Some Key Elements to Reference
in an Acceptable Use Policy for Web Features
- Should discuss an environment which
encourages free exchange of ideas and a commitment to academic freedom
in accordance with the overall institutional policy.
- The policy should recognize that all
members of the University community and users of a site are bound by
local, state/provincial, and federal laws relating to copyrights,
privacy, security, and other statutes regarding electronic media.
- There should be a statement that
connection to the web site and campus network is a privilege based on
adherence to the policy and if abuses of policies or standards,
resources, or abuse of other web sites are detected the network/web
connection may be suspended.
Users may not attempt to
modify the system or network facilities or attempt to crash systems
and that they should not tamper with any software protections or
restrictions placed on computer applications or files.
- There should be a statement that the
institution protects the confidentiality of data and privacy of its
users, to the extent required or allowed under federal and
state/provincial law.
- There should be a reference in the
policy to protecting the safety and freedom from
harassment for individuals, but that the institution cannot protect
individuals from invasions of privacy and other possible dangers that
could result from an individual’s distribution of personal
information.
- The policy should include reference to
claims of infringement of electronically posted copies of copyrighted
materials.
- The scope of the information assets
the policy covers should be addressed.
- Roles and responsibilities of various
users including external users accessing the campus through the
Internet.
- That all users, including those
visiting through the Internet are expected to act in a responsible,
ethical, and legal manner.
- That abuse may result in termination of
access, disciplinary review, expulsion, termination of employment,
legal action, and/or other appropriate disciplinary action.
- That the institution reserves the
right to edit or remove content deemed inappropriate.
- That the institution cannot protect
individuals against the existence or receipt of material that may be
offensive to them and as such, those who make use of electronic
communications are warned that they may come across or be recipients
of material they find offensive.
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