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IT Services Policies |
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Oglethorpe University provides a wide variety of computing,
networking and other technology facilities in order to promote and
support academic pursuits. Information Technology Services (IT
Services) maintains and supports computing and networking services
as well as other technologies in support of the university mission.
By using University technology resources, all users agree to abide
by all University rules and policies, as well as any and all local,
state and federal laws. All users have the responsibility to use
computing technology resources in an effective, efficient, ethical
and lawful manner. Violations of this policy may result in
suspension, without notice, of privileges to use the resources and
services, disciplinary action, including possible termination,
and/or legal action. Any questions regarding this and other policies
should be addressed to the Director of IT Services.
General Responsibilities
- Individual Use: Network and computing accounts are for
individual use, and should only be used by the person to whom it
has been issued. Users are responsible for all actions originating
through their account or network connection. Users must not
impersonate others, or attempt to misrepresent or conceal their
identity in electronic messages and actions. Users must not use
University resources for any purpose inconsistent with
Oglethorpe's status as a non-profit entity. Finally, users may not send mass email to the University or subgroups of the University via already existing lists or lists gleaned from the global address book without prior authorization.
- E-mail Use: Oglethorpe University encourages the
appropriate use of e-mail. In this, users must follow certain. All
users are expected to adhere to the bounds of decency, law,
ethics, common sense, and good taste in e-mail communications.
Confidentiality of e-mail is not guaranteed. Users should not
assume that messages they send or receive are absolutely private.
Views expressed by individual users are not necessarily the views
of Oglethorpe University.
- Intellectual Property: Users must comply with all
copyrights laws and fair use provisions, software licenses, and
all other state and federal laws governing intellectual property.
Inappropriate reproduction and/or distribution of copyright music,
movies, computer software, text, images, etc. is strictly
prohibited.
Privacy
Oglethorpe University will take reasonable efforts to ensure that
your user files and e-mail messages remain private. Further, the
University does not routinely monitor the contents of user files
and/or messages. However, given the nature of computers and
electronic communications, we cannot in any way guarantee, unless
legal requirements dictate otherwise, the absolute privacy of your
files and information. Users must take reasonable precautions and
understand that there is a risk that in some circumstances others
can, either intentionally or unintentionally, gain access to files
and/or messages. Where it appears that the integrity, security or
functionality of the University's computer or network resources are
at risk, Oglethorpe University reserves the right to take whatever
actions it deems necessary (including, but not limited to,
monitoring activity and viewing files) to investigate and resolve
the situation.
The University will treat personal files and communications as
confidential and will only examine or disclose their contents when
authorized by the owner or under the following circumstances:
- Criminal investigation: IT Services will comply with
any criminal or civil legal proceedings, and provide any and all
data requested in a legal subpoena in a timely fashion. The user
will be informed of this action unless IT Services is legally
bound to secrecy.
- Termination of employment: IT Services will, upon
written request of a department head and/or Vice President, and
after verification that a user has left the University, change
that user's password and provide the new password to the user's
former department head or director.
- Internal administrative request (i.e. harassment
allegation, discrimination, job performance, etc): Any request of
an internal nature to examine a user's e-mail or electronic data
must be made in writing to the Director of IT Services. Once this
request is received, the combined authorization of the Chief
Information Officer and the appropriate Provost and/or Vice
President is necessary to approve the request and outline the
scope and method of the search; who will be provided the results
of the search; and decide whether the affected user will be
notified and if so, if it will be before or after the search is
completed. In general, users will be notified of the search unless
the circumstances of the request dictate otherwise.
Use of Oglethorpe's computer, network and telecommunication
resources and services constitutes acceptance of this E-mail and
Computer Use Policy.
All professional staff members of the IT Services department are
required to sign a confidentiality agreement regarding any and all
user information they may come across in the performance of their
duties.
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