Prologue
I. Intellectual Rights and Software Piracy
II. Regulatory Limitations Established by the University of North Carolina
III. Personal Use of UNCSA Resources
IV. Use of Computing Facilities for Commercial, Advertising and Broadcast Purposes
V. Violation of Policy
VI. Application of Public Records Laws
VII. Additional Rules
VIII. Contact Information
Prologue
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (hereinafter “school” or “UNCSA”) computing and telecommunicating networks, computer equipment and computing resources are owned by the school and are provided primarily to support the academic and administrative functions of the school. Federal and state laws, and school policies and procedures govern the use of this equipment and technologies.
Access to UNCSA’s computing resources are limited to members of the community who have read and accepted the Technology Use Policy. When you use computers and network resources at UNCSA you agree to use all systems in accordance with the rules described and referred to in this policy. You are responsible for the ways you use these systems and for the safeguarding of your account(s).
In order to ensure ethical and equitable use of the school’s resources, UNCSA has established these policies and procedures for their use. These policies are updated periodically and are publicly posted. You are responsible for staying informed about, and abiding by, these policies. Violation of these policies will result in removal of your account(s) from the systems and/or more serious sanctions.
Your use of UNCSA technology resources for direct solicitations or commercial activities for personal financial gain is strictly forbidden.
I. Intellectual Rights and Software Piracy.
Respect for intellectual labor and creativity is vital to academic discourse and enterprise. This principle applies to works of all authors and publishers in all media. It encompasses respect for the right to acknowledgement, right of consent, and right to determine the form, manner and terms of publications and distribution.
Because electronic information is volatile and easily reproduced, respect for the work and personal expression of others is especially critical in computer environments. Violations of authorial integrity, including plagiarism, unauthorized access, trade secrets and copyright violations, may be grounds for sanctions against members of the academic community.
You and Other Users. You are responsible for using UNCSA’s technology systems in ways that do not infringe upon the rights of others. Attempting to gain access to other users’ accounts, files, voice mail, or electronic mail, harassing other users in any way, or otherwise interfering with the work of others, is a breach of UNCSA’s Technology Use Policy and can result in institutional, civil or criminal sanctions.
Off-Campus Resources. As a computer and network user, you may be allowed to access other networks (and/or the computer systems attached to these networks). Each network or system has its own set of policies and procedures. Actions routinely allowed on one network/system may be controlled, or even forbidden, on other networks. Some offenses are punishable by federal law. It is your responsibility to discover and abide by the policies and procedures of the networks and systems you access.
Existing Legal Context. All existing federal and state laws, University of North Carolina (hereafter “UNC”) and UNCSA regulations and policies apply, including not only those laws and regulations that are specific to computers and networks, but also those that may apply generally to personal conduct.
Inappropriate or unlawful use of computing, networking, or information resources by a user, may result in the loss of privileges. Additionally, misuse can be prosecuted under applicable statutes. Users may be held accountable for their conduct under any applicable UNCSA policy. In addition, the school disciplinary process will be invoked for serious offenses by students or employees and there may be the potential for criminal prosecution when state or federal laws are violated. Illegal reproduction of software protected by U.S. copyright law is subject to civil damages and criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment.
Right to Confidentiality. UNCSA guarantees no right of confidentiality to users of its technology resources. The Chief Information Officer (hereafter “CIO”) may access user files without notice as required to protect the integrity of the network and technology systems or to investigate suspected abuses.
II. Regulatory Limitations established by UNCSA and UNC
A. Computer and network access accounts are for the exclusive use of the individual to which they are assigned and users may not allow or facilitate access to UNCSA computer accounts, equipment, or restricted files or systems by unauthorized persons. Users may not set up a proxy or anonymous remailer for purposes of allowing unauthorized access to accounts or data of other users.
1. Students and employees of UNCSA are authorized users of UNCSA technology
resources, unless access privileges have been revoked by the UNCSA
regulatory procedures.
2. Department heads that are responsible for contractors/non-agency staff or guests
may request accounts. The accounts must be time limited and pre-expired to that
time limit. The department head, in conjunction with Information Technologies will
determine the level of access needed. It is the responsibility of the department head
to notify Information Technologies when the account should be disusered if this
occurs before the expiration date.
3. Guest accounts may be authorized by the CIO, or their designees.
B. UNCSA may examine personal electronic information stored on or passing over UNCSA
equipment or network, for the following purposes:
1. To insure the security and operating performance of its systems and networks.
2. To enforce UNCSA policies or compliance with state or federal law where:
a. Upon approval of the Chancellor, examination is requested by a Dean, Vice Chancellor, the Chancellor, Human
Resources Director, or CIO, or their designate, or
b. there is a reasonable suspicion that a state or federal law or UNCSA policy has
been violated and examination is appropriate to investigate the apparent violation, or
c. examination is necessary to comply with state or federal law.
Computer users should have no expectation of privacy in personal material sent, received, or stored by them on or over the UNCSA computing systems or networks.
C. For information related to UNCSA business, a supervisor or other UNCSA official may have access for any work-related purpose only after permission is granted by the Chancellor.
D. UNCSA reserves the right to limit access when federal or state laws or UNCSA policies are violated or where UNCSA contractual obligations or UNCSA operations may be impeded.
E. UNCSA may authorize confidential passwords or other secure entry identification; however, users should have no expectation of privacy in the material sent or received by them over UNCSA computing systems or networks. While general content review will not be undertaken, monitoring of this material may occur for the reasons specified above.
F. All material prepared and utilized for purposes of UNCSA business and posted to or sent over UNCSA computing equipment, systems or networks must correctly identify the sender, unless a UNCSA administrator (department head or higher) approves anonymity for a UNCSA business purpose.
G. Any traffic on the UNCSA's networks may be monitored for operational or research purposes.
H. All material prepared for purpose of UNCSA business and posted to or sent over UNCSA computing equipment, systems, or networks must be limited to information needed for UNCSA business.
I. Filtering software is used in the high school residence halls, labs accessible to underage students, and on any state-owned as requested by the department head. While filtering technology is not 100% foolproof, this feature is implemented on portions of the UNCSA network to attempt to limit inappropriate network traffic.
III. Personal Use
Authorized users may access UNCSA computing equipment, systems and networks for personal uses if the following conditions are met:
A. The use is lawful under federal and North Carolina state laws.
B. The use does not violate any policy or directive of the Board of Governors, the UNCSA Board of Trustees, the UNC Office of the President, or the UNCSA administration.
C. The use does not overload the UNCSA network computing equipment or systems, or otherwise negatively impact the system's performance.
D. The use does not result in commercial gain or private profit, except as allowed under UNCSA intellectual property policies and the external activities for pay policy.
E. The use does not violate any UNCSA licensing agreements or any law or UNCSA policy on copyright and trademark.
F. The use does not state or imply UNCSA sponsorship or endorsement.
G. The use does not violate laws or UNCSA policies against race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, age discrimination, or harassment.
H. The use does not involve unauthorized passwords or identifying data that attempts to circumvent system security or in any way attempts to gain unauthorized access.
I. The use does not involve sending or soliciting chain letters, nor does it involve sending unsolicited bulk mail messages (e.g., "junk mail," or "spam," or "MLM.").
J. The use does not result in any direct cost to the UNCSA.
K. Any creation of a personal World Wide Web page or a personal collection of electronic material that is accessible to others must be approved by the CIO and must include a disclaimer that reads as follows:
"The material located at this site is not endorsed, sponsored or provided by or on behalf of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts."
L. UNCSA computers and network devices must be registered with UNCSA in the ncarts.edu domain. It is forbidden to register a non-ncarts.edu domain for any computer or network device that is connected to the UNCSA network without prior approval of the Chancellor or the Chief Information Officer. If such approval is given, it must be made clear that the non-ncarts.edu address is using UNCSA resources for delivery. All routers and switches are configured to meet UNCSA standards. This includes turning off of non-required services and changing passwords and community strings.
IV. Use of Computing Facilities for Commercial, Advertising, and Broadcast Purposes
A. No paid advertising will be allowed on official UNCSA Websites. However, an UNCSA website may contain a simple acknowledgment of sponsorship by an outside entity in the following form:
"Support for this website [or UNCSA unit] has been provided by _____________”.
1. An "official UNCSA website" is any World Wide Web address that is sponsored or endorsed or created on authority of a UNCSA department or administrative unit. Websites on UNCSA servers are either "UNCSA websites" or personal websites allowed by the UNCSA.
2. "Paid advertising" means advertising or promotional information provided in exchange for legal consideration, including money or other valuable benefits.
B. Personal web pages that are maintained by UNCSA computer account holders may not contain paid advertising. This guideline is consistent with the UNCSA policy against use of resources for private gain or commercial purposes.
C. UNCSA computer account holders may send advertisements to news groups dedicated to advertising. The ads may not refer readers to a UNCSA telephone number. Like other personal use of UNCSA computing resources, the ads must be sent on an employee's own time, not during hours when they are being paid to work.
D. UNCSA computer account holders may not "broadcast" E-mail messages without prior approval from a UNCSA official - Chancellor, Vice Chancellors, Chief Information Officer/Associate VC for Information Technologies, UNCSA Campus Police Chief, Film Screening Scheduler, Assistant Director of the Stevens Center, Director of Human Resources and their designees. "Broadcast" means transmission of a message to a significant number of computer accounts on a UNCSA server or servers; the intent is to prevent mass mailings from tying up employee time and computer resources.
E. Registered marks of UNCSA (e.g., logo and photographs) may be used in the websites of UNCSA computer account holders on the conditions that (a) they are not used for or related to private profit or commercial purposes, and (b) they do not mislead or confuse viewers as to whether the web page is sponsored by UNCSA.
V. Violation of Policy
A. Any violation of this policy by employees may be "misconduct" under EPA policies (faculty and EPA non-faculty), and "unacceptable personal conduct" under SPA policies. For students, violations are misconduct under the applicable student disciplinary code. Violators may be referred to the appropriate disciplinary procedure, and violations of law may also be referred for criminal or civil prosecution. Sanctions for violations of this policy may include one or more of the following: a revocation of access privileges, a written warning or written reprimand; demotion; suspension without pay; dismissal; or prosecution for criminal violations in addition to other sanctions available under the regular disciplinary policies.
When a network/computer abuse by a student is reported or found in routine activities, probable cause must be established. Two UNCSA staff members (one from Student Life and one from Information Technologies) review the information available and make a “good faith judgment call” as to whether a student’s computer can be confiscated for investigative purposes. Student Life and Campus Police policies are followed when any confiscation of computers occur. Please refer to the Student Handbook for “entry and search” polices for detailed procedures.
Network/computer abuses by staff and faculty follow UNCSA, SPA, and EPA Human Resources policies. In cases where the suspected computer is owned by UNCSA, no personal rights are attached. No permission or approval is needed for such access or confiscation.
Students and staff should refer to Student Handbooks, Staff Manuals, etc., for additional information in reference to a person(s) who might be suspected of misuse computers or the system.
B. Apart from referrals to disciplinary procedures, the UNCSA CIO (or designees) may suspend a user's access privileges or suspend services to a computer, for as long as necessary to protect UNCSA's computing resources, to prevent an ongoing threat of harm to persons or property, or to prevent a threat of interference with normal UNCSA functions. As soon as practical following the suspension of access privileges, the CIO must take the following actions:
1. The user must be sent written and electronic notice of the suspension of access and the reasons for it, and notice of the time, date, and location at which the suspension may be discussed with the CIO.
2. The user must be given an opportunity to meet with the CIO at his or her earliest convenience to discuss the suspension and present any reasons the user has why the suspension should be lifted. The CIO may reconsider his or her suspension decision in light of the information received at this meeting.
3. Following the meeting, the user must be sent a copy of the CIO's decision upon reconsideration, and must be notified that the user may appeal to the Chancellor if the user is dissatisfied with the outcome of the meeting.
VI. Application of Public Records Law
All information created or received for work purpose and contained in school computing equipment files, servers or electronic mail (e-mail) depositories are public records and are available to the public, upon approval by the Chancellor, unless an exception to the Public Records Law applies.
VII. Additional Rules
Additional rules on computer use may be adopted by various divisions/departments to meet specific administrative or academic needs. Any adopted requirement must:
A. Comply with applicable federal and state laws;
B. Be consistent with the policies of UNCSA and the University of North Carolina;
C. Be posted in writing or electronically in a manner that is available to all affected users; and
D. Be filed with the Vice Chancellor for Arts & Academics/Provost, the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, and the Chief Information Officer.
VIII Contact Information:
For further information and questions, please contact the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Office of Information Technologies.
Please note: Portions of UNCSA’s Technology Use Policy have been adopted from related documents developed at North Carolina State University, The Universities of North Carolina Administrative Regulations, Deerfield Academy, Choate Rosemary Hall, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and The University of California at Berkeley.
Note: Connection to the UNCSA network acts as implied acceptance of this policy. |
