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Usage Policy for
Electronic Information Systems
This document identifies the rights and
responsibilities of those who use the electronic information resources at Saint
Michael’s College. This includes the academic and administrative computer
systems, the networks, the on-campus information resources including
telecommunications systems, and the Internet resources reached through Saint
Michael’s College systems.
Introduction
The electronic information systems at Saint
Michael’s College are provided for the purposes of instruction, research,
personal development, and administration. This policy informs users of the
rights they may expect and their responsibilities. This policy applies to all
users of SMC system resources, including those who access these resources from
off campus.
Rights
The College seeks to provide an environment in
which academic usage has the first priority, and in which there is respect for
freedom of inquiry and expression; opposition to censorship; privacy and
confidentiality; freedom from sexual harassment; and protection of intellectual
property. In particular, the same standards and principles of intellectual and
academic freedom already supported by the College in other areas extends to
material received through the network. This extends also to publication: the
same standards of intellectual and academic freedom developed for faculty and
student publication in traditional media are applicable to publication in
electronic media.
In addition, respect for law, for due process, and the presumption of innocence
are crucial elements of this environment.
Responsibilities
Users are expected to abide by the policies of
the College, whose existence makes the use of these resources available. Every
user is also expected to be considerate of the rights of other users. Examples
of infringements of these principles may include, but are not limited to the
following.
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Using the Saint
Michael’s College system for illegal or criminal purposes.
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Unauthorized use of
resources for commercial enterprises.
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Substantially and
willfully interfering with another person’s authorized use.
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Compromising or attempting
to compromise privacy or confidentiality. In particular, attempts to read
another person’s electronic mail or other protected files will be treated
with the utmost seriousness.
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Modifying or attempting to
modify system facilities without authorization, including software or
hardware installation. This includes the use of the Saint Michael’s
College system as a staging ground to crack other systems.
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Obstructing other
people’s work by consuming gratuitously large amounts of system resource
(e.g., network bandwidth or printers). This includes, but is not limited to,
game playing or monopolizing information resources for entertainment or
personal use.
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Allowing unauthorized
access to accounts and passwords
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Violating license agreements
Individuals using College
information systems resources will be held responsible for their own actions,
and will be subject to local, state, and national laws, as well as Saint
Michael’s College policies.
Privacy and Security
Network and system administrators are expected
to treat the contents of electronic files as private and confidential.
However, normal operation and maintenance of the systems requires backup and
caching of data and communications, the logging of activity, and the monitoring
of general usage patterns. In particular, users should be aware that public lab
computers are not a private space and work should not be kept there.
In all matters relating to privacy and security of individual accounts and
communications, along with requests for release of information, college
personnel will abide by applicable US and Vermont laws, including the Family
Educations Rights and Privacy Act or the Government Records Access and
Management Act, and by existing College policies, such as are described in the
Student Code of Conduct. These generally regard records as private and
confidential. However, they allow for examination or disclosure of those records
in response to a proper subpoena or court order from external attorneys, police,
and/or administrative agencies, and in response to on-campus investigations
following established College Security procedures.
Due Process: Complaints and Sanctions
Violations of the policy stated here are treated
like any other Saint Michael’s College policy violation, as outlined in the
Student Handbook and applicable faculty and staff handbooks, and are governed by
the same procedures. Notification of possible violations may be made to the Help
Desk at extension 2020 or to abuse@smcvt.edu.
In particular, the person against whom the complaint is made will be presumed
innocent until proven otherwise. Nonetheless, though status should not be
altered pending action on charges, system administrators are authorized to
immediately take actions such as locking accounts when the safety and well-being
of students, faculty, or College property is at risk. As soon as practical, the
Director of Information Technology will be contacted to either authorize or
suspend an investigation. The means of investigating may include, but not be
limited to, monitoring traffic and files, including the contents thereof. The
subject will be notified of the investigation, and of their rights, including
the right to College due process, as soon as practical.
Sanctions for violating this policy can include all regular College sanctions
(admonition, warning, reprimand, expulsion, etc.). In addition it can include
loss of information systems access.
Open Access
The College is committed to allowing access to
all electronic information sources to all members of its community, free of
restrictions such as age or residency status. In particular, parents of minors
should be aware than in a college setting, serving primarily adults, information
resource personnel are not monitoring what their children may view, and no
content filters are normally used.
Our policies are designed to reflect
current conditions. As conditions change, we will review our policies
accordingly; consistent with the goals of the college and subject to the
availability of financial resources.
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