ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY 2.38

Network Purpose

The purpose of the MCCC computer network is to support, improve, and promote education and programs in the College community. The network is intended to facilitate collaboration and exchange of information among faculty, staff, students, and state, national, and international educational entities, as well as to promote access to international information resources. The network is to be used only for education, research, academic development, and public service.

This document establishes rules and prohibitions that define acceptable use of network systems. Unacceptable use is prohibited and is grounds for loss of computing privileges, as well as discipline or legal sanctions under federal, state and local laws.

Network User Responsibilities

Computers and networks provide access to resources on and off campus and with other academic users worldwide. Such open access is a privilege and requires that individual users act responsibly. The MCCC computer network may not be used for any purpose which is illegal, immoral, unethical, dishonest, inconsistent with the mission of the College, or likely to subject the College to liability.

Users will be expected to:

  • Respect the privacy of other users; for example, users shall not intentionally seek information on, obtain copies of, or modify files, other data, or passwords belonging to other users, or represent themselves as another user unless explicitly authorized to do so by that user.
  • Respect the legal protection provided by copyright and license to programs and data.
  • Safeguard the integrity and confidentiality of data created by others.
  • Respect the integrity of computing systems; for example, users shall not intentionally develop programs that harass other users or infiltrate a computer or computing system and/or damage or alter the software and hardware components of a computer or a computing system.
  • Follow proper etiquette (Netiquette) for all internal and external network use.
  • Limit costly system operation.
  • Report infractions of this policy.

Users are prohibited from:

  • Using the network maliciously (hacking) or in any way which violates applicable laws or regulations.
  • Using the network for recreational games.
  • Using the network for commercial purposes.
  • Displaying or sending obscene, pornographic, or sexually explicit material except for legitimate academic research.
     

System Maintenance and Security

File or account users will be notified of maintenance, in advance, whenever possible. When performing system maintenance, every effort is made to insure the integrity of a users files. Although reasonable efforts are made, the College cannot guarantee the security of the system. Users should be aware that electronic mail is extremely vulnerable to unauthorized access and modification.

MCCC Right to Inspect

MCCC reserves the right to inspect, monitor, and examine any College owned or operated communication system, computing resource, and/or computer files contained therein at any time.

Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior

This acceptable use policy does not attempt to catalog or exhaustively enumerate all required or proscribed uses or behavior. The Vice President of Student and Information Services may at any time make determinations that particular uses are or are not consistent with the purposes of the MCCC computer network.

Infractions of this policy, when accidental in nature, will typically be handled internally by the appropriate administrator. More serious violations of this policy shall subject users to the regular disciplinary processes and procedures of the College for students, staff, administrators, and faculty. Illegal acts involving College computing resources may also subject violators to prosecution by local, state, and/or federal authorities.

 

Adopted by the Board of Trustees 11-24-97; 11-99