|
|
Rights & Responsibilities
WCC Computing Resources Usage Policy
WCC provides computing resources and worldwide network access to
members of the WCC electronic community for legitimate academic and
administrative pursuits as outlined by the College's mission statement. The
College does not monitor or generally restrict the content of material
transported across its network. However, membership in this electronic
community is a privilege that carries with it certain shared rights and
responsibilities. This policy describes those rights and responsibilities as
well as the consequences of misuse.
Rights
Members of the electronic community have certain rights and privileges.
These rights and privileges include:
1. Privacy in electronic communication and work
2. Protection from harassment
3. Intellectual and academic freedom
Any person who does not respect the rights of others may lose his or her
own Rights. These rights are not absolute. The College cannot guarantee
that these rights may not be infringed by others. The College does,
however, employ reasonable measures to protect the network and its users.
The College expressly reserves the right to access user files for this
purpose.
Responsibilities
The open access provided by WCC is a privilege that requires community
members to act responsibly. Broadly stated, members must respect and
value the rights and privacy of other members, respect the integrity of
information systems and related physical resources, and observe all relevant
laws, regulations, and contractual obligations. More specifically, members
are expected to do the following:
1. Protect the security of the account
2. Avoid transmission of viruses by using detection software
conscientiously
3. Comply with copyright and license laws
4. Familiarize themselves with the unique properties of email
5. Avoid offensive or inflammatory speech
6. Avoid unnecessarily degrading network performance
Unacceptable Behavior Guidelines
Without being exhaustive, the following list enumerates activities which are
considered unacceptable behavior for members of the electronic
community:
1. Extracurricular of otherwise unauthorized usage of the network for
financial or commercial gain
2. Attempting to gain unauthorized access to resources or entities
3. Using an account owned by another user
4. Invading the privacy of individuals
5. Using the network for any illegal activity, including violation of
copyright or license agreements
6. Deliberately degrading or disrupting equipment, software, or
network performance
7. Vandalizing the data of another user
8. Posting anonymous messages
9. Posting messages using the email address or identity of another user
10. Harassing or threatening individuals or groups
Many WCC departments and labs have their own computing and
networking resources and policies. When accessing these computing
resources, users are responsible for obeying both the policies set forth in
this general computing document and the policies of the individual
department or lab.
Disciplinary Procedures
Members of the electronic community at WCC should be aware that all
existing federal and state laws apply to usage of network resources and to
material transmitted electronically. Furthermore, ALL college regulations
and policies apply to usage of network resources, not just those that are
specific to computers and networks. The College reserves the right to
restrict the use of its computers and network systems in response to
complaints presenting evidence of violations of College policies or codes,
or state or federal laws. Violations of the above policies should be reported
to the Executive Director of Information Systems.
The Executive Director will work with appropriate officers of the College to
promptly investigate claims of violations. In some situations, account
privileges may be suspended while the situation is being investigated.
Minor infractions of this policy will typically be handled internally and in
an informal manner. The goal is to educate the responsible individual.
More serious infractions, or repeated minor infractions, will be handled via
formal procedures. Such infractions may result in the immediate and
permanent loss of access privileges, written reprimands and suspension or
dismissal from WCC. Offenses which are in violation of local, state, or
federal laws will result in the immediate loss of computing privileges, and
will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
|
|