Application. Information technology facilities operated by Ashland University are available for the use of students, faculty, and staff generally without charge. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to use the Universitys information technology facilities for research and instruction. University information technology facilities are comprised of numerous components, including but not limited to such facilities as computer hardware, multimedia hardware, video equipment, software, documentation, communications support, on-line account administration, support services, direct and wireless network and Internet access, electronic messages system and instructional materials. The information technology Acceptable Use Policy applies to situations where any person or persons utilize University information technology facilities alone or in combination with other information technology facilities.
Penalties for Violation. Any violation of this policy may result in revocation of utilization privileges, administrative discipline, or immediate termination of the violator's relationship with the University and could lead to criminal and civil prosecution. The University is authorized by anyone utilizing its information technology facilities to cooperate with government and civil authorities in the prosecution of any criminal and civil matter against any person who violates this policy, including disclosure of any records, information, data, images, communications, recordings, or other evidence in the custody of, or accessible by, the University.
User Responsibility for Compliance. Utilization of any University information technology facility constitutes acceptance of the terms of this Information Technology Acceptable Use Policy. Users acknowledge they have read and understand this Information Technology Acceptable Use Policy and they shall be personally responsible for their acts or omissions in connection with utilization in derogation of this policy.
Authorized Uses. Authorized uses of the University information technology facilities include:
1) Learning activities
facilitating the University's instructional objectives.
2) Research conducted in support of educational or research programs
authorized by the University.
3) Utilization by specifically authorized persons for the administration
of the University and its programs.
4) Communications necessary to the purposes of the University and
its programs.
5) Communications between faculty, staff, students, and others outside
the University containing messages or information, the content of
which is not in conflict with this policy.
Unauthorized Uses. Unauthorized uses of the University information technology facilities include:
1) Any utilization infringing
on the rights or liberties of another.
2) Illegal or criminal use of any kind.
3) Utilization involving communications, materials, information,
data, or images prohibited by legal authority as obscene, pornographic,
threatening, abusive, harassing, discriminatory, anti-social, or
in violation of any other University policies.
4) Accessing, viewing, printing, storing, transmitting, disseminating,
or selling any information protected by law or subject to privilege
or any expectation of privacy,
5) Utilization that causes or permits materials protected by copyright,
trademark, service mark, trade name, trade secret, confidential,
or proprietary data and information statutes, or communications
of another, to be uploaded to a computer or information system,
published, broadcasted, or in any way disseminated without authorization
of the owner.
6) Any attempts to access any resources, features, contents or controls
of the information technology Facilities or other computer system
that are restricted, confidential, privileged or that you are otherwise
not authorized to use.
7) Utilization of resources causing damage to or altering the operation,
functions, or design of the information technology facilities or
content or of any other computer system or network.
8) Granting access to persons not authorized by the University to
any University information technology facility, either by intentional
action such as disclosure of account information or unintentional
action such as failure to log off.
9) Commercial, profit-motivated or partisan political use not related
to University programs.
Waiver of Privacy Expectations. Due to the inherent lack of security in some of the information technology facilities, and due to the right and need for the University to monitor compliance with this policy, utilization of the University information technology facilities that require privacy of any kind for any purpose are not supported and are prohibited. Any person utilizing any University information technology facility understands and agrees they are specifically waiving any expectation or right to privacy in their communications, data, programs, information stored, displayed, accessed, communicated, published, or transmitted on the facilities. Those utilizing the information technology facilities that require security for University-related purposes must contact the Office of Information Technology to arrange for specific project or program arrangements.
Additional Regulation of Published Information. Ashland University recognizes the value and potential of publishing on the Internet and so allows and encourages students, staff, and faculty to publish electronic home pages, personal pages, publication pages, or other pages that carry our official University business in support of the University's mission. The quality of information published by the University plays an important role in maintaining the strong reputation and image of the University. In order to ensure that information published electronically is visually appealing, well-written, and follows the same high standards as other forms of published information (print audiovisual, etc.), the following regulations are imposed on home pages (in addition to those contained elsewhere in this policy applicable to all information technology facilities):
Student Home Pages. Students are encouraged to use the computer technology available on campus and may create and publish home pages through the use of a tilde (~). These pages will not directly link to the University home page. All student home pages are subject to review by the AU Web Review Committee.
Student Organization Home Pages. Staff and students are encouraged to publish Student Organization home pages that will link from the Student Organization site under Student Life. These pages (which are not tilde (~) pages) and any changes to these pages must be provided by representatives of the organization via electronic media to the Public Relations Office for approval and publishing. Student Organization home pages can only be created and published by those Student Organizations that have been fully chartered by the University.
Faculty/Staff Home Pages. Faculty and staff are encouraged to create home pages through the University's home page faculty directory (faculty only) or through the listing of academic and campus departments. Faculty and staff are not permitted to link students to their pages. Faculty and staff pages are subject to review by the AU Web Review Committee.
The AU Web Review Committee is comprised of the Vice President of Information Technology or his/her representative, who votes only in case of ties; two faculty members nominated by the Information Technology Committee, the director of public relations or his/her representative; the Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students or his/her representative; the President of the student senate or his/her representative; and the student representative to the Information Technology Committee. This committee is authorized, at its discretion, to review home pages, determine if they comply with this policy, and take appropriate actions in response to violations of this policy. Normal appeal processes under the Student Handbook, applicable Personnel Policy Handbook, or Faculty Rules and Regulations apply.
Revised July 22, 2004
Approved by:
Curtis D. White
Vice President of Information Technology