password is known to others or is easily guessed then
the security of your account information is questionable. It is suggested
that passwords are changed periodically and that they are not based on
nick names, etc.
If there are any
questions about account security then the account owners should use a
floppy disk (drive A) for all data storage.
World Wide Web Publishing Policy
Introduction
The policies contained in this section apply to all faculty, staff,
students, volunteers, and guests of the Monmouth College Information
Network (MCINET) and to all the Web and information servers operating on
the Monmouth Network. Every page, both official and personal, on a
Monmouth WWW Server is required to have a registered Webmaster (See
Webmaster Agreement Form).
Definitions
MCINET (Monmouth College Information Network) ‑ All computer systems and
interconnecting communications lines, hardware, and software that are the
property of Monmouth College and all Internet Protocol addresses that are
in the Monmouth domain. Privately owned systems that are attached to the
College‑owned communications lines are considered to be "on the Monmouth
Network." This includes any device, on the campus or off, that makes use
of an Internet Protocol address that is in the Monmouth domain, such as a
dialup PPP (point‑to‑point) protocol connections.
Official Page
World Wide Web information pages (published on the MCINET) that are
sanctioned by Monmouth College. This definition includes all of the
following categories of WWW pages except for the Personal Web Page.
The College Home
Pages
The "main entrances" to the College’s electronic communications
network. The Alumni and Public Relations Office is responsible for their
look and content.
Departmental Web
Pages
The pages for College academic departments and administration
offices. They are the responsibility of the department/office heads and
the home page must contain the correct College nameplate and other
items. Student academic clubs or interest groups under the auspices of a
department or office must be monitored by a faculty or staff member. These
pages must also contain the College visual identity elements, and may – at
the request of the mentor or College administration – include an
additional clarifying statement.
Centrally Supported
Web Pages
Pages that run across department or department/office lines, such as "news
and events" pages, interim courses and the like. Prior to the startup it
must be decided which office is immediately responsible for any
page. These home pages also must contain the College’s visual identity
elements.
Student Organization
Web Pages
Pages for the use of Student Senate‑chartered organizations, found under
the departmental Student Life Home Page, and periodically reviewed by the
organization’s faculty or staff mentor. These pages must contain the
College visual identity elements, and may – at the request of the mentor
or College administration – include an additional clarifying statement.
Personal Web Pages
Pages representing individual faculty, staff and students of the College.
Webmaster
Every page, both official and personal, is required to have a registered
Webmaster.
Monmouth WWW Servers
All systems that are host to pages belonging to registered Information
Providers.
Official Pages
The electronic equivalent of the pages of a printed publication of the
college. An Official Page is subject to the same standards as the printed
materials of the college.
URL (Uniform
Resource Locator)
The Internet address for a page on the World Wide Web.
Link
A one‑way hyper media connection from one site to another on the World
Wide Web. Expressed as a "link to" or "link from" a Web site or page of
information.
Official Pages ‑
Quality and Content
Faculty, students and staff may create electronic department pages,
organizational pages, and personal pages that conduct official College
business or support the College’s mission. Electronic pages, and all of
their contents, are subject to existing Monmouth College policies as well
as local, state and federal laws. Links to other web sites and computers
are also covered under this policy. Thus, a page may be judged in
violation if it contains links to a page that violates the policy.
Any electronic
publication produced at Monmouth College is a reflection of the
institution and thus must be of good quality and responsible content. All
department and centrally supported home pages must have the Monmouth
nameplate and logo. These pages will be regularly reviewed so that the
College’s electronic image reflects the same excellence as its print
publications attempt to convey.
Copyright laws apply to
electronic publishing as well as to print publishing. Publisher must have
permission to publish the information, graphics, or photographs on their
pages if the publisher is not the author or creator. Electronic
publications are subject to the same College policies and standards as
print publications.
Student organization
pages must be periodically reviewed by the faculty or staff mentor, just
as mentors review written publications. The College expects mentors and
student organization leaders to use sound judgment in page content and
quality. The College reserves the right to require a clarifying statement
on student organizational pages in coordination with the organization’s
student leadership and mentor.
Personal Pages
These pages will be linked to an
index page under the "People" heading of the Monmouth College
website. They may also be accessed, at the discretion of a departmental
webmaster, from other pages within the Monmouth College web. Each personal
web site must include a home page named "index.htm" or "default.htm" which
includes the following disclaimer: "The views and opinions expressed on
the following personal web pages are strictly those of the page
author. The contents of these pages have not been reviewed or approved by
Monmouth College." No commercial business endeavors are to be conducted
through personal pages on the College system. Personal web pages may not
use the College nameplate, logo or seal anywhere. The College may request
that such pages be modified, and reserves the right to – at its discretion
and without prior notification – remove from the server any pages that it
deems to be in violation of these precepts. The College also reserves the
right to suspend the personal web page publishing privileges of any
individual who knowingly violates college policy or governmental statute
pertaining to electronic publishing, libel or decency.
Intellectual
Property/Copyright
Materials that are owned by
others may not be placed on Web pages without the expressed permission of
the owner. One should assume that materials published on the Web by others
are protected by copyright unless a disclaimer or waiver is expressly
stated. (Common violations of this policy include unauthorized use of such
things as trademarked images of Dilbert, the Simpsons, and Mickey Mouse as
well as photographs, artwork, text, and data that have been created or are
owned by others.)
Materials licensed to
the College by their owner are restricted to use by members of the College
community only and may not be redistributed by any method. (Some examples
would be Encyclopedia Britannica entries or Chicago Tribune newspaper
articles.)
All Web/information
servers on the Monmouth Network (both College‑owned and personally owned)
must use only legally licensed software.
Commercial
Activities
No employee, student, or guest may use systems on the Monmouth Network for
profit‑making ventures unless such use is directly related to Monmouth
courses, to faculty/staff/student research or professional activities.
Privacy
Pictures, video, audio, or personal information of or about a person or
persons may not be placed on Personal Pages without the subject(s)’s
expressed permission. The burden of demonstrating consent is on the
Webmaster of the page in which the material appears.
The usage of personal
information on Official Pages is restricted to that allowed by federal,
state, and local laws and by College standards for print publications.
Addendum (10/12/04)
No one will attach any router, wireless access point, or bridge equipment
to the Monmouth College network without prior consent from the Information
Systems Office. Appliances connected without prior approval from the
Information Systems Office will be removed at the owner’s expense and the
port may be disconnected.
Last Updated:
July 18, 2007 |
