Network Resources Acceptable Use Policy

1. Definitions
   1. Financial gain is defined as gain derived from any activity recognized under current U.S. Tax Code as qualifying as a business.
   2. Illegal activities are defined as a violation of local, state, and/or federal laws.
   3. Inappropriate use is defined as a violation of the intended use of Dixie Tech network resources.
   4. Objectionable is defined as materials that are identified as such by the rules and policies of the Utah System of Higher Education that relate to curriculum materials and textbook adoption.
   5. Political lobbying is defined as activities on behalf of a particular party or candidate.
   6. P2P (Peer-to-Peer) is a networking term used when two or more potentially global computing devices are directly communicating with one another in an isolated fashion.
   7. Network resource is any computing device connected or has the potential to connect to College Campus wiring infrastructure.
   8. Malware or Malicious Software is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner’s informed consent.
2. The following uses of the College’s network resources by any Colllege employee, student or other user are prohibited:
   1. Any use for financial gain.
   2. Any use for product advertisement or political lobbying.
   3. Any use, which shall serve to disrupt the use of the network by other users.
   4. Any File Sharing or P2P file sharing allowing computing devices to upload/download information from any other computing device violating copyright infringement.
   5. Any use of Dixie Tech network resources for illegal or inappropriate purposes or to access materials that are objectionable in an Technology Education environment, or in support of such activities, material or communication that is deemed to be offensive, such as pornographic or sexually explicit material, in the opinion of a reasonable person in an educational setting, is also prohibited.
   6. Accessing private, protected or controlled records regardless of the electronic form without management authorization.
   7. Divulging or make known his/her own password(s) to another person.
   8. Distributing offensive, disparaging or harassing statements including those that might incite violence or that are based on race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or political or religious beliefs.
   9. Using College provided IT resources to violate any local, state, or federal law.
   10. Representing oneself as someone else including either a fictional or real person.
   11. Knowingly or recklessly spread computer viruses, including acting in a way that effectively opens file types known to spread computer viruses particularly from unknown sources or from sources from which the file would not be reasonably expected to be connected with.
3. Network Monitoring. Mechanisms to monitor and control computer and network access will be implemented, maintained and monitored by the Information Technology Department.
4. Authorized Network Use. Only the authorized owner of the account shall use Dixie Tech network resource accounts. Account owners are ultimately responsible for all activity under their account.
5. Network Access Time. Excessive and open-‐ended use of the network in terms of access time cannot be accommodated. Employees and students are encouraged to apply good judgment and mutual consideration in the exercise of their rights as users of this shared resource.
6. Privacy of Information. Great care is taken by the Dixie Tech to ensure the right of privacy of users. However, all communications and information accessible via the Dixie Tech network should be assumed to be Dixie Tech property and are subject to review and inspection by the Dixie Tech network administrator as governed by applicable federal and state laws and Dixie Tech policy. Dixie Tech property includes employee and student e-‐mails. Employees and students should expect that nothing delivered or received via e-‐mail is private, and should understand that the Dixie Tech is obligated to disclose e-‐ mail messages to law enforcement or other authorized personnel without prior notice. Caution should be taken by employees and students not to engage in prohibited e-‐mail activity including illegal messaging, electronic chain letters, and mailbox contents that consume inordinate amounts of system resources.
7. Use of Dixie Tech-‐Owned Computer Equipment. Employees and students are expected to use Dixie Tech-‐owned equipment primarily for official business in connection with their jobs and/or education. Dixie Tech policy does not prohibit incidental personal use of the equipment. However, network users are required to exercise reasonable precautions in caring for any equipment authorized for use off-‐premises, and are personally responsible for any damage resulting from use by unauthorized persons.
   1. While this policy recognizes that a reasonable amount of wear due to use is to be expected, any damage which is deemed to be the result of intentional misuse, abuse, or gross negligence will be the financial responsibility of the employee or student. Additionally, employees and students will be held accountable for any wear or damage caused by use of the equipment for non-‐approved or inappropriate purposes.
   2. All employees and students must be given ample opportunity to review this policy and are to understand that use of Dixie Tech network resources constitute an agreement to be bound by this policy.
8. Policy Consent and Infractions. In the event that the College suspects or detects an infraction of this policy, they will report findings to Human Resources and/or Student Services as appropriate for further investigation and/or appropriate action.
9. Infractions and Due Process. In the case of infractions of this policy, notice and hearing is provided through individual notification or, if necessary, through the disabling of an account, which provides an opportunity to discuss this action and violations with the appropriate system administrator and Human Resources or Student Services as appropriate. A determination is then followed by the appropriate suspension or revocation of any or all network privileges and/or disciplinary action.
10. Telecommunication System. The Dixie Tech telecommunication equipment is provided to conduct official Dixie Tech business and the use of telecommunication resources for personal use should be kept to a minimum.
11. Authorization and Installation of Software. Information Technology Department is responsible for ensuring compatibility between software applications used at the College. Therefore, it is recommended that Dixie Tech employees and students notify and receive consent from IT when installing software applications to reduce incompatibility issues and possible associated downtime. Installation of personal copies of software by Dixie Tech employees and students is discouraged due to possible licensing infringements. This policy is intended to ensure compliance with software licensing obligations and also to safeguard against avoidable introduction of computer viruses, as well as to avoid unnecessary potential overloading of memory and hard disc storage capacity of Dixie Tech-‐ owned equipment.
12. Prohibition on Copying Dixie Tech-‐installed Software. Under no circumstances may unauthorized employees or students copy Dixie Tech-‐owned software for installation on personal or any other computer equipment. In some cases, Dixie Tech employees wishing to work at home on Dixie Tech business, either on their own time or on an approved telecommuting basis may wish to utilize personally owned computer equipment. With specific approval by the direct supervisor, related Dixie Tech-‐owned software may be installed on the Dixie Tech employees’ personal computer equipment, but only by Information Technology staff members. An inventory of Dixie Tech-‐owned software installed on Dixie Tech employees’ personal PCs will be maintained, and the software will be deleted and the deletions verified when an employee terminates employment with the Dixie Tech.
13. Internet Access and Use. On a need to have basis, IT will activate access to the Internet. Dixie Tech employees and students are expected to exercise sound judgment in limiting their use of this feature primarily to official Dixie Tech-‐related purposes, and to incidental and off-‐duty personal uses appropriate to standards of ethical behavior. Dixie Tech employees and students with off-‐premises access to the Internet are required to safeguard against its use by unauthorized persons. IT staff will monitor and periodically check the sites addressed using Dixie Tech Internet access.  

Effective Date: March 24, 2021