Terms of use for Internet and e-mail (Summary)

The Internet is a very large, publicly accessible network that has millions of connected users and organizations worldwide.  One popular feature of the Internet is e-mail.

Guiding Principle

Access to the Internet is provided to students to enhance their learning at the Alberta College of Art & Design (ACAD).  Students are able to connect to a variety of information resources around the world.

Conversely, the Internet is also replete with risks and inappropriate material.  To ensure that all students are responsible and productive Internet users and to protect the interests of ACAD, the following guidelines have been established for using the Internet and e-mail.

Acceptable use

Students using the Internet are representing the college.  Students are responsible for ensuring that the Internet is used in an effective, ethical and lawful manner.  Examples of acceptable use are:

• Using Web browsers to obtain information from academic, commercial and public Web sites.
• Accessing databases for information as needed.
• Using e-mail for academic related communication.

Unacceptable use

Students must not use the Internet for purposes that are illegal, unethical, harmful to the college, or nonproductive.  Examples of unacceptable use are:

• Sending or forwarding chain e-mail, i.e., messages containing instructions to forward the message to others.
• Broadcasting e-mail, i.e., sending the same message to more than 10 recipients or more than one distribution list.
• Conducting a personal business using college resources.
• Transmitting any content that is offensive, harassing, or fraudulent.

Student responsibilities

A student who uses the Internet or Internet e-mail shall:

• Ensure that all communications are for the purpose of conducting College business, communications, studies and research.

• Be responsible for the content of all text, audio, or images that (s)he places or sends over the Internet. All communications should have the student’s name attached.
• Not transmit copyrighted materials without permission.
• Know and abide by all applicable college guidelines dealing with security and confidentiality of college information.
• Run a virus scan on any executable file(s) received through the Internet.
• Avoid transmission of nonpublic student information (i.e. names and e-mail addresses of fellow students, faculty and staff).  If it is necessary to transmit nonpublic information, students are required to take steps reasonably intended to ensure that information is delivered to the proper person who is authorized to receive such information for a legitimate use.

Copyrights

Students using the Internet are not permitted to copy, transfer, rename, add, or delete information or programs belonging to others unless given express permission to do so by the owner.  Failure to observe copyright or license agreements may result in disciplinary action by the college and/or legal action by the copyright owner.

Monitoring

All messages created, sent, or retrieved over the Internet are the property of the college and may be regarded as public information.  ACAD reserves the right to access the contents of any messages sent over its facilities if the college believes, in it sole judgment, that is has a business need to do so.

All communications, including text and images, can be disclosed to law enforcement of other third parties without prior consent of the sender or the receiver.  This means don’t put anything into your e-mail messages that you wouldn’t want to see on the front page of the newspaper or be required to explain in a court of law.

I agree to these Terms of Use for Internet and E-mail.

The current Terms of Use for C+TS facilities and services are posted at www.acad.ab.ca/cts_termsofuse.html