Purpose
Computer use is encouraged among faculty, staff, and students at Wartburg College for purposes consistent with the stated mission of the college. Wartburg College is dedicated to challenging and nurturing students for lives of leadership and service as a spirited expression of their faith and learning.

Definition
Wartburg College computing resources include college-owned computer systems and peripherals, local-area networks and network-attached devices, telecommunications equipment and the high-speed network linking the campus to the worldwide Internet.

Authorized Users
Use of Wartburg College computing resources is restricted to current employees and students. On a case-by-case basis, the Director of Information Technology Services (ITS) may grant access to individuals or groups such as alumni, family members of Wartburg employees, retirees or others.

Appropriate Use
Wartburg computer resources are to be used in an ethical, responsible, courteous and fair manner for the following purposes:

• Class assignments
• Academic research and investigation
• Professional advancement
• Administrative and instructional support
• Staff and faculty consulting subject to prior written approval of the appropriate Vice President.

Users may not engage in unauthorized or inappropriate conduct on the Internet or on Wartburg College computing resources. Examples of such activities include, but are not limited to:

• Using or sharing another person's login id to access computing facilities at Wartburg or another Internet facility. This includes permitting others to use your own login id.
• Using college computing resources to crack or access systems for which one is not authorized.
• Using college computing resources to engage in illegal or criminal activities.
• Using college computing resources for commercial purposes, for personal financial gain or to support any groups or organizations not otherwise authorized by the College.
• Using college computing resources to threaten or harass another person in a manner that violates the Statement on Professional Ethics in the Faculty Handbook Section 2.4.2; the Wartburg Student Conduct System outlined in the Student Handbook; or Section 2.15 of the Staff Handbook.
• Attempting to read or access another person's electronic mail or other protected files.
• Copying or distributing software which violates copyright laws, license agreements, and intellectual property as outlined in the Copyright Law of the United States of America, in Title 17 of the United States Code Additional information is available at: http://www.loc.gov/copyright/.
• Establishing worldwide web servers and pages on the campus network for external access without authorization.
• Knowingly distributing or actively developing a computer virus, worm, or Trojan Horse.
• Using excessive amounts of system resources (e.g. CPU time, disk space, or network bandwidth) thereby preventing access by other users;
• Consuming excessive volumes of printing resources;
• Failing to identify yourself clearly and accurately in all electronic communications.
• Failing to use anti-virus software (so that you do not spread computer viruses or other programs that may damage or place excessive load on email or other College resources).

Personal Use
Wartburg College permits personal use of its computing resources. However, such use must be reasonable, must conform to all policies of the College, must not interfere with a user's work or educational responsibilities, and must not disrupt the work of other users.

DMCA Compliance Policy and Notification

Privacy
Wartburg College supports a climate of trust and respect and does not ordinarily monitor or screen electronic files. (College personnel who read, disseminate, or otherwise compromise the confidentiality of electronic information are subject to disciplinary action as outlined below.)

Nevertheless, the College cannot assure the confidentiality or privacy of electronic files. All College information, including all email communication and other electronic files, whether stored on local drives of College-owned computers or on centralized network storage, may be accessed for the purpose of assuring compliance with statutory requirements and internal policies. Computer files may also be subject to search under Court order. In addition, authorized computer technicians may access electronic files while exercising their responsibilities of maintaining the system. The Wartburg community is advised that all files stored on main systems, including electronic mail, are backed-up regularly and may be subject to subpoena.

Electronic Mail
All authorized users of Wartburg College computing facilities are allowed an email account on the Wartburg College system. Wartburg College expressly permits electronic mail for personal, not-for-profit use, but such use must be lawful, must conform to College policies, and must not interfere with the employee's work or the work of other faculty, staff, and students. Email should conform to the same standards of propriety and respect as any other verbal or written communication at the College.

Worldwide Web
ITS actively maintains a World-Wide Web (WWW) server for the Wartburg community with Communications and Marketing holding primary responsibility and authority over web pages containing official campus information. Wartburg College recognizes the value and potential of publishing on the Internet and so allows and encourages students, staff, and faculty to publish electronic information via the worldwide web within guidelines. Academic and administrative units may create web pages to carry out the College's stated mission. Content of these web pages must be consistent with College publications policy.

Disciplinary Action
Violation of these policies constitutes computer abuse and the Wartburg Student Conduct System will govern disciplinary actions for students. Computer abuse by employees of Wartburg College may be grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment governed by the Wartburg College Faculty Handbook and the Staff Handbook. Violations of this policy are to be referred to the Director of ITS or designee.

[Approved April 2003]