LaGrange College Policy for the Responsible Use of Information Technology

The purpose of this policy is to ensure a computing environment that will support the academic, research, and service mission of LaGrange College. Simply stated, continued and efficient accessibility of campus computing and network facilities depends on the responsible behavior of the entire user community. The College seeks to provide students, faculty, and staff with the greatest possible access to campus information technology resources within the limits of institutional priorities and financial capabilities and consistent with generally accepted principles of ethics that govern the College community. To that end, this policy addresses the many issues involved in responsible use of the College’s information technology resources, including systems, software, and data. Each authorized user of information technology assumes responsibility for his or her own behavior while utilizing these resources. Users of information technology at LaGrange College accept that the same moral and ethical behavior that guides our non-computing environments also guides our computing and networking environment. Any infraction of this policy may result minimally in loss of computer and network access privileges, or may result in criminal prosecution.

Use

All users of the College’s information technology resources agree to abide by the terms of this policy. Information technology resources include, but are not limited to, College-owned computers and information technology hardware, the College Campus Network, information sources accessible through the Campus Network, and Internet access. When accessing any remote resources utilizing LaGrange College information technology, users are required to comply with both the policies set forth in this document and all applicable policies governing the use and access of the remote resource. The College, through a review and amendment process directed by the Instructional and Information Technology Round Table (IITR), reserves the right to amend this policy. For the most up-to-date version of this “Responsible Use” policy, see the Information Technology Helpdesk (helpdesk.lagrange.edu). As far as possible, changes will be made only after consulting with the user community. LaGrange College computing resources and associated user accounts are to be used only for the College activities for which they are assigned or intended. The computing systems are not to be used for any non-college-related commercial purpose, public or private, either for profit or non-profit. Unless placed in public domain by their owners, software programs are protected by Section 117 of the 1976 Copyright Act. It is illegal to duplicate, copy, or distribute software or its documentation without the permission of the copyright owner. Copyright protection of text, images, video, and audio must also be respected in all uses of College technology resources. The LaGrange College Campus Network must not be used to serve information outside of LaGrange College without written permission approved by the IITR.

User Accounts

Many technology resources at LaGrange College are accessed through user accounts. No user accounts should be used to execute computer software or programs or attempt to gain access to resources other than software, programs, or resources specifically granted and offered for use by LaGrange College. All users are responsible for both the protection of their account passwords and the data stored in their user accounts. Sharing a password is prohibited. Users must change their password periodically to help prevent unauthorized access of their user account. When working on computers that are in general access areas (laboratories and public access), users must log off or lock the computer before leaving to protect the security of their data and the Network. Leaving the Web-based e-mail page open on an accessible computer, especially outside of campus, leaves the account available to anyone who passes by, and allows the changing of the user’s password, giving the passerby access to the LaGrange College Network. Before leaving a computer, users must log off the Web-based e-mail. If students become locked out of their accounts or for other reasons need to have their passwords reset, then they must either make the request in person to an Information Technology staff member and present a valid LaGrange College ID, or use the self-service password reset tool (LCID). Any suspected unauthorized access of a user’s account should be reported immediately to the Chief Information Of or another College authority. User accounts will be deactivated when the user’s affiliation with the College is terminated, and all files and other data will be removed from those accounts.

College E-Mail Accounts

The College provides e-mail accounts for students, faculty, and staff. All course- and advising-related e-mail and other official College electronic communication with students must be sent to the student’s campus e-mail address or via the on-line Learning Management System (LMS). Official College e-mail communications with faculty and staff will use their College e-mail address. E-mail must not be used for purposes inconsistent with the mission of the College. Users may not conceal, mask, or misrepresent their identity when sending e-mail or other electronic messages. Transmission of abusive, harassing, or libelous electronic messages is forbidden. Deliberate transmission or propagation of malicious programs such as viruses, worms, Trojan Horses, or data mining programs or participation in denial of service attacks are subject to disciplinary and possible criminal action. 

LaGrange College maintains faculty and staff mail groups (distribution lists or aliases) for the purposes of communications concerning the operation of the College. The College maintains a Community mail-list for communications of a less formal nature. Users must make appropriate use of the subject line in postings to all College-related mail groups (distribution lists or aliases) and mail-lists. Announcements to faculty and staff about campus events should be made through “@lagrange”. These announcements should be sent to the Communications and Marketing staff for inclusion in “@lagrange”. A single reminder close to the date of the event may be made to the faculty and staff mail groups. Exceptions to this policy may be made by approval of the Instructional and Information Technology Round Table. Daily reminders of an upcoming event are inappropriate. Examples of messages appropriate for the FYI/e-mail reminder procedure are Collegiate Enrichment Events, Faculty Meetings, Staff Council Meetings, Faculty-Staff Coffees, and Sports Events. Messages not directly related to the operation of the College should be posted to the Community mail-list. For example, items for sale, contests, fund-raisers, sports scores, humorous items, and commentaries belong on the Community mail-list rather than being sent to the faculty and staff mail groups. Users can subscribe or unsubscribe to the Community mail list as they desire by submitting a request to the IT Helpdesk. Submissions to the Community mail list must be approved by Human Resources.

Posting of messages to the e-mail group containing all students must be cleared through the appropriate Vice President’s Office or their delegates. Use of campus digital signage, posters, and flyers are suggested alternative means of reaching all students. Messages to the student body should not be made through the faculty mail group. Messages to faculty containing variations on “Please announce to your class” are ineffective in reaching all students.

Campus Computing Facilities

Computer labs on the LaGrange College campus are available for general use by students, faculty, and staff except during the periods when the rooms have been reserved for teaching purposes. Additional computers are placed in public access areas for student, faculty, and staff use. It is the responsibility of every user to use lab and public access facilities in a responsible manner. Accidental damage or damage caused by other parties should be reported as soon as possible so that corrective action can be taken. Use of laboratory or public access facilities to view material that may be considered offensive to others—which includes, but is not limited to, racially hateful and sexually explicit material—is considered a form of harassment. The viewing of harassing material is inconsistent with the mission of LaGrange College. Viewing such harassing material in a lab or public access area may result in disciplinary action.

Campus Network

The College provides Network access in classrooms, laboratories, the library, offices, public access locations, and student dormitory rooms. While the College is committed to free speech and open access to information and communication, these must be tempered by the need to respect others’ rights to speech, access, and communication. Each user is expected to balance their needs with the needs and expectations of the College community as a whole. The College reserves the rights to limit bandwidth to users and access to non-academic, resource-intensive applications if they threaten to interfere with academic uses of the Campus Network.

Users on the Network must not attempt to conceal, mask, or misrepresent their identity or the identity of computers when using the Network. Users shall not employ software or hardware that interferes with the operation or security of the Network. Users shall not interfere with the administration of the Campus Network, nor shall they attempt to breach any Network or resource security system. In administering the Network, Network activities of users may be monitored as to type and quantity.

Users are responsible for all Network activities originating from resources provided to them by the College.

Wireless Network

Wireless networking provides many benefits to the College, but with these benefits comes unique security threats. In order to make a reasonable effort to prevent access to Network resources from unauthorized users via the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), the following policy and associated best practices exist.

An unsecured Wireless Access Point (WAP) has the potential to open a backdoor into an otherwise secure network. All WAPs located in academic and administrative buildings must be managed by IT. Faculty and staff are prohibited from installing a WAP without explicit permission from the Chief Information Officer. Requests for expansion of the wireless Network should be made to the Network Manager via the IT Helpdesk. In order to allow flexibility for students to utilize wireless networking in the residence halls, secured personal WAPs are allowed on a case-by-case basis. IT must be notified of intent to install a WAP via the IT Helpdesk. WAPs must be physically located in the vicinity of the owner’s conventional wired jack, and they must be secured in at least one (1) of two (2) ways: At least 40-bit Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) must be enabled on the WAP and client, and ideally the WAP’s internal MAC address table should be set to allow access only from authorized clients. IT reserves the right to scan for and disable any unauthorized or unsecured WAPs.

WAP Best Practices:

• Activate WEP on the WAP and client.
• Change the default administrator password to a more secure password.
• Don't use the default Service Set Identifier (SSID).
• Don't broadcast the SSID, if possible.
• Don'tUse the lowest power radio output possible to minimize signal propagation.
• Disable the WAP in non-usage periods.

Remote Access

LaGrange College provides limited remote access to the Campus Network for College business. This service was created for technical and administrative access to the Network not available through a regular Internet connection, and is not intended to provide general Internet access to members of the LaGrange College community. In order to be granted remote access to the Campus Network, a user must submit a request to the Chief Information Officer via their department chair/supervisor. The request should indicate the period of time for which this access is to be granted and indicate how this access is consistent with the technical and/or administrative purpose of the remote access resource.

Data Security

Within institutional priorities and financial capabilities, LaGrange College provides reasonable security against unauthorized intrusion and damage to data, files, and messages stored on its computer systems. The College maintains facilities for archiving and retrieving data stored in user accounts. If a user needs to recover data after an accidental loss, then Information Technology staff should be contacted, and every reasonable attempt will be made to recover the lost or corrupted data. Neither the College nor any Information Technology staff can be held accountable for unauthorized access by other users, nor can they guarantee data protection in the event of media failure, fire, criminal acts, or natural disaster. Backing up critical files regularly is recommended.

Information Resource Use by Guests and Alumni

Use of physical facilities for information technology by guests (individuals not currently enrolled as students or currently employed as faculty or staff members of LaGrange College) and alumni is allowed only within Frank and Laura Lewis Library and under the supervision of library staff. Additionally, such access is allowed only when existing resources are not being fully utilized by LaGrange College students, faculty, or staff. The use of technological resources may be extended to alumni and friends of LaGrange College without the imposition of a “user fee.” A “per printed page” user fee established by Lewis Library will be assessed for use of College printing resources.

User Awareness

Because information technologies change at so rapid a rate, updates to the Responsible Use Policy may be made between printings of College publications. It is the responsibility of the user to keep informed of the changes in this policy, which will be available on LaGrange College's Panthernet web site.

LaGrange College Cell Phone and Pager Policy

The carrying and use of cell phones, pagers, and other electronic communications devices are allowed on the LaGrange College campus. Users of these devices, however, must be attentive to needs and sensibilities of other members of the College community. Furthermore, the use of these devices must not disrupt the functions of the College.

Devices must be off or ringers silenced in classes, laboratories, the library, study spaces, and other academic settings and during events such as plays, concerts, speakers, and College ceremonies. The term “laboratories” explicitly includes computer laboratory spaces. Answering or operating the device during classes, laboratories, meetings, or events is appropriate only in case of emergency. If the device must be answered, then the user must move to a location where the class, laboratory, library patrons, etc. will not be disrupted before making use of the device.