The Georgetown College Technology Ethics Policy

Preamble

Technology resources at Georgetown College are provided to all faculty, students and staff to support the educational process and the administrative efforts for fulfillment of our mission statement. To remain consistent with the goals of this institution, therefore, the responsible use of these facilities is expected from all users.

The Georgetown College Technology Ethics Policy contains the governing guidelines for faculty, student and staff use of technology resources and is based on the EDUCOM Statement of Principle on Software and Intellectual Rights (stated below) and the Eight Guiding Principles. This policy indicates the general principles regarding the appropriate use of equipment, software and networks, including the use of voice mail, electronic mail, distributed video services and computers. In addition, users of these resources must recognize and abide by federal, state and local laws and ordinances that relate to copyrights, security, privacy and other statutes involving electronic media.

Policy

The EDUCOM Statement of Principle on Software and Intellectual Rights states:

Respect for intellectual labor and creativity is vital to academic discourse and enterprise. This principle applies to work of all authors and publishers in all media. It encompasses respect for the right to acknowledgment, right to privacy, and right to determine the form, manner and terms of publication and distribution.

Because electronic information is volatile and easily reproduced, respect for work and personal expression of others is especially critical in computer environments. Violations of authorized integrity, including plagiarism, invasion of privacy, unauthorized access, and trade secret and copyright violations, may be grounds for sanctions against members of the academic community.

People who use the Georgetown College technology resources do so as guests of the college and are expected to act responsibly.

Because Georgetown College is a guest on the Internet, World Wide Web, email and related networks, those that access these networks serve as representatives of the college by the way in which they conduct their network activities. All users of Georgetown College resources must act with the highest ethical standards, respecting integrity of other users’ accounts, any and all copyrights, the rights of other users and the physical facilities and controls.

Enforcement

The use of Georgetown College technology resources is a privilege to faculty, students and staff. The privilege may be withdrawn (in addition to other appropriate actions) by the college based on the specific guidelines outlined both in this document and Faculty, Staff and Student handbooks.

Guidelines for Use of Computing Resources

Including the Internet, World Wide Web, Email and Related Networks

Georgetown College provides access to appropriate available computing resources and to the Internet, World Wide Web, electronic mail and related networks to all faculty, students and staff who accept the following guidelines.

1. The college provides computer resources and access to all computer networks for academic and administrative purposes. Georgetown College encourages its faculty, students, and staff to use its computer resources and these networks to perform their academic and professional activities. Use of these resources for other purposes should be by prior consent from the Information Technology Steering Committee. No computer or network resource should be used for illegal purposes.

2. Individual users will neither modify nor move from its installed location any college owned computing resource without prior approval from Information Technology Services.

3. Individual users remain responsible for the abuse of computing and network accounts assigned to them. It is not acceptable for users to interfere with or disrupt network users, services or system resources. Disruptions include, but are not limited to: creating or deliberately propagating computer worms or viruses; transmitting slanderous or harassing materials; transmitting gratuitously violent, pornographic or obscene information (that is, any material that is demeaning or lowers the dignity of the human person, whether male or female); or using a computer to gain unauthorized access to any computing facility either internal or external to the Georgetown College network.

4. The college owned computer facilities and access to networks are shared resources. Users are assigned account names and passwords. It is not acceptable to use an account assigned to someone else without explicit permission from the account’s owner. It is not acceptable to divulge passwords or email addresses without the explicit consent of the account’s owner. The college reserves the right to publish the Georgetown College Email Directory on the World Wide Web.

5. All files are private and confidential unless the author explicitly made them available to others. This is true even if the software system does not guarantee this confidentiality. It is not acceptable to copy any portion of a file created by someone else or to store such data in an account without the author’s explicit permission.

6. Individual users will respect all copyrights and licenses on computer software. It is not acceptable to execute, copy, or modify computer programs without the explicit permission of the author. Software provided by Georgetown College on its computer systems is licensed by the college and should not be copied for personal use, transferred to non-college owned equipment, or modified in any way.

7. Georgetown College reserves the right without notice to limit or restrict any individual user’s access and to inspect, remove or otherwise alter any data, file, or system resource that may undermine the authorized use of any college owned computing resource or access to the Internet, World Wide Web, electronic mail, or other related network service. The college also reserves the right to periodically check any system or take any other action necessary to protect its computing resources and access to these networks. The college disclaims responsibility for loss of data or interference with files resulting from its efforts to maintain the privacy and security of those computing resources or access to these networks. The college cannot guarantee protection against media failure or data loss.

Guidelines for Use of Cable Television Services

Georgetown College provides non-premium and campus access cable television services in college owned buildings to all faculty, students and staff who accept the following guidelines.

1. The college provides non-premium and campus access cable television services to faculty, students and staff for academic and administrative purposes. The college also provides these services to students for personal enjoyment. Georgetown College encourages its faculty and staff to use these cable television services to perform their academic and professional activities. Use of cable television services for other purposes should be by prior consent from th Information Technology Steering Committee. These cable television services should not be used for illegal purposes.

2. Individual users will neither modify nor move from its installed location any college owned cable television resource without prior approval from Information Technology Services.

3. Individual users remain responsible for the abuse of cable television services assigned to them. It is not acceptable for users to interfere with or disrupt campus life. Disruptions include, but are not limited to: harassing or disturbing others by misuse of the television; transmitting slanderous or harassing materials; or transmitting gratuitously violent, pornographic or obscene information (that is, any material that is demeaning or lowers the dignity of the human person, whether male or female).

4. Individual users will respect all copyrights and licenses on video software. It is not acceptable to televise, copy, or modify video programs without the explicit permission of the author. Video software provided by Georgetown College on its cable television system is provided only for internal use and should not be copied for personal use, transferred to non-college owned equipment or modified in any way.

5. Georgetown College reserves the right without notice to limit or restrict any individual user’s or campus-wide access to cable television services. The college and its commercial provider also reserve the right to check periodically any system or take any other action necessary to protect its cable television services. The college disclaims responsibility for loss of software or temporary loss of access resulting from its efforts to maintain the appropriate use of its cable television service. The college cannot guarantee protection against media failure or data loss.

Guidelines for Use of Voice Mail

Georgetown College provides access to the voice mail network to all faculty, students and staff who accept the following guidelines.

1. The college provides access to the voice mail network for personal, academic and administrative purposes. Georgetown College encourages its faculty, students, and staff to use voice mail to perform their academic and professional activities and to facilitate communication within the campus community. Use of voice mail for other purposes should be by prior consent from the Information Technology Steering Committee. Voice mail should not be used for illegal purposes.

2. Individual users remain responsible for the abuse of voice mail accounts assigned to them. It is not acceptable for users to interfere with or disrupt the voice mail system. Disruptions include, but are not limited to: transmitting slanderous or harassing messages; or transmitting pornographic or obscene information (that is, any material that is demeaning or lowers the dignity of the human person, whether male or female).

3. The voice mail network is a shared resource. Users are required to maintain passwords. It is not acceptable to use a voice mail account assigned to someone else without explicit permission from the account’s owner. It is not acceptable to divulge passwords without the explicit consent of the account’s owner.

4. All voice mail messages are private and confidential unless the receiver explicitly made them available to others. This is true even if the software system does not guarantee this confidentiality.

5. Georgetown College reserves the right without notice to limit or restrict any individual user’s access to the voice mail system that may undermine the authorized use of the system. The college also reserves the right to periodically check the system or take any other action necessary to protect the voice mail system. The college disclaims responsibility for loss of data or interference with messages resulting from its efforts to maintain the privacy and security of the voce mail system.

Disciplinary and Appeal Procedures

Students

Students who are charged with a violation of the Georgetown College Technology Ethics Policy will be referred to the Dean of Student Development. The complaint will be adjudicated through the disciplinary procedures outlined in the Student Handbook. Students who are found in violation of the policy will be subject to disciplinary sanctions that may include suspension from Georgetown College.

Faculty

Charges against faculty of a violation of the Georgetown College Technology Ethics Policy will be adjudicated through the procedures outlined in the Faculty Handbook.

Staff

Staff violations of the Georgetown College Technology Ethics Policy will be handled by the staff member’s superior or the appropriate Vice President.