11. Use of System Computing Resources
The LSCS Board of Trustees reconfirms its commitment to the free and unfettered exchange of ideas that is the hallmark of an institution of higher education and the rights of the faculty and students to access, debate, disagree and discuss all educational materials without respect to the popularity or controversial nature of the ideas conveyed.
D.11.01 System Property:
The System provides computing and network resources for the use of students, employees and others affiliated with the System for educational or System-related activities and to facilitate the efficient exchange of useful information. Affiliation with the System includes all university students, faculty, staff, and administrators associated with or enrolled in programs delivered by partner universities at The University Center. Students, employees and System affiliates are encouraged to use the computers, software packages, electronic mail (e-mail), or System network and software. However, the equipment, software and network capacities provided through the System computer services are and remain the property of the System.
System users are expected to conduct themselves in compliance with all policies of the System and relevant laws of the United States and Texas, and to observe the same high ethical and professional standards when communicating through computing resources as are required in face-to-face or written communications.
D.11.02 E-mail Privileges:
Access to the System's network, computer labs, internet and electronic mail is a privilege that is extended to current employees, students and affiliates that are in good standing. The privilege of access ends with the termination of employment or the failure to re-enroll in an LSCS educational program.
D.11.03 Confidentiality:
The System cannot guarantee the privacy or confidentiality of electronic documents, and any messages or information that a person believes may be confidential, by law, should not be communicated over the E-mail system.
The System reserves the right to access the E-mail system to engage in routine computer maintenance and housekeeping, to carry out internal investigations, to prepare responses to requests for public information or to disclose messages, data or files to law enforcement authorities, or for any other legitimate purposes of the System.
D.11.04 Records:
Messages sent as electronic mail should meet the same standards for distribution, display, and retention as if they were tangible documents or instruments. As with all records maintained by the System, and to the extent required by law, files saved in the System's information system, including E-mail, may be subject to public disclosure in response to a public information request.
D.11.05 Prohibited Use:
The following conduct by computer users will be treated as a violation of this policy and may subject the user to discipline, including loss of computing privileges, up to and including termination for an LSCS employee and dismissal for a student.
a. Anonymous or forged e-mail messages.
b. Unauthorized attempts to access another person's e-mail or similar electronic communications or to use another's name, or e-mail address, or to send unauthorized e-mail or similar electronic communications.
c. Use of System e-mail or other network resources for commercial purposes or for personal financial gain.
d. Attempted or actual access to a restricted computing resource without authorization or use for purposes beyond the authorization.
e. The transmission of copyrighted materials without the written permission of the author or creator through System e-mail or other network resources in violation of U.S. copyright law. (See "Copyright and Intellectual Property" Subsections, Section IV. Human Resources, Board Policy Manual).
f. Computing resources used in a manner that disrupts the work or educational environment.
g. Intentional use of System computing resources to store, download, upload, display, print or e-mail computer images that constitute "obscene materials" as defined by Section 43.21 of the Texas Penal Code that are not directly related to or required for a specific educational course or research directly related to an educational program.
h. The display or transmission of messages, images, cartoons or other messages or images that are sexually explicit or that demean a person on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, national origin, disability, religion or sexual orientation may constitute prohibited harassment. (See Policy Section IV-Human Resources)
i. The uploading or downloading of unauthorized materials to or from any System server.
j. The sharing of an account, password or other authentication device that was provided to permit access to restricted computing resources.
k. Attempted or real access to compromise (or hack) any computing resource.
D.11.06 Overloading of Computer Resources:
Nothing in this policy shall prohibit the System or college system operator from intercepting and stopping e-mail messages, other computer programs, or websites, which have the capacity to overload any computer resource.
Discipline may be imposed for intentional overloading of System computer resources.
D.11.07 Procedures:
The Chancellor, or designee, shall develop procedures for appropriate implementation of this policy.