Technology Resource Standards

Introduction

The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) provides its students and employees access to information resources and technologies. Maricopa recognizes that the free exchange of opinions and ideas is essential to academic freedom, and the advancement of educational, research, service, operational, and management purposes, is furthered by making these resources accessible to its employees and students.

At Maricopa, technological resources are shared by its users; misuse of these resources by some users infringes upon the opportunities of all the rest. As Maricopa is a public institution of higher education, however, the proper use of those resources is all the more important. Accordingly, Maricopa requires users to observe Constitutional and other lawful mandates whose aims are to safeguard and appropriately utilize technology resources that are acquired and maintained with public funds.

General Responsibilities

Technology resources (including, but 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) of the Maricopa County Community College District are available only to authorized users, and any use of those resources is subject to these Standards. All users of Maricopa's technology resources are presumed to have read and understood the Standards. While the Standards govern use of technology resources District-wide, an individual community college or center may establish guidelines for technology resource usage that supplement, but do not replace or waive, these Standards.

Acceptable Use

Use of Maricopa's technology resources, including websites created by employees and students, is limited to educational, research, service, operational, and management purposes of the Maricopa County Community College District and its member institutions. Likewise, images and links to external sites posted on or transmitted via Maricopa's technology resources are limited to the same purposes.

It is not Maricopa's practice to monitor the content of electronic mail transmissions, files, images, links or other data stored on or transmitted through Maricopa's technology resources. The maintenance, operation and security of Maricopa's technology resources, however, require that network administrators and other authorized personnel have access to those resources and, on occasion, review the content of data and communications stored on or transmitted through those resources. A review may be performed exclusively by persons expressly authorized for such purpose and only for cause. To the extent possible in the electronic environment and in a public setting, a user's privacy will be honored. Nevertheless, that privacy is subject to Arizona's public records laws and other applicable state and federal laws, as well as policies of Maricopa's Governing Board all of which may supersede a user's interests in maintaining privacy in information contained in Maricopa's technology resources.

Frequently, access to Maricopa's technology resources can be obtained only through use of a password known exclusively to the user. It is the user's responsibility to keep a password confidential. While Maricopa takes reasonable measures to ensure network security, it cannot be held accountable for unauthorized access to its technology resources by other users, both within and outside the Maricopa community. Moreover, it cannot guarantee users protection against loss due to system failure, fire, etc.

Much of the data contained in Maricopa records that are accessible through use of technology resources is confidential under state and federal law. That a user may have the technical capability to access confidential records does not necessarily mean that such access is authorized. A user of Maricopa's technology resources is prohibited from the unauthorized access to, or dissemination of, confidential records.

Violation of any provision of the Standards could result in immediate termination of a user's access to Maricopa's technology resources, as well as appropriate disciplinary action. A violation of the Standards should be reported immediately to the appropriate administrator.

Prohibited Conduct

The following is prohibited conduct in the use of Maricopa's technology resources:

1. Posting to the network, downloading or transporting any material that would constitute a violation of Maricopa County Community College District contracts.
2. Unauthorized attempts to monitor another user's password protected data or electronic communication, or delete another user's password protected data, electronic communications or software, without that person's permission.
3. Installing or running on any system a program that is intended to or is likely to result in eventual damage to a file or computer system.
4. Performing acts that would unfairly monopolize computing resources to the exclusion of other users, including (but not limited to) unauthorized installation of server system software.
5. Hosting an unauthorized website that violates the .EDU domain request.
6. Use of technology resources for non-Maricopa commercial purposes, including to advertise personal services, whether or not for financial gain.
7. Use of software, graphics, photographs, or any other tangible form of expression that would violate or infringe any copyright or similar legally-recognized protection of intellectual property rights.
8. Activities that would constitute a violation of any policy of Maricopa's Governing Board, including, but not limited to, Maricopa's non-discrimination policy and its policy against sexual harassment.
9. Transmitting, storing, or receiving data, or otherwise using technology resources in a manner that would constitute a violation of state or federal law, or MCCCD policy or administrative regulation including, but not limited to, obscenity, defamation, threats, harassment, and theft.
10. Attempting to gain unauthorized access to a remote network or remote computer system.
11. Exploiting any technology resources by attempting to prevent or circumvent access, or using unauthorized data protection schemes.
12. Performing any act that would disrupt normal operations of computers, workstations, terminals, peripherals, or networks.
13. Using technology resources in such a way as to wrongfully hide the identity of the user or pose as another person.
14. Allowing any unauthorized access to Maricopa's technology resources.
    

Disclaimer

The home page of a web site must display, or link to, the following disclaimer in a conspicuous manner:

All information published online by MCCCD is subject to change without notice. MCCCD is not responsible for errors or damages of any kind resulting from access to its internet resources or use of the information contained therein. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented as factual; however errors may exist. Users are directed to countercheck facts when considering their use in other applications. MCCCD is not responsible for the content or functionality of any technology resource not owned by the institution.

The statements, comments, or opinions expressed by users through use of Maricopa's technology resources are those of their respective authors, who are solely responsible for them, and do not necessarily represent the views of the Maricopa County Community College District.

Complaints and Violations

Complaints or allegations of a violation of these standards will be processed through Maricopa's articulated grievance procedures or resolution of controversy.

Upon determination of a violation of these standards, Maricopa may unilaterally delete any violative content and terminate the user's access to Maricopa's technology resources. It is the user's responsibility 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.