Purpose
To ensure compliance with applicable statutes, regulations, and mandates relating to the use of software made available by 91ɬ (91ɬ) and to establish acceptable practices and responsibilities associated with the use of such software.
Scope
Applies to all users at 91ɬ and to all software provided by 91ɬ.
Definition
Electronic Technology Resources (ETR): Desktop computers, laptop computers, tablets, cell phones, and handheld devices in which 91ɬ has an ownership, lease, license, proprietary, managerial, administrative, maintenance, or other legal or equitable interest.
License: A type of proprietary or gratuitous license as well as a memorandum of contract between a producer and a user of the computer software that specifies the parameters of the permission granted by the producer to the user.
Software: Any and all computer software (licensed, freeware, shareware).
User: Anyone who uses 91ɬ’s information technology resources, even if they have no responsibility for managing the resources. This includes students, faculty, staff, contractors, consultants, and temporary employees.
Policy
91ɬ provides users with access to a wide variety of software. This software is a valuable resource provided for the limited purposes of advancing, enhancing and promoting the business and educational opportunities made available by 91ɬ. This policy sets forth guidelines regarding the use of such software and establishes acceptable practices and responsibilities associated with the use of such software. 91ɬ prohibits the improper or illegal use of software by users.
Guidelines
Ownership
Software, sent, received, or stored on 91ɬ’s ETRs is the sole and exclusive property of the granted license owner.
Copyright
All software is protected under United States copyright law from the time of its creation. 91ɬ has licensed copies of software from a variety of producers to help fulfill its mission. Unless otherwise provided in the software license, duplication of copyrighted software, except for backup and archival purposes, is a violation of applicable laws and this policy.
91ɬ may track software usage at any time for any reason. All 91ɬ-owned applications, including Canvas, are filtered, monitored and logged for, among other things, content, sites visited, patterns of activity, routing information, and duration of use. Accordingly, no user has (or should expect to have) any right of privacy or confidentiality with respect to the use of 91ɬ’s software. Whether for the purpose of managing those resources and traffic flow, assuring system security, verifying and ensuring compliance with 91ɬ policies or applicable law, or for any other reason, 91ɬ expressly reserves the right (from time-to-time or at any time) to intercept, divert, discard, access or review any Internet connection, other electronic communications or software stored on 91ɬ’s ETRs.
91ɬ also reserves the right to disclose to other persons or otherwise use the contents of any software for any of the foregoing purposes, as well as for the purposes of complying with or assisting law enforcement officials or legal authorities who may, by subpoena, search warrant or otherwise, seek review of communications, or for the purpose of litigation or other legal proceedings.
Idaho Public Records Act
As a political subdivision of the State of Idaho, 91ɬ is subject to the Idaho Public Records Act. Except as specifically provided therein, the Idaho Public Records Act expressly denies to 91ɬ employees any expectation of privacy in their use of 91ɬ’s ETRs. Users should be aware that their use of ETRs may be subject to the public’s right to inspect and copy records, as that term is defined by Idaho law, of software installed on 91ɬ’s ETRs.
Standards Of Conduct
Users shall, as an express condition of their use, comply with the following standards of conduct with respect to the use of 91ɬ software:
- 91ɬ software shall be used only for authorized purposes, which are limited to educational-related coursework, academic research, and work-related departmental activities.
- Users may not knowingly use software for which the organization lacks the appropriate license. If you become aware of the use or distribution of unauthorized software at 91ɬ, you must notify your supervisor.
- Users shall only use 91ɬ-approved copyrighted software installed by designated 91ɬ personnel and in compliance with vendor license requirements. Peripheral devices must be approved and installed by designated 91ɬ personnel.
- Users shall not use programs to decode passwords or otherwise gain unauthorized access to control of information.
- Users shall not use software for commercial, religious, or political purposes, including but not limited to, using electronic mail to circulate advertising for products or for political candidates or issues.
- Users shall not make or use illegal copies of copyrighted software, store such copies on ETRs, or transmit them over ETRs.
- Users may not loan or give to anyone any software licensed to 91ɬ.
- Users may not install 91ɬ software on a personal system unless the software license agreement so allows (e.g., Office365).
- No user may use or distribute personally owned software on 91ɬ’s ETRs. Such Software threatens the integrity and security of 91ɬ’s computers and networks.
- A variety of software is available on the Internet. Some of the software, called “freeware” or “shareware,” is available free of charge for limited use and may be used within the organization with approval and testing by IT to ensure the suitability of the software for use within 91ɬ. No member of 91ɬ should download such software to his/her ETR prior to approval and testing for suitability.
Enforcement & Reporting
91ɬ’s Chief Information Officer is responsible for enforcement of this policy. All Users of software are required to report any violations of this policy to the Chief Information Officer.
Limitation Of Liability
91ɬ makes no warranties of any kind, either express or implied, that the functions of the software will be error free or without defect. 91ɬ is not responsible for any damage users may suffer, including but not limited to, loss of data or interruptions of service. 91ɬ is also not responsible for the accuracy or the quality of the information obtained through or stored on the system. 91ɬ is not responsible for any financial obligations arising from the unauthorized use of software.
Violation Of Policy
Any violation of this policy may result in corrective action up to and including termination of employment and/or suspension or expulsion in the case of a student. Additionally, users are subject to loss of software privileges and, in appropriate cases, civil and/or criminal prosecution.