Greenville College Information Technology
Policy on Appropriate Use of Network and Computing Resources

Intended Users
The Greenville College network and computing resources are provided primarily for the use of college students, faculty and staff. These are intended to be used for educational purposes and to carry out the legitimate business of the College. Appropriate use of the resources includes, but is not limited to, instruction, study assignments, research, communication and the official work of the campus organizations and agencies of the college. In each area of our campus community users are expected to use Greenville College’s computer resources first and foremost for tasks related to their respective roles.

This policy applies specifically to students, employees and guests of Greenville College who use any of the network and computing resources of the college.
 
Access Privilege
The privilege of using the network and computing resources provided by the college is not transferable or extendible by members or guests of the college community to people or groups outside the college without the written approval of the Associate Director of Information Technology.
 
Expected Behavior
Any student, employee, or guest of Greenville College who uses the network and computing resources must comply with the guidelines set forth in this policy and with federal, state and local laws. In addition, student usage must be consistent with the Student Code of Conduct and the Lifestyle Statement.  This includes the use of any college or personally-owned electronic device connected to the college network,  campus personal computers, departmental computing facilities, general-use computers, personally-owned computers connected to the college network, printers, and campus network resources.  Improper use of college network and computing resources may result in disciplinary action.

Furthermore, any person using Greenville College network and computing resources is responsible for reading all email notifications sent by the Information Technology department and following any instructions contained therein.

Improper E-mail
Access to e-mail systems is provided by Greenville College for communicating electronically. Use of such capabilities is a privilege afforded to students, employees and guests of the college.

The following are improper use of e-mail:

• Mass mailing by students to more than 15 persons (SPAM).
• Sending e-mail with a falsified source address making it appear to come from someone else (spoofing).
• Sending a message from someone else’s e-mail account without their prior consent.
• Sending harassing or abusive e-mail.

Account Security
For any computer account, the account holder is responsible for how the account is used. All accounts are required to be protected from unauthorized access by the use of a password. The account holder is responsible for guarding against unauthorized use of their account. If the account holder discovers that someone has made unauthorized use of their account, they should immediately report the intrusion to the Information Technology (IT) Help Desk. Account passwords are not to be shared with anyone else, nor is anyone (including family members) to be allowed access to an account that is not their own. 
 
Information Privacy
Information stored on Greenville College’s computers and network equipment or transmitted over the Greenville College network is private property. Some of it is personal property (e-mail messages, class assignments, term papers, etc.) and some of it is the property of Greenville CollegeGreenville College employees in carrying out the legitimate business of the college). Along with the privilege of using the college’s computer and network resources comes the responsibility to honor the privacy of other people’s information. Any attempt to browse, copy, or modify files or passwords, to discover passwords belonging to other people or organizations, or to view or intercept any information transmitted over the Greenville CollegeGreenville College or elsewhere, is prohibited. 
 
System Security
Access to information stored on Greenville College’s computers and network equipment is controlled by assignment of accounts and passwords. This security information is the property of GreenvilleCollege. Any person using Greenville College network and computing resources who becomes aware of a vulnerability in system or network security is obligated to report this information to the IT Help Desk or the Associate Director of Information Technology. Any attempt to access, copy or modify this security information or to obtain system privileges beyond those that have been granted, or perform any action which interferes with the supervisory or accounting functions of the systems, or that is likely to have such effects, is prohibited.  Information Technology personnel may routinely monitor an individual's computer use, although they do not routinely examine files or read electronic mail in an individual's account.  However, they have the right to do so, and will investigate and report on evidences of misuse.  Account holders are encouraged to use their accounts wisely. 
 
Viewing or Accessing Inappropriate Material
Use of college network or computing resources for the viewing or accessing of pornographic or otherwise offensive material is strictly forbidden. This applies to any screen display or printing of images, sounds or messages that could reasonably be considered pornographic or offensive. 
 
Transmitting Inappropriate Material
Use of college network or computing resources to transmit pornographic, harassing or otherwise offensive material is strictly forbidden. This applies to any screen display or printing of images, sounds or messages that could reasonably be considered pornographic, harassing or offensive.
 
Respect for Copyrights and License Agreements
The College presents for use many programs and data which have been obtained under contracts or licenses stating that they may be used but not copied, cross-assembled, or reverse-compiled.  In addition, other institutions and individuals on attached networks make software available under similar conditions.  Any person using Greenville College network and computing resources is responsible for determining that programs or data (including music or video files) are not restricted in this manner before copying them in any form.  If it is unclear whether permission exists to copy such files, assume that they may not be copied. 
 
Computer Viruses and Worms
Computer viruses and worms are programs or program fragments which are potentially damaging to computer and network-based information and resources.  All students, employees and guests of Greenville College should  be aware of the ease by which viruses and worms are spread and must take all necessary steps to insure that files and disks are virus and worm-free. All computing devices connected to the Greenville College data network are required to have anti-virus software installed and fully updated at all times. Any person using Greenville College network and computing resources who  suspects that any file, disk or system is infected with a virus or worm must report the situation immediately to the IT Help Desk. (information produced by, or for, network, whether at

Network Interference
The use of any device by any student, employee or guest of Greenville College which interferes with the normal operation of the Greenville College network and computing resources is prohibited. These devices include, but are not limited to, 2.4 GHz cordless telephone equipment (which interferes with the wireless data network) and other networking devices such as hubs, switches, routers, wireless networking equipment, etc. that have not been approved for installation by the Associate Director of Information Technology. Tampering with network equipment or cabling in any way is prohibited. Operating an otherwise approved computing or network device in a manner that causes interference or disruption for others using the network, such as ad-hoc wireless networking, is also prohibited.

Computing System Maintenance
Any person using a computing device attached to the Greenville College data network is expected to keep the operating system of the device up-to-date with the latest service packs and vulnerability patches. Furthermore, any person using a computing device attached to the Greenville College data network is expected, when notified by IT of a procedure to follow to correct a system vulnerability, to follow said procedure as soon as possible.

File Sharing
Downloading, distributing, or storing data objects by any person using a computing device attached to the Greenville College data network for which they do not have rights as provided by copyright law is prohibited. The term “data objects” includes, but is not limited to, music files (commonly referred to as “mp3s”), video and movie files, photographic files, and computer programs. Unless specific rights have been granted to possess a copy of the data object, assume the data object may not be copied.

Other misuses of network resources

• Greenville College reserves the right to monitor and/or filter access to resources on the Internet. When such monitoring and/or filtering is in place, any attempt to circumvent the monitoring and/or filtering process is prohibited.

• Utilizing Greenville College network and computing resources to operate a business unrelated to the normal operations of Greenville College, unless granted permission in writing by the Vice President for Finance, is prohibited.

• Any other activity utilizing Greenville College network and computing resources that is determined by an official body of Greenville College to be a misuse of those resources will be announced by the Information Technology department as such. Once announced, the offending activity is considered prohibited according to the terms of this policy.

Potential Impact to Greenville College
There are many local, state, and federal laws that apply to the use and misuse of e-mail and the Internet.  The implications of illegal use of our network in violation of these laws are far reaching for the college and could even jeopardize our tax exempt status as an institution, the results of which could impact our very existence as a college.

Consequence of Violating Appropriate Use Policy
Any person using Greenville College computing or network resources that in any way violates this appropriate use policy is subject to any or all of the following disciplinary actions:

1. Verbal or written warning to the offender.
2. Restriction of system access for a specified period of time or until acts of restitution have been performed.
3. Revocation of all system privileges for a specified period.
4. Statement of charges sent to the Dean of Students (for student offenders) or to the appropriate director or college Vice President (for employee offenders) which could lead to other penalties depending on the seriousness of the offense.

Appeals
Appeals concerning disciplinary action taken may be addressed through the standard appeals process of Greenville College.

Policy Maintenance
Policies may be updated and modified from time to time.  The latest approved version of this policy will be posted on the Greenville College web page.  This is the currently approved policy.