ITS News and Information

Information Technology Services – Dr. Baz Abouelenein, Chief Information Officer
Last Revised: 3/7/17
Title: Responsible and Ethical Use of Technology Resources
Applicable: Wofford students, faculty, and staff
Contacts: IT Help Center x4357

Background: Wofford College recognizes the important role that information and technology plays in modern society. The college provides students, faculty, and staff with a variety of electronic technology resources for communication, collaboration, and access to information for instruction and research. A policy is needed to clarify the responsible and ethical use of those technology resources.

Policy: Wofford College requires that information technology use be conducted in legal, ethical, and appropriate ways.
 

Guidelines

A. Laws: Use of Wofford College information technology resources must comply with:

• All federal, state and local laws or regulations
• Contracts with our internet service provider and other parties
• All college policies, including the Code of Students Rights and Responsibilities and the college’s harassment policies

B. User Accounts: Authorized users are assigned user accounts and passwords for the college’s network. By accepting a college account users agree:

• To protect the confidentiality of their password
• Not to use another person’s password or to log in to their account without authorization
• Not to mask the identity of a user account or the network identity of a machine
• Not to give others access to technology resources to which they are not entitled
• Not to use college-owned computers and network resources for unauthorized commercial purposes
• Not to damage or destroy college-owned hardware or software, or otherwise interfere with its proper functioning
• Not to interfere with the administration of the campus network
• Not to attempt to breach any network security system, whether with or without malicious intent
• Not to intentionally transmit malicious programs, such as viruses, worms and Trojan horses, or to participate in Denial of Service attacks
• Not to make unauthorized copies of copyrighted software or to use unauthorized copies on college equipment
• The above list should not be construed as comprehensive.

C. Electronic Messaging: Users agree not to:

• Forge a signature on an electronic message, or otherwise attempt to misrepresent or obscure the origination of messages or other file transfers.
• Send or post abusive, harassing, threatening or libelous electronic messages to an individual or group.
• Send messages that are designed to interfere with proper mail delivery and access.
• Send chain letters or mail bombs.
• Attempt to gain access to another person’s message files without his/her prior consent.

D. Personal Web Pages: If Wofford College provides College server resources for personal web pages, users agree not to include material in violation of federal, state and local law. Users agree not to violate the rights of any person protected by copyright or other similar intellectual property laws or regulations.

E. Resource Usage: Wofford information technology resources are provided with all due consideration of the principles of free speech and open access to information and communication. Technology resources are community resources, however, and users are expected to balance their own needs against the needs and expectations of the Wofford community. The college reserves the right to limit access to non-academic, resource-intensive applications if their use threatens to interfere with academic uses of our network resources.

F. Security and Confidentiality: Wofford College respects the privacy of all electronic communications and files. We will take reasonable precautions to protect information stored in or on, or transmitted by, our systems. We reserve the right to protect the integrity of our technology resources. In particular, we may monitor system activity, implement procedures, such as virus scans and bandwidth management, to protect the integrity of our system and control the connection of devices that could compromise the security of our network. We claim the right to examine personal computers associated with reported incidents of harassment or other violations of college policies, including this policy. It should be understood that due to the nature and limitations of technology, all electronic transmissions and stored data are inherently insecure. Sensitive, private messages should not be sent by electronic mail.

G. Disciplinary Actions: The college reserves the right to temporarily suspend a user’s access privileges if it appears that this policy, or any other applicable college policy, has been violated or that a user’s activity is a threat to the operation of our network system. A user whose access privileges have been suspended may appeal the suspension to the appropriate vice president. If a student whose access has been denied due to a violation needs access for completion of class work, the student will be allowed limited and temporary access under the observation of a designated Wofford College staff member. Some technology-use infractions also may violate local, state or federal laws, or other Wofford College policies. Civil, criminal and/or college sanctions may be independently applicable. The college reserves the right to monitor previous offenders for further abuse.

H. Policy Revisions: Because information technologies change so rapidly, updates to the Reasonable and Ethical Use Policy may be made at any time. It is the responsibility of the user to keep informed of the guidelines, which are posted on the Wofford College website www.wofford.edu.