Lyon College

Computer Use Policy

Lyon College strives to maintain access for its students, faculty, staff and other authorized users to local, national and international sources of information and to provide an atmosphere that encourages sharing of knowledge, the creative process, and collaborative efforts within the College’s educational, research and public service missions.

Access to electronic information systems at Lyon College is a privilege, not a right, and must be treated as such by all users of these systems. All users must act honestly and responsibly. Every user is responsible for the integrity of these information resources. All users must respect the rights of other computer users, respect the integrity of the physical facilities and controls, and respect all pertinent license and contractual agreements related to College information systems. All users shall act in accordance with these responsibilities, and the relevant local, state and federal laws and regulations. Failure to so conduct oneself in compliance with this Policy may result in denial of access to College information systems or other disciplinary action.

Lyon College is a provider of a means to access the vast and growing amount of information available through the Internet. Lyon College is not a regulator of that information and takes no responsibility for its content. Any persons accessing information through the Lyon College information systems must determine for themselves and their charges whether any source is appropriate for viewing.

Accepting any account and/or using Lyon College's information systems shall constitute an agreement on behalf of the user or other individual accessing such information systems to abide and be bound by the provisions of this Policy.

The College may restrict or prohibit the use of its information systems in response to complaints presenting evidence of violations of College policies, or any local, state or federal laws. When it has been determined that there has been a violation, the Director of Information Services may restrict or prohibit access by an offending party to its information systems through College-owned or other computers, remove or limit access to material posted on College-owned computers or networks, and, if warranted, initiate other disciplinary action in accordance with College policies.

Decisions of the Director of Information Services may be appealed to an appropriate College administrator. Faculty members may appeal to the Chief Academic Officer. Staff members and other authorized users may appeal to the Vice-President for Business and Finance. Students may appeal disciplinary actions related to their academic work to the Chief Academic Officer. Students may appeal disciplinary actions related to all other issues to the Dean of Students. A second appeal may be made to the President of the College. The decision of the President of the College is final.

DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this policy the following definitions shall apply:

1. "Electronic communications" shall mean and include the use of information systems in the communicating or posting of information or material by way of electronic mail, bulletin boards, World Wide Web, or other such electronic tools.
2. "Information systems" shall mean and include computers, networks, servers and other similar devices that are administered by the College and for which the College is responsible. "Networks" shall mean and include video, voice and data networks, routers, servers, storage devices, and all cabling or electronic infrastructure employed to operate those networks.
3. “Conferences” refers to electronic messaging tools which allow certain users to post messages for reading by groups of other users.  These conferences are designed to be used within an electronic mail system in lieu of direct email to large groups of users. - Approved 9/27/2004

PERMITTED USE

1. College information systems are to be used predominantly for College-related business and academic purposes. Personal use is permitted so long as it conforms to this Policy and does not interfere with College operations or an employee user's performance of duties as a College employee.
2. Personal use may be denied when such use requires an inordinate amount of information systems resources (e.g. storage capacity, server processing time, or Internet bandwidth).
3. Personal use of College information systems in conjunction with outside professional consulting, business or employment activities is permitted only when such use has been expressly authorized and approved by an appropriate College administrator.

ACCESS

Unauthorized access to information systems is prohibited. No one should use the ID or password of another; nor should anyone provide his or her password to another, except in the cases necessary to facilitate computer maintenance and repairs. When any user terminates his or her relation with Lyon College, his or her ID and password shall be denied further access to College computing resources, except as previous arrangements are made with and approved by the College Administration.

MISUSE OF COMPUTERS AND NETWORK SYSTEMS

Misuse of College information systems is prohibited. Examples of misuse include but are not limited to the following:

1. Attempting to modify or remove networking gear, computer equipment, software, or peripherals without proper authorization.
2. Accessing without proper authorization computers, software, information or networks to which the College provides access, regardless of whether the resource accessed is owned by the College or the abuse takes place from a non-College site.
3. Circumventing logon or other security measures, or assisting others in doing so.
4. Using information systems for any purpose not authorized by the College.
5. Personal use of information systems or electronic communications for non-College consulting, business, or employment, except as expressly authorized as described in the Permitted Use section above.
6. Sending any fraudulent electronic communication.
7. Violating any software license or copyright, including copying or redistributing copyrighted software, without the written authorization of the software owner.
8. Using electronic communications to violate the property rights of authors and copyright owners.
9. Using electronic communications to harass or threaten users in such a way as to create an atmosphere which unreasonably interferes with the education or the employment experience. Similarly, electronic communications shall not be used to harass or threaten other information recipients, in addition to College users.
10. Using electronic communications to disclose proprietary information without the explicit permission of the owner.
11. Reading other users' information or files without permission.
12. Academic dishonesty.
13. Forging, fraudulently altering or falsifying, or otherwise misusing College or non-College records (including computerized records, permits, identification cards, or other documents or property).
14. Using electronic communications to hoard, damage, or otherwise interfere with academic resources available electronically. This provision specifically, but not exclusively, applies to users’ actions or activities that result in bandwidth congestion of the College’s networks, both local and remote.
15. Using electronic communications to steal another individual's works, or otherwise misrepresent one's own work.
16. Using electronic communications to fabricate research data.
17. Knowingly launching or aiding in the distribution of a computer worm, virus or other destructive program.
18. Downloading or posting illegal, proprietary, or damaging material to a College computer.
19. Transporting illegal, proprietary, or damaging material across a College network.
20. Except for purposes related to the College academic program: any use of a College computer located in a public setting (such as the library or a computer lab) to display images, text, or sounds which could reasonably be considered graphically disturbing or harrassing in nature, or which are of a slanderous or defamatory nature.
21. Except for purposes related to the College academic program: storing on College computers or servers, or transmitting or receiving on College networks any files containing images, text or sounds which could be reasonably considered graphically disturbing or harrassing in nature, or which are of a slanderous or defamatory nature.
22. Violating any local, state or federal law or regulation in connection with use of any College information system, computer or network.

PRIVACY

1. User Privacy Not Guaranteed. Lyon College affirms the right to privacy of its students, faculty, and staff, and College Information Services seeks to safeguard that privacy through technological means. When College information systems are functioning properly, a user can expect the files and data he or she generates to be private information, unless the creator of the file or data takes action to reveal it to others. However, no technology is perfect, and any information system can be vulnerable to hacking or other malicious tactics that could compromise a user’s privacy.
2. Repair and Maintenance of Equipment. Users should be aware that on occasion duly authorized College Information Services personnel have authority to access individual user files or data in the process of performing repair or maintenance of computing equipment the College deems is reasonably necessary, including the testing of systems in order to ensure adequate storage capacity and performance for College needs. Information Services personnel performing repair or maintenance of computing equipment are prohibited from exceeding their authority of access for repair and maintenance purposes or from making any use of individual user files or data for any purpose other than repair or maintenance services performed by them.
3. Response to a Public Records Request, Administrative or Judicial Order or Request for Discovery in the Course of Litigation. Users should be aware that the College will comply with any lawful administrative or judicial order requiring the production of electronic files or data stored in the College's information systems, and will provide information in electronic files or data stored in the College's information systems in response to legitimate requests for discovery of evidence in litigation in which the College is involved.
4. Response to Misuse of Computers and Network Systems. When for reasonable cause, as such cause may be determined by the Director of Information Services, it is believed that an act of misuse as described in the section on Misuse of Computers and Network Systems above has occurred, then Information Services personnel may access any account, file or other data controlled by the alleged violator and share such account information, file or other data with those persons authorized to investigate and implement sanctions in association with the misuse of the College's computer and information systems. Should any of the Information Services personnel reasonably believe that a misuse is present or imminent such that the potential for damage to the system or the information stored within it, is genuine and serious (e.g. hacking, spamming or theft), then the Director of Information Services may take such action as is necessary to protect the information systems and the data stored in it, including the denial of access to any College or non-College user. If the Director of Information Services takes protective action as described in this section, notification will be made to an officer of the College at the first practical opportunity.
5. Access to Information Concerning Business Operations. Employees regularly carry out the business functions of the College using the College's information systems. Business records, inquiries and correspondence are often stored such that individuals may control the access to particular information stored within the College's information system. Should any employee become unavailable, be incapacitated due to illness or other reasons, or refuse to provide the information necessary to carry out the employee's job responsibilities in a reasonably timely manner, then following consultation with and approval by the Director of Information Services, Information Services personnel may access the employee's records in order to carry out College business operations on behalf of the unavailable or uncooperative employee.

COMMUNICATIONS - Approved 9/27/2004

In accordance with this policy, Conferences should be used for electronic communications with large groups of users. 

All campus users are responsible for checking their email messages and appropriate Conferences on a regular basis.  Students are encouraged to check their accounts each day on which they have a class scheduled.  Faculty are encouraged to check their accounts each day on which they have office hours scheduled.  Staff should check their accounts on a schedule stipulated by their supervisor.