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Violations | Reporting Violations | Violation Procedure | Violation Actions | Policy Revisions | Disclaimer

Dana's Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") is intended to help enhance the use of Dana’s Internet/Intranet (the "Net") by preventing unacceptable use. All users of Dana's Internet/Intranet services (the "Services")—those who access some of our Services must comply with this AUP.

We support the free flow of information and ideas over the Net but we will periodically monitor the use of the Services. Similarly, we do not exercise editorial control over the content of any electronic mail transmission, newsgroup, or other material created or accessible over or through the Services. Dana may cooperate with legal authorities and/or third parties in the investigation of any suspected or alleged crime or civil wrong. Your violation of this AUP may result in the suspension or termination of either your access to the Services and/or your Dana account or other actions as detailed in Reporting Violations of Dana’s AUP.

The policies stated here shall not be regarded as all-inclusive. The absence of a specific statement prohibiting a certain activity does not mean the activity is acceptable. Any activity or use not specified in these statements that is determined to be detrimental to the Dana College computer system is prohibited. All users must consult with the Computer Services Office prior to making use of the system or any account in a manner that might be considered "out of the ordinary." Failure to gain prior approval could result in being cited for a violation.

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Violations of Dana’s Acceptable Use Policy
The following constitute violations of this AUP:

Network Accounts. Using a network account, id or password issued to another individual or allowing another individual to use your network account, id or password. Accounts are intended for the sole use of the individual for whom it was created. That user is responsible for safeguarding their ids and passwords, and is responsible for any and all usage on their assigned account.

Illegal Use. To transmit any material (by email, uploading, posting, or otherwise) that, intentionally or unintentionally, violates any applicable local, state, national, or international law, or any rules or regulations promulgated hereunder.

Harm to Minors. Using the Services to harm, or attempt to harm, minors in any way.

Threats. Using the Services to transmit any material (by email, uploading, posting, or otherwise) that threatens or encourages bodily harm or destruction of property.

Harassment. Using the Services to transmit any material (by email, uploading, posting, or otherwise) that harasses another.

Fraudulent Activity. Using the Services to making fraudulent offers to sell or buy products, items, or services, or to advance any type of financial scam such as "pyramid schemes," "ponzi schemes," and "chain letters."

Forgery or Impersonation. Adding, removing, or modifying identifying network header information in an effort to deceive or mislead is prohibited. Attempting to impersonate any person by using forged headers or other identifying information is prohibited.

Unsolicited Commercial Email/ Unsolicited Bulk Email. Using the Services to transmit any unsolicited commercial email or unsolicited bulk email. Activities that have the effect of facilitating unsolicited commercial email or unsolicited bulk email whether or not that email is commercial in nature are prohibited.

Unauthorized Access. Using the Services for creating Web Servers, ICQ servers, MP3 servers, Chat servers, etc. or any program that others can access on your machine. Using the Services to access, or to attempt to access, the accounts of others, or to penetrate, or attempt to penetrate, security measures of Dana's or another entity’s computer software or hardware, electronic communications system, or telecommunications system, whether or not the intrusion results in the corruption or loss of data.

Copyright or Trademark Infringement. Using the Services to transmit any material (by email, uploading, posting, or otherwise) that infringes any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, or other proprietary rights of any third party, including, but not limited to, the unauthorized copying of copyrighted material, the digitization and distribution of photographs from magazines, books, or other copyrighted sources, and the unauthorized transmittal of copyrighted software.

Collection of Personal Data. Using the Services to collect, or attempt to collect, personal information about third parties without their knowledge or consent.

Reselling the Services. Reselling the Services without Dana's authorization.

Network Disruptions and Unfriendly Activity. Using the Services for any activity which adversely affects the ability of other people or systems to use Dana's Services or the Net. This includes "denial of service" (DoS) attacks against another network host or individual user. Interference with or disruption of other network users, network services, or network equipment is prohibited. It is the Member's responsibility to ensure that their network is configured in a secure manner. A student, faculty, or staff member may not, through action or inaction, allow others to use their network for illegal or inappropriate actions. A Member may not permit their network, through action or inaction, to be configured in such a way that gives a third party the capability to use their network in an illegal or inappropriate manner.

News. Dana's students, faculty, and staff should use their best judgment when posting to any newsgroup. Many groups have charters, published guidelines, FAQs, or "community standards" describing what is and is not considered appropriate. USENET can be a valuable resource if used properly. The continued posting of off-topic articles is prohibited. Commercial advertisements are off-topic in most newsgroups, especially regional groups not specifically named for such. The presence of such articles in a group is not indicative of the group's "intended" use. Please familiarize yourself with basic USENET netiquette before posting to a newsgroup.

Long Connections and Multiple Logins.
Using a personal account for high volume or commercial use is prohibited. The Services are intended for periodic, active use of email, newsgroups, and browsing the World Wide Web. Students, faculty, and staff may stay connected so long as they are actively using that connection for the above purposes. Students, faculty, and staff may not use the Services on a standby or inactive basis in order to maintain a connection. Pinging is expressly prohibited. Accordingly, Dana maintains the right to terminate any connection following any extended period of inactivity as determined by Dana.

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Reporting Violations of Dana’s AUP
Dana requests that anyone who believes that there is a violation of this AUP direct the information to Computer Services (426-7289).
If available, please provide the following information:

  • The IP address used to commit the alleged violation
  • The date and time of the alleged violation, including the time zone or offset from GMT
  • Evidence of the alleged violation

Email with full header information provides all of the above, as do syslog files. Other situations will require different methods of providing the above information.

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Violation Procedure
In the event a violation is determined to have taken place, specific sanctions will be administered on a case-by-case basis through consultation between either the Dean of Students (all violations other than academic integrity) or Provost (academic integrity violations) and the Computer Services/Information Services Committee.

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Violation Actions
Dana may take any one or more of the following actions in response to complaints:

  • issue written or verbal warnings
  • suspend the account
  • terminate the account
  • expulsion from Dana College
  • bring legal action to enjoin violations and/or to collect damages, if any, caused by violations.

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Revisions to this Acceptable Use Policy
Dana College reserves the right to revise, amend, or modify this AUP, and our other policies and agreements at any time and in any manner.

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Disclaimer
By the acceptance of this AUP, the user will indemnify, defend and hold harmless Dana College, its agents and employees, from any and all liabilities, damage, expense, cause of action suits, claims or judgments arising out of any activity by user, including any act or omission of user, regarding the use of Dana’s computing resources or otherwise related to the subject of this policy.

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