Introduction
Bloomfield College provides technology resources including, but not limited to the following: host computer systems, personal computers and workstations, computer accounts, communications networks, software, files, telephones, fax machines, video, to the BC community, including students, faculty, administration, alumni, and members of the Board of Trustees.
These resources are intended for Bloomfield College related or educational purposes, including direct and indirect support of Bloomfield College’s instruction, research and service missions; Bloomfield College administrative functions; student and campus life activities; and the free exchange of ideas within the Bloomfield College community and among the Bloomfield College community and the wider local, national, and world communities.
This policy applies to all users of Bloomfield College technology resources, whether affiliated with Bloomfield College or not, and to all uses of those resources, whether on campus or from remote locations.
Rights and Responsibilities
Use of Bloomfield College technology resources is a privilege, not a right. Bloomfield College supports a campus and computing environment open to the free expression of ideas, including unpopular points of view. However, the use of Bloomfield College technology resources, like the use of other Bloomfield College provided resources and activities, is subject to the requirements of local, state and federal laws and ethical behavior and academic honesty. Thus, legitimate use of a technology resource does not extend to whatever is technically possible.
All users are responsible for knowing the Acceptable Use Policy
General Rules
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Users of Bloomfield College technology resources must comply with federal and state laws, Bloomfield College rules and policies, and the terms of applicable contracts including software licenses while using Bloomfield College technology resources. All installed software remains the property of Bloomfield College and must not be copied. No additional software is to be installed.·
Bloomfield College may require users of those resources and services to limit or refrain from specific uses if, in the opinion of the system administrator, such uses interfere with the efficient operations of the system.·
Users may not imply that they speak on behalf of Bloomfield College or use Bloomfield College trademarks and logos without authorization to do so. The Office of College Relations is the authorizing body.·
Users must not use technology resources to gain unauthorized access to remote computers or to impair or damage the operations of Bloomfield College computers or networks, terminals or peripherals. This includes, but is not limited to, blocking communications lines and running, installing or sharing virus programs.·
Accounts issued to individuals are intended for the sole use of that individual and are non-transferable. The holder of the account is responsible for everything originating from his/her account.Specific Rules
The following types of activities are examples of actions or behaviors that are either unethical or unacceptable or both. In some cases, they may also violate local, state or federal law:
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Altering system software or altering hardware configurations·
Downloading or installing new software·
Accessing another individual’s account, private files, or email without permission of the owner·
Misrepresenting one’s identity in electronic communications·
Using resources to threaten or harass others·
Using Bloomfield College technology resources for commercial or profit-making purposes·
Disobeying lab and system policies, procedures, and protocol.Rules and Regulations for Computing Facilities (See Appendix A)
Passwords
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You are assigned a Bloomfield College computer account to access Bloomfield College technology resources. Computer accounts, passwords, and other types of authorization that are assigned to individual users must not be shared with others. If you find that someone has used your password, notify the systems administrator immediately.·
Do not let anyone know your password! You should never let anyone know your account passwords. This includes even trusted friends, computer system administrators, and Computer Center staff. Giving his/her your password is like giving them a signed blank check, or your charge card. You should never do this, even to “lend” your account to his/her temporarily. Anyone who has your password can use your account, and whatever he/she does that affects the system will be traced back to your username – if your username or account is used in a way that violates any part of this Acceptable Use Policy you can be held responsible.Enforcement
Users who violate this policy will be denied access to Bloomfield College technology resources and may be subject to other penalties and disciplinary action, both within and outside Bloomfield College. Bloomfield College may temporarily suspend, block or restrict access to an account or technology resource when it reasonably appears necessary to do so in order to protect the integrity, security, or functionality of Bloomfield College technology resources or to protect Bloomfield College from liability. Bloomfield College may also refer suspected violations of applicable law to appropriate law enforcement agencies.
In the case of a suspected violation of the Acceptable Use Policy, the Network Administrator, and either the Associate Vice President for Information Technology (Faculty and Staff), Director of Information Services or Dean of Students (Students) or their designees will investigate the facts of the incident and determine the validity of the suspected violation.
The computer hardware, software and electronic mail systems are the property of Bloomfield College. Additionally, all contents of the computers provided by Bloomfield College and all messages composed, sent, or received on the electronic mail system are and remain the property of Bloomfield College. They are not the private property of any employee, student, faculty, administration, alumni and/or member of the Board of Trustees.
Bloomfield College reserves the right to inspect files stored in private areas of our network, i.e in individual accounts, in order to ensure compliance with this policy. Bloomfield College further reserves the right to review, audit, intercept, access and disclose all messages created, received, or sent over the electronic mail system for any purpose.
If the Network Administrator and either the Associate Vice President for Information Technology or Director of Information Services or Dean of Students or their designees determine a suspected violation of this policy to be valid, the offender will face immediate disciplinary action, up to and including discharge, suspension and/or expulsion.
Students/Faculty/Staff who violate this policy will be disciplined by the College. The discipline imposed in each incident will depend upon the circumstances of the case. Discipline may include written warnings, possible loss of computer privileges, suspension, termination of employment, expulsion from the College, or any combination of these.
Security and Privacy
Bloomfield College employs various measures to protect the security of its technology resources and its users’ accounts. Users should be aware, however, that Bloomfield College cannot guarantee security and confidentiality.
All data on the Bloomfield College computer system and network, including student and personnel records, are protected, and the confidentiality of these records must be maintained. In case of system problems, College staff is authorized to look at any information in any file necessary to solve the problem. Staff will treat as confidential any information unrelated to the problem. Do not store on the computer system private information about yourself or about another person without protecting this information. Do not create or use programs that collect private information about users.
Commercial Use
Technology resources are not to be used for personal commercial purposes or for personal financial or other gain.
For purposes of this document, email includes point-to-point messages, postings to newsgroups and listservs and electronic messaging involving computers and computer networks. Users should be aware that Bloomfield College cannot guarantee security and confidentiality.
Examples of Inappropriate Uses of Email
While not an exhaustive list, the following uses of email by individuals or groups are considered inappropriate and unacceptable at Bloomfield College. In general, email will not be used for the initiation or re-transmission of:
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Mail that misuses or disrupts resources, or chain mail, that is email sent repeatedly from user to user, with requests to send to others;·
Harassing or hate mail that violates Bloomfield College rules and regulations or the Student Code of Conduct;·
Virus hoaxes and virus attacks;·
Any message that is commercial in nature;·
Partisan political messages, such as the use of electronic mail to circulate advertising for political candidates;·
Spamming or Junk mail – Unsolicited email that is not related to BC business and is sent without a reasonable expectation that the recipient would welcome receiving it; and·
False identification – Any actions that attempt to defraud another, misrepresent, or fail to accurately identify the sender.·
Sending, receiving, printing or otherwise disseminating statements or language which are or may be perceived to be offensive, harassing or which disparage others based on their race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religious or political beliefs.·
Sending chain letters, gambling or engaging in any other activity in violation of local, state or federal law.
Web pages
Any page that resides on Bloomfield College servers represents Bloomfield College whether or not designed for that purpose. The World Wide Web (WWW), the Internet and all other forms of electronic communication stemming from such services allows Bloomfield College to promote its activities and educational opportunities to an international audience including prospective students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends of Bloomfield College and others, and to enhance research, scholarship and instruction both within Bloomfield College and the wider community. Bloomfield College’s presence on the web is meant to promote a positive image of Bloomfield College to other institutions, accrediting agencies, funding agencies, the media, prospective students, their families, and the public.
Any page that resides on a Bloomfield College server must be registered with the College’s web administrator. Each page should be reviewed on a regular basis and updated periodically. The following information must be readily accessible from the main page:
Employee pages represent the individual in his/her primary role as a Bloomfield College employee. Incidental personal information on the employee pages is deemed acceptable so long as it does not interfere with the function or desired presentation of the unit, cause disruption of normal service, or incur significant cost to Bloomfield College. Faculty and staff who wish to publish substantial personal information not related to their Bloomfield College functions should use an Internet service provider rather than using Bloomfield College web resources.
Personal pages represent an individual as a private person and are permitted for students only. Content or hyperlinks to content which is illegal under local, state or federal statutes, or which promotes or encourages illegal activity, is not permitted. Potentially offensive content should be brought to the attention of the web or network administrator, who will refer the matter to the appropriate channel.
Department and Organization Pages represent the organizational unit in the capacity in which it serves the College or the College community. As such, pages reflect the image of the College as a whole; the web administrator should ensure that their content presents a message consistent with the mission and goals of the College.
Project/Special Interest Pages are created and maintained for a particular, sometimes temporary purpose such as data gathering or discussion by a board, working group, or committee. If such project or interest involves material strictly for internal use or dissemination only among the College community, the web administrator should be advised in order to restrict the Universal Resource Locater URL to viewing only from the campus network.
Instructional/Research Pages are created and maintained by College faculty to serve as an aid or enhancement to their role as instructors or researchers.
Commercial pages are prohibited.
External links: Bloomfield College accepts no responsibility for the content of pages or graphics that are linked from Bloomfield College web pages. However, web authors should consider that such links, even when clearly labeled, could be misinterpreted as being associated with Bloomfield College.
Bloomfield College reserves the right to remove any page residing on the Bloomfield College server.
This policy may be modified as deemed necessary and appropriate by Bloomfield College. Users are encouraged to periodically review the Acceptable Use Policy.
Appendix A: Rules and Regulations for Computing Facilities
1. The computer facilities may be used by authorized users only.
2. Utilization of these facilities for commercial or illegal activities is strictly prohibited.
3. Treat College property with respect.
4. Do not copy software without proper authorization or use illegally copied software. Any unauthorized software left on College hard drives will be deleted.
5. Storing personal files on the College hard drive is permitted, however the integrity of personal work stored on local drives is not guaranteed; users store work at their own risk. Users are encouraged to use floppy disks to store their work.
6. Print only one copy of a document. Printers should not be used as copying machines. Print quality is not guaranteed.
7. Time limits for workstations may be imposed.
8. Users must relinquish workstations for scheduled classes.
9. No eating, drinking or smoking is permitted in any computer lab.
10. Computer game playing is prohibited at all times.
11. The College is not responsible for personal belongings.
12. Users must adhere to the posted rules, policies and procedures. Users who violate this policy are subject to revocation of their computing privilege.
