Information Technology Committee
As recommended by the university Information Technology Committee for approval by the Provost and President.
BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY
Acceptable Use Policy for Information Technologies
Section I: Rights and Responsibilities of Users
A. Rights
1. Intellectual Freedom -- The University is a free and open forum for the expression of ideas, including viewpoints that are unorthodox and unpopular. The University information technology (IT) network provides the conduit for a similarly free and open forum. Thus, while opinions expressed on the University network may not be represented as views of BGSU as an institution, network administrators shall place no official sanction on personal opinions expressed on the network.
2. Freedom from Disruption -- The University and ITS will strive to make your experience using IT at BGSU as free from distractions as possible. All IT users are asked to practice common courtesies in their use of IT services (e.g., do not play audio levels so high as to interfere with others' abilities to work).
3. Privacy -- No electronic document is perfectly private. Occasionally, in the process of maintenance or problem solving, documents or addresses come into view of ITS employees. ITS does not otherwise and must not search the content of user accounts or documents without specific due cause. A more detailed description of the ITS policy on privacy may be found in Item B4, "ITS Computer System and Computer Network Policies," at http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/its/netregs.pdf. Further, the University must comply with the Ohio Public Records Act--search and seizure laws--and must provide the security and the freedom from interference necessary for the effective operation of a large IT system. The University cooperates with legitimate criminal investigations and conducts its own investigations in response to complaints or other evidence of wrongdoing. The University must reserve the right to examine contents of accounts, sites, and documents that reside in or traverse through the BGSU IT system (Index Source #1: ITS Network and Computer Policies; Index Source #2: ITS Computer Policies web page).
4. ITS Support -- In pursuit of the University's mission to become "The premier learning community in Ohio, and one of the best in the nation," BGSU is committed to providing its ITS users the best support and service possible. BGSU will make every effort to provide the software, hardware, and human resources necessary to support as many of the diverse IT needs as possible.
B. Responsibilities
Users of University-supplied IT resources are responsible for knowing and abiding by all applicable laws, rules, and policies, even as they change and are supplemented over time (Index Source #3: ITS Administrative and Operational Policies/Procedures). In turn, the University will give reasonable notification to its constituents whenever IT policies are amended and-or new policies introduced. In general, responsible IT use will be legal, in keeping with the University mission, and mindful of the University core values: respect for one another, cooperation, intellectual and spiritual growth, creative imaginings, and pride in a job well done. Individual users are responsible for respecting the rights, granted privileges, and rightful activities of other users--e.g., should not intentionally use IT resources in manners that unduly or inappropriately hinder others' access or use (Index Source #1). By the same token, individuals should report problems, outages, or inappropriate IT uses to the appropriate administrator or to Information Technology Services, for the good of the University community. Infractions of this Acceptable Use Policy or related policies could result in loss of access to University IT resources as well as other penalties, disciplinary measures, and/or prosecution (Index Source #1; Index Source #5: Student Handbook; Index Source #7: Administrative Staff Handbook).
Section II:- General Policies and Guidelines
The policies and guidelines are adopted from the ITS Policy Statement unless otherwise stated.
1. Privacy vs. Security --The official ITS Policy Statement can be found at http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/its/policies.html. A user is best guided by the rule that no document or account is secure. The legal aspects of IT preclude the idea that ITS can guarantee privacy. It is best to assume that any document or account is subject to examination if questions of legality arise. Any document subject to the Ohio Public Records law must be available for public inspection under the terms of that law.
2. Personal Web Pages -- Faculty, staff, and students at BGSU may create personal web pages on designated university web servers. Although the University encourages users to create web sites that reflect their individual personal and professional interests, they must comply with all laws, rules and policies.
3. Password and Other Security Issues -- The integrity of any IT system, indeed the entire Internet, depends to a great extent upon users' good will and awareness of security issues. Password secrecy is of paramount importance for the security of each user's account as well as the security of the entire system. Beyond password security are many issues such as virus protection, hacking, allowing access to unauthorized users, leaving unattended machines logged in to a user's account, exploiting security loopholes, and unauthorized access to administrative data. Further examples may be found in documents indexed at the end of this policy statement (Index Source #1; Index Source #5; Index Source #7). Neglect of these issues exposes the IT system to serious, potentially service-disrupting harm. The ITS document "Information Technology Services Network and Computer Policies" (Index Source #1) details a great many infractions.
4. Resource Sharing -- IT users share a very large and complex system of computers and networks. Although ITS expects and tries to anticipate peak periods of use, there are times when slowdowns are inevitable. Such slowdowns should be reported to ITS; often they can improve the situation immediately. When slowdowns occur that cannot be solved immediately, users should consider the IT resources they are consuming and, if possible, plan to work around the IT slowdown until relief can be provided. Although the University provides access to the Internet for a variety of uses, the main mission of the network is educational. In that respect we differ from a private service provider.
5. Commercial Use of the BGSU IT System -- The IT system at BGSU cannot be used for purely personal or commercial gain (Index Source #1).
6. University Contracts -- The University enters into contracts and licensing agreements with software producers. Users are required to uphold the terms of these agreements (Index Source #1). If questions regarding possible agreement infringement arise, a user should call ITS or University counsel for clarification of the agreement terms.
7. Respect for Other Users -- It is essential that members of the BGSU IT community show consideration for the needs of those using University networks and computers for mission-specific purposes. When possible, please defer resource-hungry IT work to off-peak hours (Index Source #3). The delivery of IT service requires the cooperation of users to behave in ways that will not hinder other users, reduce the operational readiness of the IT system, or compromise the security of any part of the system (Index Source #1). Members of the IT community should remember that the use of electronic media makes it somewhat more likely that well-intended teasing, humor, irony and hyperbole might be misunderstood.
8. Use of IT-related Copyrighted Material -- Copyright law protects most original creations published or posted via information technologies even if the creator does not claim copyright protection. In short, failure to respect all copyrights or proprietary rights in computer software or data is prohibited (Index Source #1). However, copying, distributing, modifying, or displaying e-mail, web, or any IT-based creation for which you are not the original copyright owner might be acceptable if one or more of the following is true:
a. The copyright owner has given you permission.
b. The item is in "the public domain.
c. Doing so would be considered "fair use."
d. You have "implied license" to do so. [http://legal.ohio-state.edu/virtual.html] Use of the BGSU logo--one example of a copyrighted item--requires express permission from the University.
9. Authorization for IT Use -- User passwords and/or other authorizations grant access to certain computers or accounts. Attempting to access computers, accounts, or functions for which you are not authorized is prohibited. Granting permission to unauthorized users to use accounts for which they are not authorized or making any access codes generally available is also prohibited (Index Source #1).
10. Deliberate Misuse -- Deliberate use of viruses or other means for the purpose of disrupting IT services to an individual or to the whole IT community is a violation of the law. Such cases will be prosecuted. Attempts to monitor, read, copy, edit, or delete another user's files or software are equally prohibited. Laws covering libel, sexual and racial harassment, wire fraud, defamation, pyramid schemes, and chain letters are as applicable in IT use as they are in conventional media (Index Source #1).
11. Credit -- It is essential that users represent only their own views except where other views are properly attributed. The University wishes particularly to discourage the belief, or any user's support of the belief, that using University equipment to distribute information implies that the information is the view of, is the property of, or is spoken on behalf of the University (Index Source #1). In some contexts, an explicit disclaimer may be helpful: e.g., "These opinions are my own and not necessarily those of Bowling Green State University."
Section III:- INDEX TO OFFICIAL POLICIES
Index Key:
1. Information Technology Services Network and Computer Policies (ITS)
[http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/its/netregs.pdf]
2. ITS Computer Policies web page (ITS) [http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/its/policies.html]
3. ITS Administrative and Operational Policies-Procedure (ITS)
[http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/its/adminregs.pdf]
4. Classified Staff Handbook (Human Resources
5. Student Handbook (Division of Student Affairs
6. Application for TRAPPER and-or RADAR Computer Account (ITS)
7. Administrative Staff Handbook (Administrative Staff Council)
The first number in the citation is the document number, relative to the source list above. If a dash appears after the document number, it is followed by numbers and-or letters indicating in which part, section, paragraph, etc. of the source document the relevant information can be found. Each document in the list above ends with the name, in parentheses, of the organization that issued and maintains the policy. Questions about a policy's applicability to a particular situation or the timeliness of a policy should be directed to that organization.
Academic standards or ethics : 1-A.2
Academic use of computer labs: 5-III.B.2.b in Community Living section
Access codes, distribution of: 1-A.34
Access to administrative data, unauthorized: 1-A.18
Accessing non-mission-specific sites: 1-A.28
Accessing another user's or users' accounts: 1-A.14, 6-4, 6-16, 6-21, 7-4
Account break-ins, reporting suspected: 1-A.33, 6-19
Account renewal on RADAR: 6-26
Accounts and electronic documents, privacy of: 1-B.4.g, 1-B.4.h 3
Accounts not assigned to the user on TRAPPER/RADAR, using: 6-4
Accounts, using other users': 1-A.14, 6-16, 6-21, 6-4, 7-4
Administrative computer applications, user-developed: 3
Administrative data, unauthorized access to: 1-A.18
Address use, Network: 5-III.B.1.c in Community Living section
Allowing unauthorized access to your account: 1-A.36, 7-20
Anonymous use of computers: 1-A.22
Another user's account, using: 1-A.14, 6-16, 6-21, 6-4, 7-20
Application of rules to replacement computers: 6-28
Applications, user-developed Administrative computer: 3
Authorized computer use: 6-1, 7-20
Availability of ITS policies: 1-B.4.i
Backups: 1-B.4.k
Banners, words in printout: 1-B.4.d
Bona fide Use, TRAPPER/RADAR Accounts: 6-1
Bulletin boards: 1-A.40
Canceling other users' postings: 1-A.41
Chain letters: 1-A.38
Circumventing computer or network security systems: 1-A.12, 6-8, 7-20
Class accounts, instructor's right to read: 6-29
Code of conduct, student: 5
Codes, distribution of access: 1-A.34
Collecting passwords: 1-A.20
Commercial use of IT: 1-A.29-30, 7-20
Communications services, theft of telephone or: 1-9
Computer accounts, miscellaneous information about: 1-B.1
Computer applications, user-developed Administrative: 3
Computer equipment and software, user-acquired: 3
Computer lab responsible use policy: 5-B.2
Computer lab disruptions: 5-III.B.2.e in Community Living section
Computer lab rules: 5-III.B.2.d in Community Living section, 6-11
Computer lab usage: 3
Computer laboratories: 1-B.2
Computer labs, academic use: 5-III.B.2.b in Community Living section
Computer labs, food, drink & tobacco in: 5-III.B.2.h in Community Living section
Computer labs, printer use: 5-III.B.2.c in Community Living section
Computer or network resources, wasteful or extravagant use of: 1-A.37, 6-6
Computer or network rules, violating non-BGSU IT: 1-A.39
Computer or network security systems, circumventing: 1-A.12, 6-8, 7-20
Computer Software, making available proprietary: 1-A.7.b
Contract violations on UNIX computers: 6-27
Contracts, software: 1-A.17
Copyright infringements: 1-A.15, 6-18
Data file or document destruction by user: 6-22
Data loss by ITS employees, liability for: 6-20
Data privacy, protecting: 1-A.27
Data, integrity of stored: 3
Deleting other's files on TRAPPER/RADAR: 6-2
Destruction of Data files or documents by user: 6-22
Disruption of University authorized activities: 1-A.3
Disruptions in Computer lab: 5-III.B.2.e in Community Living section
Distribution of access codes: 1-A.34
Document or data file destruction by user: 6-22
Down times, scheduled: 3
Drink, food & tobacco in computer labs: 5-III.B.2.h in Community Living section
Electronic documents, privacy of accounts and: 1-B.4.g, 1-B.4.h 3
Encryption software: 1.B.4l
Ethics: 1-A.2
Exceptions to policies: 1-B.4.a
Export regulations: 1 B.4l
E-mail: See: Electronic mail
Eavesdropping: 1-A.20
Electronic mail: 1-B.3
Extravagant use of computer or network resources, wasteful or: 1-A.37, 6-6
Falcon Data Network requirements: 3
Falcon Data Network use policy: 3
Falcon Data Network, video files on: 1-A.43
Falcon Data Network, voice files on: 1-A.43
Fax machine policy: 3
Federal regulations regarding international web sites: 1-A.13
Files in other's accounts on TRAPPER/RADAR, storage of: 6-7
Files on Falcon Data Network, video: 1-A.43
Files on Falcon Data Network, voice: 1-A.43
Food, drink & tobacco in computer labs: 5-III.B.2.h in Community Living section
Forging: 1-A.21
Former Student, former employee and guest use of IT: 1-A.23, 6-26, 6-30
Former employee, former student and guest use of IT: 1-A.23, 6-26, 6-30
Game playing: 1-A.42, 6-12
Grants, computer accounts for: 6-10
Group accounts: 1-A.24
Guest, former student and former employee use of IT: 1-A.23, 6-26, 6-30
Harassment: 1-A26, 1-B.4.d, 1-B.4.f
Harassment, racial: 1-A11, 1-B.4.d
Harassment, sexual: 1-A.10, 1-B.4.d, 4-2
Illegal use of computers or networks: 1-A.1, 6-21
Interfering with other users: 1-A.3
International web sites, federal regulations regarding: 1-A.13
Integrity of stored data: 3
Internet access to non-University users: 5-III.1.b in Community Living section
ITS employee oaths: 1-B.4.m
ITS policies availability: 1-B.4.i
Instructor's right to read class accounts: 6-29
Lab disruptions, computer: 5-III.B.2.e in Community Living section
Lab rules: 5-III.B.2.d in Community Living section 6-11
Lab usage, computer: 3
Laboratories, computer: 1-B.2
Labs, academic use of computer: 5-III.B.2.b in Community Living section
Labs, printer use in computer: 5-III.B.2.c in Community Living section
Labs, unattended residence hall: 5-III.B.2.g in Community Living section
Labs, who may use computer: 5-III.B.2.a in Community Living section
Lab responsible use policy, Computer: 5-B.2
Liability for data loss by ITS employees: 6-20
Listproc retention policy: 3
Logins, anonymous: 1-A.22
Monitoring of accounts by ITS on TRAPPER/RADAR: 6-15
Network address use: 5-III.B.1.c in Community Living section
Network or computer security systems, circumventing: 1-A.12, 6-8, 7-20
Network resources, wasteful or extravagant use of computer or: 1-A.37, 6-6
Network responsible use policy, residential hall: 5-B.1
Network rules, violating non-BGSU IT computer or: 1-A.39
Newsgroups: 1-A40, 1-B.4.b
Non-BGSU IT computer or network rules, violating: 1-A.39
Non-mission-specific sites: 1-A.28
Non-University users, internet access to: 5-III.1.b in Community Living section
Observation policy, user: 3
Off-campus networks, abiding by rules of: 6-25
Offensive materials in labs, viewing: 5-III.B.2.f in Community Living section
Other users, interfering with: 1-A.3
Password security: 1-A.31-32 1-A.35
Password security on TRAPPER/RADAR: 6-3
Passwords, collecting: 1-A.20
Personal gain through IT use: 1-A.29-30, 6-5, 7-20
Phone number security on TRAPPER/RADAR: 6-9
Playing games on IT: 1-A.42, 6-12
Policies of ITS, availability of: 1-B.4.i
Policies, exceptions to: 1-B.4.a
Possession or use of property, unauthorized: 1-A.4
Postings, canceling other users': 1-A.41
Printout banners, words in: 1-B.4.d
Printer use in computer labs use: 5-III.B.2.c in Community Living section
Privacy of accounts and electronic documents: 1-B.4.g, 1-B.4.h 3
Privacy statement from ITS: 2
Proprietary computer software, making available: 1-A.7.b
Protecting data privacy: 1-A.27
Pseudonyms: 1-A.2
Racial harassment: 1-A11 1-B.4.d
Replacement computer policies: 1-B.43, 6-28
Reporting suspected account break-ins: 1-A.33, 6-19
Requirements, Falcon Data Network: 3
Residence hall labs, unattended: 5-III.B.2.g in Community Living section
Residential hall network responsible use policy: 5-B.1
Responsible use policy, computer lab: 5-B.2
Responsible use policy, residential hall network: 5-B.1
Retention policy, listproc: 3
Rules in computer lab: 5-III.B.2.d in Community Living section 6-11
Scheduled down times: 3
Security systems, circumventing computer or network: 1-A.12, 6-8, 7-20
Security violations of RADAR: 6-26
Sexual harassment: 1-A.10, 1-B.4.d, 4-2
Software contracts: 1-A.17
Software, making available proprietary computer: 1-A.7.b
Software, user-acquired computer equipment and: 3
Standards or ethics, academic: 1-A.2
Storage of files in others' accounts on TRAPPER/RADAR: 6-7
Student code of conduct: 5
Tampering with a computer or network: 1-A.16
Telephone or communications services, theft of: 1-9
Theft of telephone or communications services: 1-9
Tobacco, food & drink in computer labs: 5-III.B.2.h in Community Living section
Unattended residence hall labs: 5-III.B.2.g in Community Living section
Unauthorized access to Administrative data: 1-A.18
Unauthorized possession or use of property: 1-A.4
Unauthorized possession of computer software or data: 1-6
Unauthorized possession of computer or network component: 1-A.19
Unauthorized copying: 1-7
Unauthorized use of accounts: 1-7, 1-A.14, 1-A.24, 1-A.36, 6-4, 6-16, 6-21
Unauthorized use of computers and computer-related property: 1-8
Unauthorized use of telephones or other communications devices: 1-A.25
UNIX computers, contract violations on: 6-27
Unscheduled computer test times: 3
Use of computer labs: 3
Use of property, unauthorized possession or: 1-A.4
Use policy, Falcon Data Network: 3
User-acquired computer equipment and software: 3
User-developed Administrative computer applications: 3
User observation policy: 3
User's account, using another: 1-A.14, 6-16, 6-21, 6-4, 7-20
Using another user's account: 1-A.14, 6-16, 6-21, 6-4, 7-20
Using accounts not assigned to the user on TRAPPER/RADAR: 6-4
Viewing of offensive materials in labs: 5-III.B.2.e in Community Living section
Violating non-BGSU IT computer or network rules: 1-A.39
Video files on Falcon Data Network: 1-A.43
Virus protection: 6-23-25
Voice files on Falcon Data Network: 1-A.43
Wiring extensions: 5-III.B.1 in Community Living section
Wasteful or extravagant use of computer or network resources: 1-A.37, 6-6
Web sites, federal regulations regarding international: 1-A.13
Words in printout banners: 1-B.4.d
Document updated 6/28/00--John M. Clark, Chair, Information Technology Committee
Copyright © 2003-2005, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403
Pagemaster--Contact: (419) 372.8273
Last updated September 13, 2006
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