5.22 Acceptable Use of Computers and Information Technology Resources

Board Policies
Chapter 5 - Administration

Policy Statement
Computer and information technology resources are essential tools in accomplishing the mission of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and its individual colleges and universities. These resources must be used and managed responsibly in order to ensure their availability. This policy establishes responsibilities for acceptable use of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities information technology resources.

Part 1. Purpose

Subpart A. Acceptable use
System information technology resources are provided for use by currently enrolled system students, administrators, faculty, employees, and other authorized users. System information technology resources are the property of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and are provided for the direct and indirect support of the system's educational, research, service, student and campus life activities, administrative and business purposes, within the limitation of available system technology, financial, and human resources. The use of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities information technology is conditioned on adherence to this policy and any procedures or guidelines adopted pursuant to this policy.

Subpart B. Academic freedom
Nothing in this policy shall be interpreted to expand, diminish, or alter academic freedom articulated under Board policy and system collective bargaining agreements, or the terms of any charter establishing a system library as a community or public library.

Part 2. Applicability
This policy applies to all users of system information technology, whether or not the user is affiliated with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and to all uses of system information technology, wherever located.

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is not responsible for any personal or unauthorized use of its system information technology or the security of personal data or devices on or using system information technology resources.

Part 3. Definitions

System
The Board of Trustees, the system office, the colleges and universities, and any part or combination thereof.

System information technology
All system facilities, technologies, and information resources used for information processing, transfer, storage and communications. This includes, but is not limited to, computer hardware and software, computer labs, classroom technologies such as computer-based instructional management systems, and computing and electronic communications devices and services, such as modems, e-mail, networks or use of a network via a physical or wireless connection, telephones, voicemail, facsimile transmissions, video, mobile computing devices, and multimedia materials.

Transmit
To send, store, collect, transfer, or otherwise alter or affect information technology resources or data contained therein.

User
Any individual, including, but not limited to, students, administrators, faculty, employees, and volunteers using system information technology in any manner, whether or not the user is affiliated with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

Part 4. Scope

Subpart A. Procedures
The chancellor shall adopt procedures under this policy, including, but not limited to: security; employee use consistent with Minn. Stat. § 43A.38 and other applicable law; monitoring; unauthorized uses; and other limitations on use.

Subpart B. Sanctions
Users who violate this policy or related system, college, or university procedures shall be subject to disciplinary action through appropriate channels. Violations may be referred to appropriate law enforcement authorities consistent with applicable law and procedures.

Policy History:

Date of Adoption: 07/16/03
Date of Implementation: 07/16/03
Date of Last Review: 01/25/17

Date & Subject of Amendments:

01/25/17 - Regular Five Year Review. Applied new formatting and writing standards resulting in technical edits. Part 2 was amended to clarify that Minnesota State is not responsible for any personal or unauthorized use of system information technology, or the security of personal data or devices.

11/16/11 - Effective 1/1/12, the Board of Trustees amends all board policies to change the term "Office of the Chancellor" to "system office," and to make necessary related grammatical changes.

03/17/10 - Amends Part 3, Subpart B to include "mobile computing devices and multimedia materials" to the list of technical information resources.

No additional HISTORY

5.22 Acceptable Use of Computers and Information Technology Resources

Related Documents:

Policy History: