Acceptable Use Agreement
BANK STREET COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Conditions, Rules and Acceptable Use Agreement (Bank Street Computer Network)
The Bank Street College of Education's computer network has many components. These include:
Electronic mail (e-mail)
Access to the library catalog
Access to the Internet and the World Wide Web
CD-ROM networks
Internal administrative computing systems and academic information
Personal computers and equipment
This allows students and staff to access and use information sources from distant computers as well as within the College, to communicate and share information with individuals or groups of other students and staff, and to significantly expand their knowledge base. Therefore, students and staff must understand and practice proper and ethical use.
PROPER AND ETHICAL USE: Students and staff must understand and practice proper and ethical use.
CONDITIONS AND RULES FOR USE:
1. Acceptable Use
a) The purpose of the college network (which includes the Internet) is to facilitate communications in support of research and education, by providing access to unique resources and an opportunity for collaborative work. To remain eligible as a user, your use of the College network must be in support of and consistent with the educational objectives of the College. Access to the college network is made possible through an appropriate provider to be designated by Bank Street College of Education at its sole discretion. Bank Street College of Education and all users of the college network must comply with existing rules and Acceptable Use Policies, which are incorporated into this document.
b) Transmission of any material in violation of any governmental law or regulation is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, copyrighted material, threatening or obscene material, or material protected by trade secret.
c) Use for personal commercial activities is generally not acceptable.
d) You are financially responsible for any product or program you engage.
2. Privilege
The use of the college network is a privilege, not a right. Inappropriate use, including any violation of these conditions and rules, may result in cancellation of the privilege. The Bank Street College of Education, under this agreement, has the authority to determine appropriate use and may deny, revoke, suspend or close any user account holder or user.
3. Monitoring
The Bank Street College of Education reserves the right to review any material and to monitor file server space in order to make determinations on whether specific uses of the network are inappropriate. In reviewing and monitoring the Bank Street College of Education shall respect the privacy of its network users.
4. Network Etiquette
All users are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
a) Be polite. Do not get abusive in your messages to others.
b) Use appropriate language. Do not swear, use vulgarities or any other inappropriate language. Do not engage in activities which are prohibited under state or federal law.
c) Do not reveal your last name, personal address, social security number or phone numbers or those of students or colleagues to others when using the Internet.
d) Note that electronic mail (e-mail) is not guaranteed to be private. People who operate the system do have access to all mail. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities may be reported to the authorities and may result in the loss of user privileges.
e) Do not use the network in such a way that would disrupt the use of the network by other users.
f) Use of information retrieved through the Internet must be documented with proper bibliographic citation.
5. No Warranties
The Bank Street College of Education makes no warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, for the services it is providing. The Bank Street College of Education will not be responsible for any damages a user suffers. This includes loss of data resulting from delays, no-deliveries, mis-deliveries, or service interruptions caused by the Bank Street College of Education's negligence or by the user's errors or omissions. Use of any information obtained via the college network is at the user's own risk. Bank Street College of Education specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through its services. All users need to consider the source of any information they obtain, and consider how valid that information may be.
6. Security
a) Security on any computer system is a high priority, especially when the system involved many users. Users must never allow others to use their password. Users should also protect their password to ensure system security and their own privilege and ability to continue to use the system.
b) Individuals who are authorized to access sensitive or institutional data are prohibited from divulging that data to any other individual, unless that individual is also authorized to use the data. Individuals are only permitted to access data as authorized.
Even if a file is readable, do not assume you may read it unless explicitly granted authority to do so;
Even if a file is able to be updated, do not modify it unless explicitly granted authority to do so.
c) If you feel you can identify a security problem on the college network, you must notify a system counselor or administrator. Do not demonstrate the problem to other users.
d) Do not use another user's account without express written permission of the account holder.
e) Unauthorized access or attempted unauthorized access to a computer or network may result in cancellation of user privileges. This includes remote systems as well as secured areas of this system.
f) Any user identified as a security risk for having a history of problems with other computer systems may be denied access to the Internet by Bank Street College of Education.
7. Vandalism and Harassment
a) Vandalism and harassment will result in cancellation of user privileges.
b) Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm, modify and destroy data of another user, computer, computer systems, Internet, or other networks that are connected to the NSFnet Internet backbone. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creating of computer viruses.
c) Harassment is defined as the persistent annoyance of another user, or the interference if another user's work. Harassment includes, but is not limited to, the sending of unwanted mail.
8. Procedures for Use
a) Student users may be asked to sign-in legibly on the appropriate log or register each time they use the network. This includes but is not limited to the library and computer labs.
b) All users have the same right to use the equipment. Therefore, users shall not play games or use the computer resources for other non-academic activities when other users require the system for academic use. In addition, users shall not waste nor take supplies, such as paper, and diskettes that are provided by the College. All users agree to talk softly and work in ways that will not disturb others.
9. Encounter of Controversial Material
Users may encounter material which is controversial and which users, parents, teachers or administrator may consider inappropriate or offensive. However, on a global network it is impossible to control effectively the content of data and an industrious user may discover controversial material. It is the user's responsibility not to initiate access to such material. Any decision by Bank Street College of Education to restrict access to Internet material shall not be deemed to impose any duty on Bank Street College of Education to regulate the content of material on the Internet.
PENALTIES FOR IMPROPER USE:
Any user violating these rules, applicable state and federal laws or posted classroom rules are subject to loss of network privileges and any other disciplinary options.