Computer Use Policies and Information
Appropriate Use of Information Services
As information technology continues to play an increasingly important role in education and the world in general, it is essential that Kenyon students, staff, and faculty have open access to information and training in information skills in order to participate in the emerging electronic culture. Open access to Kenyon's information services requires an intellectual environment based on mutual respect and trust, information sharing, collaboration with peers, the free inquiry and expression of ideas, and a secure information infrastructure maintained by the College.
The health and well-being of such an environment is the responsibility of each member of the Kenyon community. All members are expected to behave in a responsible, ethical and legal manner regarding the use of Kenyon's information services. In order to insure such an environment, this policy summary defines the rights and responsibilities of individual members. By using Kenyon's information services, a member of the Kenyon community gives implicit consent to abide by these policies.
- Rights of Members of the Kenyon Electronic Community
- Fair and reasonable access. Open access to information is a precondition to one's personal and professional development and sense of community at Kenyon. Access to information, however, must be qualified by other people's right to privacy and their intellectual property rights.
- Ownership and acknowledgement of intellectual works. Members have ownership rights over their own intellectual works. Kenyon seeks to create the kind of environment in which its members may feel free to create and collaborate with peers without fear that the products of their intellectual efforts will be violated.
- Collection and disclosure of personal information. Members have the right to be informed about personal information collected about them, how it is to be used, and the right to review and correct that information.
- Security. Members have the right to expect reasonable security against intrusion and damage to their electronically stored information.
- Freedom from harassment. Members have the right to pursue their College work without harassment by another's computer and network usage.
- Due Process. Members have the right to due process in cases of alleged policy violations. They shall be dealt with according to established College judicial processes.
- Responsibilities of Members
- Respect for the rights of other users. The standards of common sense, decency, and courtesy that apply to the use of any shared resource apply to the use of Kenyon's information services. They should be used wisely and carefully with consideration for the needs of others. Anyone who uses these services to harass, intimidate or threaten another will be referred to the appropriate College judicial authority.
- Respect for the privacy of other users' information, even when that information is not securely protected. Information stored electronically is considered confidential unless the owner intentionally makes that information available to other groups or individuals. Personal information should not be looked at, copied, altered or destroyed without the owner's explicit permission, unless authorized to do so by College regulation or required by law.
- Respect for authorized and intended use of information services. Members must utilize only those information services which they have been authorized to use and only for College-related purposes. Prohibited activities include: political campaign activities, activities jeopardizing the College's tax-exempt status, and activities for commercial profit or for the direct financial benefit of non-Kenyon organizations.
- Respect for the intellectual work of others. Since electronic information is volatile and easily reproduced, members are expected to honor the work of others by strict adherence to software licensing agreements and copyright laws.
- Respect for the limited resources of the systems. Members are responsible for using information services prudently, remembering that the members of the community share them. They are respected to refrain from all acts that are damaging, wasteful or hinder others from using them.
- Respect for the security mechanisms and integrity of the systems and networks. Members must not disrupt or threaten the systems at Kenyon. Members are responsible for the use of their accounts and should not share them with others or use others' accounts.