400.00 Acceptable Use Policies

SECTION CONTENTS


410.00  Montana State University Network [MSUNET]
410.10    Objective
410.20    Policy

420.00  SummitNet, Montana's Statewide Telecommunications Network

430.00  MSU's Internet Service Provider

410.00 Montana State University Network (MSUNET)

410.10 Objective

To establish guidelines for acceptable use of the Montana State University Network, which is defined as the university's data communications network and associated computing and information processing systems, resources and facilities.

410.20 Policy

1. Use of connected networks, including the Internet, Internet2, and SummitNet,  must be consistent with the rules and acceptable use policies established by the providers of those services.  Use of MSUnet must be consistent with Section 1300.00 (Information Technology) of the Board of Regents Policy and Procedures Manual and with the Campus Networking Policy.
    

2. Release of information through MSUnet is bound by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (the "Buckley Amendment"), Montana Code Annotated 20-25-515 and 20-25-516, and the Personnel Policy and Procedures Manual, Section 1110.00.
    

3. Use of MSUnet must be consistent with Section 420.00 (Professional Rights and Responsibilities) of the Faculty Handbook, Section 2-2-121 of the State Employee Standards of Conduct, and Section III.H.4 of the Student Conduct Code.
    

4. Any illegal or unauthorized use of MSUnet systems, software, data, or electronic mail is prohibited. Violation of the privacy of others, accessing another user's systems, software, data, or electronic mail without that user's permission is prohibited.
    

5. Any use that adversely affects the operation of MSUnet or jeopardizes its use or performance for other users is prohibited. Use of MSUnet for personal activities, such as playing electronic games, in a manner that restricts access to resources for official university business is prohibited.
    

6. Use of MSUnet for purposes that may be interpreted as harassment or intimidation is prohibited (Sexual Harassment Policy, Personnel Policy and Procedures Manual, Section 1210.00; Student Conduct Code, Section III.H.4.e).
    

7. Commercial or for-profit uses of MSUnet are allowed only in specific instances approved by the President's Executive Council.
    

8. Alleged violations of this policy should be reported to the Information Technology Center (ITC). Suspected incidents will be investigated by ITC in cooperation with the alleged violator's supervisor and other MSU authorities as required by the nature of the offense. The appropriate MSU, state, and Regent's grievance procedures and disciplinary actions apply in these cases.
    

9. The following banner will be displayed at logon to ITC-controlled systems:

   "This computer and/or the resources to which it is attached are the property of Montana State University-Bozeman and are subject to the Montana University System (MUS) security, monitoring, and appropriate use policies located at: http://bor.montana.edu/borpol/bor1300/bor1300.asp or available in hardcopy from campus Information Technology Center. Unauthorized use is a violation of state law (45-6-311, MCA) and MUS policies. By continuing to use this system, you indicate your awareness of and consent to the terms and conditions of use stated in this warning.  Log off immediately if you do not agree to the conditions stated herein."
    

10. Violating terms of applicable software licensing agreements or copyright laws, including but not limited to inappropriate reproduction and/or distribution of music (.mp3 files, for example), video, computer software, copyrighted text, images, etc., is prohibited.
     

11. In accordance with the Standards for Network Connectivity at Montana State University-Bozeman, users may not connect unauthorized equipment to the campus network. This includes hubs, routers, switches, wireless access points, or any other mechanism that gives multiple computers access to the network through a single jack.
     

12. Associating an unapproved domain name with an MSU-owned IP address is prohibited. Domain name approval is granted by the ITC Network, Systems, and Operations manager.
     

13. Unauthorized attempts to circumvent data protection schemes, firewalls, or other mechanisms put in place by MSU to manage the network are prohibited. This includes creating and/or running programs that are designed to identify and/or exploit security loopholes or decrypt intentionally secure data.
     

14. Running or installing on any computer system or network, or making available to another user a program intended to damage or to place excessive load on a computer system or network is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, programs known as computer viruses, Trojan horses, worms, and 'denial of service' programs.
     

15. Accounts on devices connected to the MSU network are typically assigned to individuals. Such an account is for the exclusive use of that individual and its use by any other individual is prohibited.

420.00 SummitNet, Montana's Statewide Telecommunications Network

430.00 MSU's Internet Service Provider

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