Young Harris College      Young Harris College Employee Handbook
Policy

Internet Usage

The College may provide you with Internet access in connection with your job. This policy explains the College's guidelines for using the Internet. Internet usage is intended for job-related activities but limited, occasional personal use is allowed.

All Internet data that is written, sent, or received through the College's computer systems is part of official College records. That means that we can be required to show that information to law enforcement officials, courts or other parties. Therefore, you should always make sure that the business information contained in Internet email messages and other transmissions is accurate, appropriate, ethical, and legal.

The equipment, services, and technology that you use to access the Internet are the property of the College. Therefore, we reserve the right to monitor your use of the Internet. We also reserve the right to find and read any emails or other data that you write, send, or receive through our online connections or that is stored in our computer systems.

You may not write, send, read, or receive emails or other data through the Internet that contain content that could be considered discriminatory, offensive, obscene, threatening, harassing, intimidating, or disruptive to any Employee or other person. Examples of unacceptable content include, but are not limited to, sexual comments or images, racial slurs, gender-specific comments, or other comments or images that could reasonably offend someone on the basis of race, sex, religious or political beliefs, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The College does not allow the unauthorized use, installation, copying, or distribution of copyrighted, trademarked, or patented material on the Internet. As a general rule, if you did not create the material, do not own the rights to it, or have not received authorization for its use, you may not put the material on the Internet. You are also responsible for making sure that anyone who sends you material over the Internet has the appropriate distribution rights. If you have any questions regarding copyrights, trademarks or patented materials, please consult the IP Policy and the IP Resource Manual.

Before you download or copy a file from the Internet, it must be checked for viruses. All compressed files must be checked for viruses both before and after decompression.

If you use the Internet in a way that violates the law or College policies, you will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. You may also be held personally liable for violating this policy, or be subject to criminal penalties.

The following are some examples of prohibited activities that violate this Internet policy:

* Sending or posting discriminatory, harassing, or threatening messages or images

* Using the College's time and resources for personal gain

*Taking, using, or disclosing someone else's code or password without authorization

* Copying, pirating, or downloading software and electronic files without permission

* Sending or posting confidential material, trade secrets, or proprietary information outside of the College

* Violating copyright law

* Failing to observe licensing agreements

* Engaging in unauthorized transactions that may cause the College to incur expenses, or initiating unwanted Internet services and transmissions

* Sending or posting messages or material that could damage the College's image or reputation

* Participating in the viewing or exchange of pornography or obscene materials

* Sending or posting messages that defame or slander other individuals

* Attempting to break into the computer system of another organization or person

* Refusing to cooperate with a YHC Police Department investigation

* Sending or posting chain letters, solicitations, or advertisements not related to the College's business or activities

* Using the Internet for political causes or activities, religious activities, or any sort of gambling

* Jeopardizing the security of the College's electronic communications systems

* Sending or posting messages that disparage another organization's products or services

* Passing off personal views as representing those of the College

* Sending anonymous email messages

* Engaging in any other illegal activities

Frivolous Use

Computer resources are not unlimited. Network bandwidth and storage capacity have finite limits, and all Users connected to the network have a responsibility to conserve these resources. As such, the User must not deliberately perform acts that waste computer resources or unfairly monopolize resources to the exclusion of others. These acts include, but are not limited to, sending mass mailings, spending excessive amounts of time on the Internet, online gaming, engaging in online chat groups, uploading or downloading large files, accessing non-business related streaming audio and/or video files, or otherwise creating unnecessary loads on network traffic associated with non-business-related uses of the Internet.


Policy No.  517  Issued  3/1/2009  Applicable  7/1/2010

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