Policies

Computer Resources Acceptable Use Policy

Access to computer resources is essential to the pursuit and achievement of excellence in a modern community college. The privilege of using computer systems and software, as well as internal and external databases, is important to all members of the college community. The preservation of this privilege for the entire campus requires that each individual comply with the acceptable use policy outlined below. Any unauthorized, illegitimate, or other violation of this Acceptable Use Policy shall subject the violator to disciplinary or legal action by the college. The college reserves the right to terminate access and/or pursue stringent legal action in all matters on noncompliance.

For the purposes of this policy, computer resources are defined as any college or state owned mainframe, mini- or microcomputer, peripheral devices, software, voice, video, or data telecommunications systems, and/or any network facilities.

1. Any use of computer resources for illegal purposes, or in support of illegal activities, is prohibited. Violation of software copyrights and/or licensing restrictions is illegal.
2. All use of computer resources must be in support of education and research in the State of Texas and consistent with the purpose of the institution.
3. Any use of computer resources for commercial purposes is prohibited.
4. Any use of computer resources for product advertisement or political lobbying is prohibited.
5. Any use of computer resources for the production, duplication, distribution, receipt and/or transmission of any material, which might be considered pornographic and/or obscene, is prohibited.
6. No use of computer resources shall serve to disrupt the use of the resources by other users. All file sharing programs such as Kazaa, Bearshare and all forms of streaming audio and all other programs of this type are prohibited.
7. All access accounts will be used only by the authorized owner of the account for the authorized purpose and in compliance with established computer security policies.
8. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act will be adhered to in all matters regarding campus records
9. Pursuant to the Electronic and Communications Privacy Act of 1986, USC 2510 et. seq., notice is hereby given that there are no facilities provided by this system for sending or receiving private or confidential electronic communications. DO NOT use this system for any communication for which the sender intends only the sender and the intended recipients) to read. At the very least, the operators of this system can review all communications transmitted.
10. Any computer resource user, which traverses another network, may be subject to the acceptable use policy of that network.
11. The college does not control and consequently cannot be responsible for the content of external networks.
12. The College reserves the right to filter and scan for computer viruses on computer systems owned by the College or those connected to the College's network.
13. You may not extend or add to the campus network with any wireless or wired hardware. All network hardware must be installed and secured by the IT Department or their authorized agents.
14. Student computer resource users are bound by all other campus policies including, but not limited to, the Scholastic Dishonesty Policy and Discipline Code.
15. Approval to setup webpages on the College's website must first be approved by your Department Head/Division Dean and then access to the College's Webserver is setup by the Odessa College Webmaster. Contact webmaster@odessa.edu for details.

Rev. 1/14/04