Help Desk

Madison Area Technical College

Faculty and Staff Computer Systems Acceptable Use Guidelines

(for IITSC approval 7/26/01)

These guidelines are designed to guide faculty and staff in the acceptable use of computer and information systems and networks provided by the Madison Area Technical College. They are posted at http://matcmadison.edu under Faculty & Staff, Technical Resources.

Guiding Principles

The computing systems, networks and associated facilities at the College are intended to support the College mission, vision, and values and to enhance the work and educational environment. Users must be aware that they have access to valuable and sensitive resources and that their computer practices may adversely affect others. Users should be aware that electronic information is subject to open records requests. Electronic communication should not be viewed as confidential. Open access to the Internet is a privilege, and requires that individual users act responsibly. Users must respect the rights of other users, respect the integrity of the systems and related physical resources, and observe all relevant laws, regulations, policies and contractual obligations

MATC faculty and staff are encouraged to make innovative and creative use of information technologies in support of achieving their work and their own continuing educational goals.

Access to information representing a multitude of views on current and historical topics should be allowed for the interest, information and enlightenment of the MATC community. These guidelines are intended to respect the rights and obligations of academic freedom. MATC recognizes that the purpose of copyright is to protect the rights of the creators of intellectual property and to prevent the unauthorized use or sale of works. An individual's right of access to computer materials should not be denied or abridged because of race, creed, color, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

• MATC cannot protect individuals against the existence or receipt of material that may be offensive to them. As such, those who make use of electronic communications are warned that they may come across or be recipients of material they find offensive. Those who use e-mail and/or make information about themselves available on the Internet should be forewarned that MATC cannot protect them from invasions of privacy and other possible dangers that could result when the individual reveals personal information.

• MATC's computing and network resources are to be used by authorized persons for research, instruction, learning, enrichment, dissemination of scholarly information, and administrative activities. Incidental personal use is permissible within the guidelines of this document. The computing and network facilities at MATC are limited and should be used wisely and carefully with consideration for the needs of others.

• Computers and network systems offer powerful tools for communication among members of the MATC community and/or communities outside of MATC. When used appropriately, these tools can enhance dialog and communications. When used unlawfully or inappropriately, however, these tools can infringe on the beliefs or rights of others. Faculty and staff are not to take any action utilizing computers or network systems that could be defined as harassment.

• MATC reserves the right to limit, restrict or extend computing privileges and access to computer resources according to the policies stated herein.

• Technology Services is responsible for maintaining computer resources in the district, and should be notified about violations of applicable computer statutes and college policies, as well as about potential vulnerabilities in the security of its computer systems and networks. Technology Services and the user community are expected to cooperate in the operation of District computer systems and networks, as well as in the investigation of misuse or abuse.

• Although all members of the community have an expectation of privacy, if a user is suspected of violating the College’s Acceptable Use Guidelines, his or her right of privacy may be superseded by the College’s requirement to protect the integrity of information technology resources, the rights of all users, and the property of the College. The College, thus, reserves the right to examine material stored on or transmitted through its facilities if there is cause to believe that the standards for acceptable and ethical use are being violated. Said standards are referred by the following: statute, adopted College policy, and the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Vice President of Administration, or designee in his/her absence, will provide authorization. The Vice President of Human Resources and the organizational unit Vice President, or designees in their absence, will be informed. The Union President shall be informed when a search of computer files or communications is initiated by the College. Specifics of the search will not be initially provided.

Guidelines and Responsibilities

The following examples, though not covering every situation, specify some of the guidelines and responsibilities that accompany computer use at MATC and/or on networks to which MATC is connected.

1. Users of MATC computers and/or networks to which the College is connected may use only their own computer accounts. You must not use a USER ID that was not assigned to you by Technology Services, unless multiple accesses have been authorized for the ID by Technology Services. Users may not supply false or misleading data nor improperly obtain another's password in order to gain access to computers or network systems, data, or information. The negligence of another user in revealing an account name or password is not considered authorized use. Users must not attempt to subvert the restrictions associated with their computer accounts.
2. Users must not use the College's network resources to gain or attempt to gain unauthorized access to remote computers.
3. Users must not attempt or knowingly tamper with, obstruct, or impair the availability of MATC computing resources.
4. Users must not knowingly send a crippling number of files across the network; introduce damaging, self-propagating, or otherwise harmful software into a machine or a network.
5. Users must not knowingly hoard computer, network or print resources in an attempt to deliberately degrade performance or deny service to others in the user community.
6. Users must not attempt to remove or modify computer or network equipment without proper authorization.
7. Users must not intentionally make changes to software or hardware that damages or disrupts a computing system, alters normal performance, or causes it to malfunction.
8. Users must not attempt to circumvent data protection schemes or uncover security loopholes.
9. Users must abide by the terms of all software licensing agreements and copyright laws. The copying of copyrighted materials, such as third-party software, without the express written permission of the owner or the proper license, is prohibited.
10. Only software licensed or authorized by the college may be installed or loaded on any college-owned computer system.
11. MATC’s Policy on Harassment applies to computer use. College codes concerning all forms of harassment can be found at: http://matcmadison.edu under About MATC, Administrative Policies.
12. Electronic mail intended to harass or threaten others may not be sent. This includes, but is not limited to:
    • unwanted email;
    • messages which infringe on the rights of another person;
    • information that may injure someone else and/or lead to a lawsuit or criminal charges, e.g. pirated software, destructive software, pornographic materials, or libelous statements.
13. College computer resources may not be used for personal commercial gain or other commercial purposes without approval by the College.
14. Users must not attempt to monitor another user’s data communications, nor may users read, copy change or delete another user’s files or software without permission of the owner.
15. To the greatest extent possible in a public setting, the College wants to preserve the individual's privacy. However, users must recognize that MATC computer systems and networks are public and subject to the Wisconsin Open Records Act.
16. MATC computer users must understand that the District cannot guarantee the privacy or confidentiality of electronic documents. Information that is confidential should not be communicated electronically.
17. Technology Services and the user community need to cooperate in the operation of computer systems and networks, as well as the investigation of misuse or abuse.
18. Violations may result in the loss of computing privileges. Users may be prosecuted under applicable statutes and may face disciplinary action. Complaints alleging misuse of College resources will be directed initially to those responsible for taking appropriate corrective action.

If you have any questions concerning these guidelines or wish to report a violation of these guidelines, you may call the Technology Services Administrator at (608) 246-6111 or the Technology Services Help Desk at (608) 246-6666.

jks 7/21/01