1.2 Community Responsibilities and Expectations

Individual responsibility is a key attribute of a vibrant learning community. All students, faculty, and staff are therefore expected to respect the needs and rights of others by exercising good judgment in their use of technology. Hallmarks of individual responsibility within an electronic environment include respect for the intellectual property of others, adherence to standards for academic integrity, maintenance of learning and working environments that are free from materials that may create offensive working or learning environments, and compliance with privacy and security policies.

Responsible use of technology with community needs in mind includes recognition that strong network security and performance begins with one’s own behavior. Examples of unacceptable behavior with respect to network security include but are not limited to

  • spreading viruses or causing disruptions on the network
  • unauthorized access to or knowing use of restricted or personal computers, data, or programs
  • sharing a password or account number (or access) with someone not specifically authorized to use that password or account
  • sharing of internal or restricted data to unauthorized recipients

Respect for collaboration and community also means considerate use of electronic services such as email, shared documents, the World Wide Web, and instructional technologies. Examples of unacceptable behavior with respect to community needs and expectations include but are not limited to

  • violation of copyright laws or software licensing agreements
  • use of email or other electronic systems for harassment or stalking
  • using university-owned computers, software, or networks for accessing sexually explicit content for non-academic purposes