Information Technology

Computer and Internet resources are provided by Cisco College for its students, faculty and staff. This service provides the tools necessary to enhance learning, efficiency, and productivity. The use of these resources requires that a set of standards must be established for its management.

The internet allows access to a wealth of material that is personally, culturally, and professionally enriching to individuals of all ages. It also enables access to materials that may be offensive or disturbing to others as well as illegal under U.S. laws. Cisco College does not have the resources to police the global network and takes no responsibility for its content. Rather, all users must take responsibility for their own activities on the internet. The use of the internet is to be consistent with the mission of Cisco College, the policies of the College, and State and Federal law. Access to the Internet over college computers is a privilege granted to users and the college reserves the right to suspend this privilege if a user violates any acceptable use clause.

All user accounts associated with the College network infrastructure are the property of Cisco College. Any information associated with these accounts are not to be considered private. Cisco College reserves the right to monitor and record all network activity including e-mail, with or without notice and; therefore, users should have no expectation of privacy in the use of those resources. Accounts on College owned-computers are limited to employees and current students. Access to College computers is restricted to Cisco College faculty, currently enrolled students, and Cisco College staff. Community members and others who do not meet the aforementioned requirements are allowed "guest" access to the Cisco College Library. All authorized users are solely responsible for managing their files and their e-mail. Accounts may be deleted when employment is terminated, when student status has ended or at the discretion of the Administration of the College and/or the discretion of the network administrator. The college is under no obligation to recover or protect user files from deleted accounts.

Violations of the rights of any person or company protected by copyright, trade secret, patent or other intellectual property, or similar laws or regulations, including, but not limited to the installation or distribution of "pirated" or other software products that are not appropriately licensed for use by Cisco College, is strictly prohibited. Unauthorized copying of copyrighted material including, but not limited to, digitization and distribution of photographs from magazines, books or other copyrighted sources. Copyrighted music, copyrighted movies, and the installation of any copyrighted software for which Cisco College or the end user does not have an active license is strictly prohibited. Violations of "Use of Copyrighted Material" clause can result in the loss of computer access, suspension, or dismissal.

Email provided by the college is to be used for college/educational purposes only. Any use of "all campus" email lists is restricted to business purposes only.

All persons who publish web pages are responsible for the content of those pages and are required to comply with all Cisco College policies and procedures as well as state and federal laws.

The following actions will result in disciplinary action including, but not limited to, the loss of computer privileges, suspension, or dismissal:

1. Damage or destruction of equipment, software, or data belonging to the College or to other users, including the unauthorized adding, altering, or deleting files on College workstations and/or servers.

2. Altering of system settings or Internet browser settings on college owned computers without express permission of an instructor or a member of the IT staff.

3. Reproduction of materials protected by copyright.

4. Violating software license agreements.

5. Violating or attempting to violate computer system or network integrity, including attempts to bypass network security functions, or to obtain restricted passwords for system administration.

6. Using Cisco College technology to harass others.

7. Utilizing the Internet or and/or College equipment for unauthorized material/commercial gain or profit.

8. Using the Internet or any College technological resource for any activity prohibited by Federal, State or International Law.

9 Attempting to utilize computing resources for which you do not have access.

10. Sharing your personal password with others.

11. Using another user's password.

12 Impersonating another user via any form of electronic messaging.

13. The production of and/or intentional dissemination of self-replicating or similar nuisance programs (e.g. virus, Trojan Horse), whether or not they are destructive in nature.

The responsibility for maintaining the campus computing environment rests with the IT Services. In order to ensure the smooth functioning of computer equipment, all students, faculty, and staff must observe the following:

1. Only authorized software may be installed on any College computer. IT is responsible for determining what software may or may not be installed, based on technical specifications and licensing.

2. Only authorized IT personnel may repair College computer equipment.

3. The IT department will not work on any student/faculty personal equipment.

4. All maintenance requests must be submitted to the Help Desk.

Any student, faculty or staff member in violation of these guidelines may appeal their case to the relevant College Administrator. Students who have lost the privilege to use computer resources may appeal to the Student Appeals Committee to have their access re-instated. Faculty and staff may appeal to their Director or Department Chair.

The purpose of this document is not to restrict access to information or to restrict personal expression. The guidelines stated herein are to insure the health of the network for educational purposes and to conduct the business of the college. You may disagree with any or all information resource guidelines, either publicly or privately, in accordance with your First Amendment Rights. However, you may not violate any published guidelines for any reason or cause. Questions regarding these guidelines should be submitted to the Director of IT.

Cisco College accepts NO RESPONSIBILITY for any damages to or loss of data due directly or indirectly to the use of Cisco College computing resources or any consequential loss or damage. It makes representation of NO WARRANTY, expressed or implied, regarding the computing resources offered, or their fitness for any particular use or purpose. The College's liability in the event of any loss or damage shall be LIMITED TO THE FEES AND CHARGES, IF ANY, PAID TO THE COLLEGE for use of the computing resources, which resulted in a said loss or damage.