January 17-18, 2002

ITEM 114-104-R0102Board of Regents Policies and Procedures Manual: Information Technology; Internet Services (4) (New)

No. 4

POLICY REQUIREMENTS

SCOPE

This policy applies to all MUS employees using MUS-owned or managed computing and information resources. It also applies to all MUS students using MUS-owned or managed computing and information resources, except when using personally owned computers in conjunction with MUS-provided network services. (A separate contract, agreement or policy may cover activities involving personally owned computers.) Finally, it also applies to "visitors," "adjuncts," or any other persons or entities that have either temporary or permanent access to MUS-owned or managed computing and information resources. For convenience, all the above groups are often combined under the label of "users" of the MUS computing and information resources.

INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE

MUS-provided Internet, intranet, and related access services may be used only by employees for their job-related activities and by students for appropriate academic activities. Acceptable activities include: the conduct of MUS business and delivery of MUS services; transmitting and sharing of information among educational, research, and governmental organizations; supporting open research and education in and between national and international research and instructional institutions; communicating and exchanging professional information; encouraging debate of issues in the user's specific areas of expertise; applying for or administering grants or contracts; announcing requests for proposals and bids; announcing new services for use in research or instruction; and conducting other activities appropriate to MUS business or scholarship.

MUS-provided Internet, intranet, and related services may not be used for: "for-profit" activities (private commercial purposes), except those covered under formal agreements with the MUS; "not-for-profit" activities (whether related to public, professional, or service organization activities) that are not related to an employee's assigned job duties or to a student's legitimate academic activities; or extensive private, recreational, or personal activities (including playing of games, downloading game software, or other file sharing activities) that are not required for an employee's or student's MUS business or academic responsibilities). Users must also follow all other MUS policies when using the MUS-provided Internet service, e.g., MUS information technology policy on "User Responsibilities" and other related policies.

Note that use of MUS-provided Internet access and services may be monitored for purposes of planning and managing network resources, performance or troubleshooting purposes, or for investigation of suspected abuse, as described in the MUS information technology policy concerning privacy and monitoring.

COPYRIGHT LAWS

MUS computing and information resource users are subject to all applicable copyright laws regarding software or intellectual property, whether private or commercial. Users may download legally-provided copyrighted material via the Internet, but must strictly adhere to software license agreements, copyright notices, or other agreements governing the use of that material, as may be posted by the provider of the downloaded material. Duplicating, transmitting, or using software or other electronically formatted intellectual property, except as explicitly permitted by software license agreements or copyright notices, may constitute copyright infringement.