The Acceptable Use of
Maricopa's Technology Resources

Last December, the Chancellor approved significant changes to Maricopa's administrative regulation defining the acceptable use by employees and students of computers, networks, and other technology.

The changes represent the first major modification to that regulation since its enactment years ago.

Amendments to the regulation come after a detailed review of the previous regulation that a team of students and employees (including faculty, administrators, and technology experts) from throughout the District conducted over most of 2004.

Final approval of the regulation followed a District-wide posting and public comment opportunities required for the enactment of all administrative regulations.

No doubt the most prominent change to the regulation is in the title of the regulation itself. The regulation, which was formerly entitled "Computing Resource Standards," is now "Technology Resource Standards."

The definition of "technology resources" whose use the regulation governs, however, is identical to that of "computing resources" under the previous regulation.

Technology resources include, but are not limited to, desktop and laptop systems, printers, central computing facilities, District-wide or college-wide networks, local-area networks, access to the Internet, electronic mail and similar electronic information."

The new version likewise includes the key provision of the previous regulation that limits the use of Maricopa's technology resources to "educational, research, service, operational, and management purposes of the Maricopa County Community College District."

Also, the current regulation retains language from the previous version acknowledging that the exchange of ideas encouraged under academic freedom "is furthered" by making technology resources accessible to Maricopa employees and students.

A salient change to the regulation is the removal of language authorizing faculty, staff and students to use technology resources "for development of personal websites as a learning tool."

Prior to removal of this language, the regulation also prescribed limitations on the use of technology for personal sites, such as prohibitions against use for commercial purposes and disclaimer language.

To reinforce the effect of this change, new language in the regulation emphasizes that use of technology solely for Maricopa-related purposes includes the use of "websites created by employees and students."

The use of Maricopa technology to host or maintain websites that are purely personal will no longer be allowed under the Technology Resources regulation. An individual website will still be permissible, provided it is linked to educational, research, service, operational, and management purposes at Maricopa.

Also new is language concerning complaints over alleged violations of the regulation. "It is the user's responsibility," according to the regulation, "to demonstrate and/or establish the relevance of content in the event that a content complaint is made official.

"Users retain the right to appeal actions through Maricopa's grievance procedures or resolution of controversy."

Published in the Winter 2005 Edition of In Brief