Policy

Subject:  Policy: Proper Use of Information Resources, Information Technology, and Networks at Matthew1471
Section:   General Organization Policies and Procedures
Number:       Standard Practice Guide 601.7
Date Issued:   25 April 2003
Issued by:    Provost and Vice President for Site, Administration & Webmaster Affairs
Applies To:   All Users & Staff
 
 I. POLICY
It is the policy of 1471 to maintain access for its community to local, national and international sources of information and to provide an atmosphere that encourages access to knowledge and sharing of information.

It is the policy of the site that information resources will be used by members of its community with respect for the public trust through which they have been provided and in accordance with policy and regulations established from time to time by the company and its operating units.
 
In accordance with the above policies, the site works to create an intellectual environment in which students, staff, and users may feel free to create and to collaborate with colleagues both at Matthew1471 and at other institutions, without fear that the products of their intellectual efforts will be violated, violated by misrepresentation, tampering, destruction and/or theft.
 
Access to the information resource infrastructure both within the organization and beyond this location, sharing of information, and security of the intellectual products of the community, all require that each and every user accept responsibility to protect the rights of the community. Any member of the organization's community who, without authorization, accesses, uses, destroys, alters, dismantles or disfigures the site's and user's information technologies, properties or facilities, including those owned by third parties, thereby threatens the atmosphere of increased access and sharing of information, threatens the security within which members of the community may create intellectual products and maintain records, and in light of the organization's policy in this area, has engaged in unethical and unacceptable conduct. Access to the networks and to the information technology environment at the organization is a privilege and must be treated as such by all users of these systems.

To ensure the existence of this information resource environment, members of the organization's community will take actions, in concert with State and Federal agencies and other interested parties, to identify and to set up technical and procedural mechanisms to make the information technology environment at the organization and its internal and external networks resistant to disruption.  

In the final analysis, the health and well-being of this resource is the responsibility of its users who must all guard against abuses which disrupt and/or threaten the long-term viability of the systems at the organization and those beyond the organization. The organization requires that members of its community act in accordance with these responsibilities, this policy, relevant laws and contractual obligations, and the highest standard of ethics.  

II REGULATIONS
Though not exhaustive, the following material defines the organization's position regarding several general issues in this area.*

The organization characterizes as unethical and unacceptable, and just cause for taking disciplinary action up to and including non-reappointment, discharge, dismissal, and/or legal action, any activity through which an individual:  
 (a) violates such matters as site or third party copyright or patent protection and authorizations, as well as license agreements and other contracts,     
 (b) interferes with the intended use of the information resources,     
 (c) seeks to gain or gains unauthorized access to information resources,     
 (d) without authorization, destroys, alters, dismantles, disfigures, prevents rightful access to or otherwise interferes with the integrity of computer-based information and/or information resources,
 (e) without authorization invades the privacy of individuals or entities that are creators, authors, users, or subjects of the information resources,

To maintain company image you MUST also NOT use your account to host Infected files, Cracks, Warez, Hacking Software, Copyrighted files, Racist Pages, Pornographic Material, Hate Sites or anything else which directly or indirectly offends people

This policy is applicable to any member of the organization's community,  whether at the site or elsewhere, and refers to all  information resources whether individually controlled, or shared,  stand alone or networked. Individual units within the organization may  define "conditions of use" for facilities under their control. These  statements must be consistent with this overall policy but may provide additional detail, guidelines and/or restrictions. Where such "conditions of use" exist, enforcement mechanisms defined therein shall apply. Where no enforcement mechanism exists, the enforcement mechanism defined in the Site's Policy statement shall prevail. Disciplinary action, if any, for faculty and staff shall be consistent with the organization Standard Practice Guides and the Bylaws of the Regents of the organization. Where use of external networks is involved, policies governing such use also are applicable and must be adhered to.
 
 *Information resources in this document are meant to include any information in electronic or audiovisual format or any hardware or software that make possible the storage and use of such information. As example, included in this definition are electronic mail, local databases, externally accessed databases, CD-ROM, motion picture film, recorded magnetic media, photographs, and digitized information such as the content of the forum.