6.20 Use of Central Piedmont Community College's Information Technologies Policy - Updated 8/29/12

I. Purpose

This policy addresses the acceptable use of technology resources provided by Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC). The College expects employees and students to use computers, networks, network access, telephones, and other information technologies in a responsible, considerate, ethical, and lawful manner. Compliance with policies that ensure the security and integrity of all College information systems is mandatory and critical to ensure continuing provision of technological resources to the entire CPCC community. This policy applies to all students, faculty, and staff of the College and to all users of technology resources provided by the College.

Central Piedmont Community College understands that information technology has become vital in its mission of teaching and training. Thus, the College owns a variety of technological resources which are provided primarily to support the academic and administrative functions of the College. These technological resources enable users to locate and disseminate information, to communicate and collaborate with others in a global setting, and to build the necessary strategic technologies for the current and future needs of the College community.

II. Policy

Use of CPCC technology resources shall be consistent with local, state, and federal law and in accordance with all College policies and procedures. All CPCC users are responsible for using technological resources in an efficient, responsible, considerate, ethical, and lawful manner.

Disregard for the rights of authorship, including plagiarism, copyright violations, invasion of privacy, abuse of authorized access, and unauthorized access may be grounds for sanctions against members of the College community. Access to technology resources is a privilege, not a right, and as such, can be withdrawn from those who use it irresponsibly. Users of CPCC technology resources who are determined by the College to have purposely violated any of the information technologies policies will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including suspension of access to technology resources, dismissal, suspension, expulsion, and/or legal action.

Any information distributed by a user of College technologies must accurately identify the creator, distributor, and recipient of that information. If employees or students choose to engage in social media or other Internet communications, they must adhere to the College’s Internet Communications Guidelines.

All agreements, contracts, and licenses with external entities that involve Information Technology Services or the use of College data shall be subject to review and approval by both Information Technology Services and Procurement Services.

III. Acceptable Uses

Acceptable uses include, but are not limited to, the following:

Official work of the College

Instruction

Academic research

Independent study

Service on behalf of the College

Professional development

Occasional non-commercial personal use

IV. Unacceptable Uses

CPCC technology resources shall only be used for legal purposes and shall not be used for any purpose which is illegal, immoral, unethical, dishonest, damaging to the reputation of CPCC, inconsistent with the mission of the College, or any purpose that may subject the College to liability. Unacceptable uses include, but are not limited to, the following:

Unauthorized use of your own or another’s computer accounts, access codes, passwords, or network identities, including email addresses

Unauthorized access to CPCC’s information systems, the Internet, or other networked or non-networked computers

Harassment

Libel, slander, or cyberbullying

Fraud or misrepresentation

Misrepresentation of the College via the Internet through the use of websites, social network applications, or other Internet-based tools

Destruction of or damage to equipment, software, or data belonging to the College or to others

Disruption or unauthorized monitoring of electronic communications and electronically stored information

Infringement of copyright or trademark laws or rights of others

Use of CPCC's logo without prior approval of the assistant to the president for Community Relations

Violation of computer system security

Connection of unauthorized devices to the College network

Use of wireless access points, ad-hoc wireless devices, or any wired networking devices to redistribute the College’s network access

Use of computer communications facilities in ways that unnecessarily impede the computing activities of others (such as randomly initiating interactive electronic communications or email exchanges, abuse of interactive network utilities, and so forth)

Use of computing facilities for commercial business purposes unrelated to the College

Academic dishonesty

Violation of software license agreements

Violation of network usage policies and regulations

Violation of privacy or the release of any confidential or proprietary information about the College, its current or former students, or its employees

Use of CPCC technology resources to send or redistribute unsolicited bulk email

Posting, sending, or intentionally accessing pornographic, sexually explicit, offensive material, or material that is contrary to the mission of the College

Intentional distribution of computer viruses, Trojan horses, time bombs, worms, or other rogue programming

V. Confidentiality

Central Piedmont Community College personnel or designees generally will not access content of user files subject to the following types of exceptions: the user gives prior consent, the College needs to ensure the security or operating performance of its systems or networks, the College has a reasonable concern that a violation of College policy or applicable law has occurred, or the College is complying with a valid subpoena or search warrant issued by a court of competent jurisdiction. While general content review will not typically be undertaken, monitoring of electronic information may occur for these reasons and others as necessary. For these reasons, the College cannot guarantee the privacy of electronic communications. All network, computing, and communication activities may be logged for e-discovery and forensic purposes.

Each employee’s access to information resources will be reviewed annually to ensure that all access is in alignment with the employee’s responsibilities.  Student workers will not have access without explicit written approval by their supervisor to any personal and/or confidential information.

The download or storage of employee and FERPA-restricted student information on personal computers, laptops, portable storage devices, or Internet sites is strictly prohibited.

Changes approved by Board on August 29, 2012
Cabinet approved on December 12, 1994