II. Responsible Use of Information Technology Resources
I. Purpose
Information Technology at Metro State is an educational and administrative resource for all faculty, staff and students. IT serves as a major means of official communication with the public, and is also a business asset. At the same time, the sense of community at Metro State consists of personal as well as professional relationships. Metro State is a place where freedom of expression and inquiry is valued and protected. It is important to establish a balanced approach to the use of IT resources-one that facilitates all these priorities.
Respect for the views of others with whom we disagree is important if we are to get the full benefit of our expressive freedom, and demonstrating mature judgment is an important element of personal integrity and credibility. Therefore, Metro State encourages IT users to follow the Ten Principles of Civility in Cyberspace. However, although rude or impolite behavior such as "flame wars", "hate speech", spammed solicitations, and off-topic-list postings may be annoying, occasional breaches of civility do not violate specific laws or rules.
II. Policy
The same rules and laws that apply in physical space also apply in cyberspace. Standards of academic freedom and professional conduct for employees, and the rights and responsibilities of students govern conduct online as much as they do in the hallways, offices and classrooms. Unauthorized access to and sharing of confidential student information (including computer passwords), or certain electronic confidential employment records (including computer passwords) violates state and federal law. Illegal activity such as copyright infringement, patent infringement, fraud, forgery, distribution of child pornography and forms of criminal harassment, including bomb threats and hoaxes is just as criminal online as elsewhere. Moreover, some special laws apply to the electronic environment, including State and federal computer security laws and laws prohibiting interference with college operations. Downloading material that violates the College's legal obligations and contractual commitments (e.g. software and recording piracy) will not be tolerated. Finally, actions that adversely affect Metro State IT resources, or the ability of others to use them are prohibited. For example, e-mail, bombing, spamming, and releasing or operating a damaging program such as a virus, could result in cessation of the offender's access to IT resources in addition to other penalties, such as College Disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment or expulsion from the College.
Within the above restrictions, employees and students may use MSCD's IT resources for incidental, non-commercial personal communication so long as such use clearly and specifically communicates to the viewer that the individual is speaking in a personal capacity and not for the College. However, users should be aware that, although Metro State will not routinely monitor communications or search individual computer files, individual privacy cannot be guaranteed with respect to personal communication and related records. Most computer data and documents created, used, or maintained by Metro State employees are not confidential: and must be disclosed to the public on request under the Colorado Open Records Act. In addition, Metro State cannot prevent individuals from monitoring unencrypted e-mail sent through outside servers.
MSCD IT staff members are authorized and able electronically to access electronic programs, data, and files stored on College equipment as may be necessary to perform their duties. Except in emergencies, they will notify users and specify a time before accessing desktop computers and files. Any objections to IT staff access should be addressed in writing to the department chair or director-level supervisor and to an IT administrator at the director level. IT staff in the course of their duties may find evidence of illegal or unauthorized activity. If they do, their responsibility is to report such evidence in writing to their director. Authorization may be granted for a full search of computer programs and data. In that event, the user will be notified.
Approved: December 2001
Revised: December 2004
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