Appropriate Use of Technology Guidelines

EFFECTIVE DATE:   December 1, 2001
(Reissued without revision on November 1, 2002)

PURPOSE:   The Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC) Policy and Procedures Manual, No. 1.108 (Acceptable Use Policy for Technology), Paragraph IV, requires the Director of Information Technology to “… compile a list of appropriate uses of college technology resources …” These guidelines are provided to meet the requirements of this policy, and to provide guidance to faculty, staff, and students of LCSC with regards to appropriate use of technology.

REFERENCE:  Executive Order No. 2001-12 from the Office of the Governor of the State of Idaho regarding “Establishing Statewide Policies on Computer, The Internet and Electronic Mail Usage by State Employees” was used as the basis for the develop of these guidelines. 

POLICY:  Lewis-Clark State College recognizes that information technology resources are available for administrators, faculty, and staff to accomplish their unique positions within the campus.  As a result, it is not Lewis-Clark State College’s intent to identify specific sites that are not to be accessed or tasks not to be accomplished using technology.  Instead, Lewis-Clark State College’s intent is to identify types of usage which are unacceptable, due to their impact on the college’s computing infrastructure and resources, which are illegal, or which would be considered offensive and inappropriate for an academic environment.

USAGE GUIDELINES: 

1.       All individual LCSC users of the Internet and electronic mail (email) are to comply with all appropriate laws, regulations and generally accepted Internet etiquette. 

2.       The primary purpose of the Internet and email is to conduct official LCSC business.  Individuals may use the Internet and/or email for individual, nonpolitical purposes if such does not violate the appropriate usage guidelines established by the college and Executive Order 2001-12.

3.       All individuals must identify themselves properly when using the Internet and email, conduct themselves professionally, and be aware that their actions while using college resources reflect on the reputation and integrity of Lewis-Clark State.  Users must recognize that any activity they perform on the Internet from LCSC is clearly marked with “LCSC.edu”.  Any personal opinions or activities must clearly be identified as such.

4.       All individuals are responsible for the content of any communication sent over or placed on the Internet and email.  Activities performed on the Internet and via email from LCSC include the LCSC.edu suffix, and therefore can easily be mis-identified as the opinion or activity of the college.  Individuals are responsible to assure that their personal actions and opinions are clearly identified as such.

5.       All Individuals are responsible for the content of email they knowingly receive or subscribe to, and knowingly receiving or subscribing to email of inappropriate content is prohibited.  The content of spam and/or unsolicited email is not a reflection on the LCSC individual; however, individuals should take reasonable actions to remove themselves from such mailing lists. 

6.       All individuals have the responsibility to ensure a respectful workplace/educational environment.  College equipment is not to be used to visit Internet Sites that contain pornographic or sexually explicit information, pictures, or cartoons unless access to such material is required for investigatory and/or instructional purposes.

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As outlined in Executive Order 2001-12, the following actions are prohibited:

·          Knowingly or intentionally publishing, displaying, transmitting, retrieving or storing inappropriate or offensive material on any LCSC computer system. 

·          Creating or distributing defamatory, false, inaccurate, abusive, threatening, racially offensive or otherwise biased, discriminatory or illegal material.

·          Viewing or distributing obscene, pornographic, profane, or sexually oriented material unless required for investigatory or instructional purposes.

·          Violating laws, rules, and regulations prohibiting sexual harassment

·          Encouraging the use of controlled substances or for criminal or illegal purposes

·          Engaging in any unauthorized activities for personal financial gain

·          Placing advertisements for commercial enterprises, including but not limited to goods, services or property

·          Downloading, disseminating, storing or printing materials including articles and software in violation of copyright/licensing laws

·          Violating or infringing on the rights of others

·          Conducting business unauthorized by employee’s respective department

·          Restricting or inhibiting other users from using the system or the efficiency of the computer system by utilizing excessive storage, processing or network bandwidth resources

·          Causing congestion or disruption of networks or systems, including distribution of chain letters, or initiating “spam” emails not related to LCSC activities

·          Transmitting incendiary statements, which might incite violence or describe or promote the use of weapons

·          Conducting political activity

·          Using the system for any illegal activity.

EMAIL OPTIONS:  Lewis-Clark State College encourages employees and staff to secure Internet accessible free personal email accounts (Yahoo.com, Hotmail.com, etc.) rather than using their email account at LCSC for occasional personal use.  This no-cost option not only facilitates access to personal email from any Internet accessible device around the world, but will minimize the association of personal email with Lewis-Clark State College, as email from these systems (even if accessed from the Internet at LCSC) will not directly include the “@LCSC.edu” suffix.