Title: #VII-1.
Guidelines for Appropriate Use of
Computer Resources
Date: June
27, 2011 (replaces
version dated June 24, 2003)
Introduction
These guidelines are provided in
accordance with Board of Governors Policy
E-57, Appropriate Use of Computer Resources, and apply to all WVU at
Parkersburg staff, faculty, administrators, officers and students
(collectively, “users”), including those at the Jackson County Center and other
off-campus instructional sites. All faculty, staff and students of West Virginia University at
Parkersburg are expected to acquaint themselves with Board of Governors Policy
E-57 and these procedures, copies of which are available in student,
faculty, and staff handbooks and online at: www.wvup.edu/policies/index.htm. New employees, including adjunct faculty,
will be provided a copy of Policy E-57and these campus procedures, and asked to
verify that they have read and understand them.
West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s computer and information network is a continually growing and changing resource that supports thousands of users and systems. These resources are vital for the fulfillment of the academic, research and business needs of the WVU at Parkersburg community. In order to ensure a reasonable and dependable level of service, it is essential that each individual faculty member, staff member, and student exercise responsible, ethical behavior when using these resources. Misuse by even a few individuals has the potential to disrupt college business, and, even worse, the legitimate academic and research work of faculty and students.
Appropriate Use of Resources
Conducting college business, instruction, study assignments, research, communications, and official work of campus organizations are appropriate uses of WVU at Parkersburg’s computer resources. Access to computer resources is a privilege. It requires individual computer users to act responsibly, conserve computer resources, and consider the rights and privacy of others. The resources are the property of West Virginia University at Parkersburg. All users are expected to utilize college resources in a responsible manner consistent with Board of Governors Policy E-57 and operational guidelines that the Chief Information Officer may issue from time to time.
Prohibited
Use of Resources
Users
should be aware that they may be subject to the laws of other states and
countries when they engage in electronic communications with persons in such
other states or countries or on other systems or networks. Users are
responsible for ascertaining, understanding, and complying with the laws,
rules, policies, contracts, and licenses applicable to their particular uses. Additionally,
users of WVU at Parkersburg computer resources must comply with all federal, West
Virginia, and other applicable law and other college policies. The following
uses of college computer resources are prohibited:
1. Interference or impairment to the activities of others, including but not
limited to the following:
a. Creating, modifying, executing or
retransmitting any computer program or instructions intended to obscure the
true identity of the sender of electronic mail or electronic messages, such as
the forgery of electronic mail or the alteration of system or user data used to
identify the sender of electronic e-mail; bypass, subvert, or otherwise render
ineffective the security or access control measures on any network or computer
system without the permission of the owner; or examine or collect data from the
network (e.g., a "network sniffer" program).
b. Authorizing another person or
organization to use college computer accounts or WVU at Parkersburg network
resources. Users are responsible for all of their accounts. Users must take all
reasonable precautions, including password maintenance and file protection
measures, to prevent use of their accounts by unauthorized persons. Users must
not share their passwords with anyone else or provide access to the WVU at Parkersburg
network resources to unauthorized persons.
c. Communicating or using any password,
personal identification number, credit card number or other personal or
financial information without the permission of its owner.
2. Unauthorized access and use of the resources of others, including but not
limited to the following:
a.
Use
of college resources to gain unauthorized access to resources of this or other
institutions, organizations, or individuals.
b.
Use
of false or misleading information for the purpose of obtaining access to
unauthorized resources.
c.
Accessing,
altering, copying, moving, or removing information, proprietary software or
other files (including programs, libraries, data and electronic mail) from any
network system or files of other users without prior authorization (e.g., use
of a "network sniffer" program)
d.
Making
unauthorized copies of copyrighted materials. Users should assume all software,
graphic images, music, and the like are copyrighted. Copying or downloading
copyrighted materials without the authorization of the copyright owner is
against the law, and may result in civil and criminal penalties, including
fines and imprisonment.
3. Damage or impairment of college resources, including but not limited to
the following:
a.
Use
of any resource irresponsibly or in a manner that adversely affects the work of
others, such as:
·
Hacking - attempting to obtain or use, passwords, IP addresses or
other network codes that have not been assigned to you or authorized for use as
college employees, attempting to obtain unauthorized access to computer
accounts, software, files, or any other college computer resources.
·
Malicious Activity - intentionally, recklessly or
negligently damaging any system (e.g., by the introduction of any so-called
"virus", "worm", or "trojan-horse" program);
damaging or violating the privacy of information not belonging to the user; or
misusing or allowing misuse of system resources.
b.
Use
of college resources for non-college related activities that unduly increase network
load (e.g., chain mail, network games and spamming).
c.
Any
other activity not specifically cited above that may be illegal, harmful,
destructive, damaging, or inappropriate use of college computer resources.
4. Unauthorized commercial activities, including but not limited to the
following:
a.
Using
college resources for one's own commercial gain, or for other commercial
purposes not officially approved by the college, including web ads.
b.
Using
college resources to operate or support a non-college related business.
c.
Use
of college resources in a manner inconsistent with the college’s contractual
obligations to suppliers of those resources or with any published college policy.
5. Violation of city, state or federal
laws, including but not limited to the following:
- Pirating software, music and
images.
- Effecting or receiving
unauthorized electronic transfer of funds.
- Disseminating child pornography
or other illegal material.
- Violating any laws or
participating in the commission or furtherance of any crime or other
unlawful or improper purpose.
Security
Obligation
Access to information stored on the college’s
computers and network equipment is controlled by assignment of accounts and
passwords. These accounts and passwords are controlled by the Chief Information
Officer and/or the Network Administrator. This security information is the
property of WVU at Parkersburg.
All college employees have an
obligation to report security breach information to the Office of the Chief
Information Officer. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action. Any
attempt to access, copy or modify this security information or to obtain system
privileges to which employees are not entitled or any action which interferes
with the supervisory or accounting functions of the systems or that is likely
to have such effects will result in appropriate disciplinary action.
De
Minimis Usage
In the interest of making the use
of computer resources a natural part of the day-to-day learning and work of all
members of the WVU at Parkersburg community, incidental personal use is
tolerated. However, one should not use college sources of e-mail, Internet
access, social media, and other computer services for activities of an
extensive nature that are unrelated to college purposes. Excessive use of systems for recreational
Internet browsing, e-mail, social networking, or game playing is to be avoided
and may subject employees to disciplinary action up to and including termination.
Enforcement
The
college reserves the right to monitor computer and network use for operational
needs and to ensure compliance with applicable laws and college policies. WVU at
The
Chief Information Officer is authorized to disconnect a user's access if the
user appears to represents a serious threat to system or email
integrity. Violators are subject to disciplinary
action as dictated by college policy. Users should also be aware that offenders
may be subject to prosecution under laws including, but not limited to, the Privacy
Act of 1974, The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986, National Stolen Property
Act, The
West Virginia Computer Crime and Abuse Act, and the Electronic
Communications Privacy Act. The
President as well as the Chief Information Officer, Director of Human
Resources, and/or the Vice President for Student Services will be notified of
infractions.
Suspected
violations of policy or related statute should be reported to the Chief
Information Officer by e-mail or by calling 424-8296. In reporting a violation,
complainants should cite the specific violation of Policy
E-57 or these guidelines.
Responsibility
The
Chief Information Officer is the policy administrator for computer resources at
WVU Parkersburg and will ensure compliance with these guidelines. Additionally, deans, directors and department
heads are responsible for compliance with college policy within their
respective administrative areas.