Policy on Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources at Teachers College

Objectives

The purpose of this policy is to promote and improve the effectiveness of Teachers College computing and communications resources. As an academic community, the College places a special value on free expression of ideas.  However, unlawful or inappropriate use of these information technology (IT) resources can infringe the rights of others.  Accordingly, all members of the College community are expected to use these resources responsibly.  Prevention of abuse of the College's IT resources is important to:

• promote the appropriate and productive use of the College's information technology resources, which are a finite, shared resource of the College community
• protect individuals from annoyance and harassment;
• prevent waste of the IT resources and obstruction of  College activities;
• and protect the College against seriously damaging or legal consequences.

Policy

The information technology resources of the College are part of the Columbia University network, and therefore all College users must be familiar with and adhere to the University's policies found at www.columbia.edu/cu/policy. Use of College information technology resources must also conform with College policies, regardless of explicit reference in those policies to electronic or other media.  Policies including those related to professional conduct, sexual harassment and others are found at http://www.tc.columbia.edu/administration/hr/hr_policies.asp and in the Student Handbook at www.tc.columbia.edu/administration/student-handbook. College IT resources shall not be used to violate any City, State or Federal laws or any College or University policies.  Copying, storing, displaying, or distributing copyrighted material using College or University computers or networks without the express permission of the copyright owner, except as otherwise allowed under the copyright law, is prohibited. Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, repeat copyright infringements by a user of the College's IT resources can result in termination of the user's access to those resources.  It is not acceptable to attempt to gain access to or use another person's ID, password or account, nor to send an email impersonating another individual, regardless of where the email originates.  Sharing of passwords is prohibited and each user is responsible for the proper use of his or her account and any activity conducted with it.

Communication at the College, regardless of whether it is spoken, written or electronic, should be conducted courteously, and with respect for other people's ideas, privacy, intellectual property, and right to be free from intimidation, harassment, and unwarranted annoyance, including, but not limited to, chain letters, and obscene and other unwelcome messages.  All email and postings should have the name of a person from or for whom it is sent, even if replies are not permitted.  Broadcast messages to large lists should have an educational or work-related significance to many members of the group.  Messages or files that interfere with or impair the computers or activities of other people are not allowed. This includes viruses, worms and Trojan horses.

Consequences for failure to abide by this policy may range from warnings to suspension of email and other computing privileges to dismissal, termination of employment or criminal proceedings.

Complaints

Individuals who believe that there has been a violation may contact the Ombudsperson, the Associate Dean or the Director of Information Technology.

Current contacts are:

   
• Erwin Flaxman, College Ombudsperson for faculty, staff, and students:  212-678-4169, 280 Grace Dodge Hall;
• William Baldwin, Vice Provost:  212-678-3052, 113 Main Hall;
• V. Ena Haines, Director of Information Technology:  212-678-3486, 241 Horace Mann.