Acceptable Use of Computing and Communication Resources Policy – February 20, 2014

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ACCEPTABLE USE OF COMPUTING AND

COMMUNICATION RESOURCES POLICY

Policy Type:

Management

Initially

Approved:

February 20,

2014

Policy

Sponsor:

VP, Finance &

Administration

Last

Revised:

February 20,

2014

Primary

Contact:

CIO and AVP,

Information

Technology

Services

Review

Scheduled:

May 1, 2025

Approver:

Board of Governors

OVERVIEW

As a part of the physical and social learning infrastructure, Mount Royal University acquires,

develops, and maintains its own computers, computer systems, and networks. These computing

resources are intended for institutional-related purposes, including direct and indirect support of

Mount Royal University's instruction, research, service missions, and administrative functions.

These computing resources are also intended for student and campus life activities and the free

exchange of ideas among members of the Mount Royal community and wider local, national, and

world communities.

The use of Mount Royal computing resources, like the use of any other institution-provided

resource and any other institutional-related activity, is subject to compliance with legal and ethical

behavior within the Mount Royal community.

Mount Royal's Information Technology Services Department is available to assist, advise and

consult with users on the proper use of institutional computer resources and interpretation of the

Policy. If there are any questions or uncertainty about the Policy, users are encouraged to

contact the Chief Information Officer or their designate for clarification.

This Policy should be read in conjunction with the following policies: Employees Safe Disclosure

of Wrongdoing and Public Interest Disclosure Policy, Safe Disclosure Policy - Non-Employees,

Code of Student Conduct, Personal Harassment Policy, Human Rights Policy, and

Offensive/Discriminatory Material as well as all other Mount Royal University policies.

PURPOSE

This Policy outlines the general usage policy all users of Mount Royal University computer and

communication resources must abide by. Mount Royal computing and communication resources

are provided for "institutional-related purposes."

Recognizing, however, it may be difficult to distinguish between personal use and "institutional-

related" uses, the costs associated with occasional personal use, the costs associated with

enforcing a flat prohibition, and the benefits that may accrue to Mount Royal from increased

experience and familiarity of its users with available computing resources, "incidental" personal

use is permitted only to the extent that there is compliance with University standards as well as

federal, provincial and municipal law and regulations.

Acceptable Use of Computing and Communication Resources Policy – February 20, 2014

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SCOPE

Compliance with University Policies and Procedures extends to all members of the University

community.

This Policy applies to all users of Mount Royal University owned or licensed computing

resources, whether on campus or from remote locations. Additional policies may apply to specific

computers, computer systems, or networks provided or operated by specific units of Mount Royal.

Mount Royal computer and communication resources are defined to include but are not limited to

such devices as desktop computers, laptop/tablet computers, monitors, hard drives, disk space,

printers, scanners, network devices, data capable phones (smartphones), internet access and

networks provided by the University, including computer labs, and software acquired by Mount

Royal. This Policy is also extended to include any computer system or resource that is owned or

managed by Mount Royal University regardless of its location.

POLICY STATEMENT

MOUNT ROYAL UNIVERSITY COMPUTING RESOURCES

All users of Mount Royal University computer resources must:

1.1

Comply with all federal, provincial, and other applicable statutes; all applicable

Mount Royal policies and procedures; and all applicable contracts and licenses.

Such laws, rules, policies and procedures, contracts, and licenses include, but

are not limited to, the laws of defamation, privacy, copyright, trademark,

obscenity, Mount Royal's Code of Student Conduct, Human Rights Policy and

Personal Harassment Policy as well as the Criminal Code of Canada which

prohibits "hacking," "cracking," and similar activities. Users who engage in

electronic communications with persons in other provinces or countries or on

other systems or networks should be aware that they may also be subject to the

laws of those other provinces and countries and the policies and procedures of

those other networks. Users are fully responsible for ascertaining,

understanding, and complying with the laws, rules, policies and procedures,

contracts and licenses applicable to their particular uses.

1.2

Use only those computing resources that they are authorized to use and they

may use them only in the manner and to the extent authorized. The technical

ability to access computing resources does not necessarily mean there is

authorization to do so. Users are responsible for ascertaining the necessary

authorizations and to obtain them before proceeding.

1.3

Only consume the amount of resources required to perform an authorized task at

Mount Royal University. Although there is no set bandwidth, disk space, CPU

time, or other limit applicable to all uses of Mount Royal computing resources,

Mount Royal may require users of those resources to limit or refrain from specific

uses in accordance with this principle or other policies and procedures outlined

by Mount Royal. Users are also required to use printing, scanning and copying

resources responsibly. Users are expected to manage file storage based on

University Records Retention Policy and their needs.

1.4

Be aware that their use of Mount Royal University computing resources is not

completely private. While Mount Royal does not routinely monitor individual

usage of its computing resources, the normal operation and maintenance of

Mount Royal resources require the backup and caching of data and

Acceptable Use of Computing and Communication Resources Policy – February 20, 2014

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communications, the logging of activity, the monitoring of general usage patterns,

the scanning of systems and network ports for anomalies and vulnerability, and

other activities that are necessary for the rendition of services.

1.5

Respect the privacy of other users and their accounts, regardless of whether

those accounts are securely protected. Having the ability to access other

person(s) accounts does not necessarily mean there is authorization to do so.

Users are responsible for ascertaining the necessary authorizations and to obtain

them before proceeding. Respect the privacy of others by not tampering with

their passwords, accounts or files, or by representing others when messaging,

conferencing or accessing electronic resources. Respect the rights of others by

complying with all University policies regarding sexual, racial and other forms of

harassment and by preserving the privacy of personal data to which you have

access.

1.6

Not use Mount Royal University computing resources for user's commercial

purposes - for personal financial or other gain. Note that using computing

resources for these purposes, under some circumstances, may be illegal.

1.7

Note that materials not subject to legal sanction may be objectionable or

extremely offensive to persons other than the computer user. Importation or

distribution of such material (including, but not limited to racist material, hate

literature, sexist slurs or sexually explicit material) is permitted for academic or

research purposes as long as it complies with Mount Royal's

Offensive/Discriminatory Materials Policy. In some cases, it is recommended

that prior consultation with a Faculty Member, Chair or Dean be obtained to

ensure that Mount Royal's community and ethical standards are maintained.

Consultation with the Information Technology Services Department or University

Library is available in order to facilitate those activities.

1.8

Note that users are not permitted to remove or disable any security software

installed by Information Technology Services from workstations connected to the

Mount Royal network. This includes, but not limited to, anti-virus software,

workstation management software, and agent components thereof.

1.9

Note that all software installed on Mount Royal University-owned systems must

be properly licensed to Mount Royal. Users are typically not permitted to install

software on any Mount Royal-owned device unless specifically authorized to do

so. Users are encouraged to work with Information Technology Services on the

acquisition and installation of any software required to do their work for Mount

Royal.

1.10

Keep in mind that users of Mount Royal computing and network resources are

responsible and accountable for their actions and statements in the electronic

working and learning environment.

1.11

Make every effort to prevent the unauthorized disclosure and distribution of

information that is the property of Mount Royal University.

1.12

Not intentionally introduce viruses into Mount Royal computer systems.

1.13

Abide by specific Student Guidelines (see Appendix A) if attending Mount Royal

University as a student either part time or full time.

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1.14

Note that users of Mount Royal University-owned devices used at home must still

abide by this Policy statement as well as other Mount Royal policies including,

but not limited to, Internet and Network Access at Mount Royal University.

DISCIPLINE, JURISDICTION AND PENALTIES

If Mount Royal University learns that there is an inappropriate use of Mount Royal

computing resources that conflicts with this outlined Policy, Mount Royal may take

disciplinary action. The Information Technology Services Department will investigate

properly identified allegations/suspicions to ensure compliance with applicable, federal

and provincial laws and with institutional policies and procedures and report all such

incidents by employees to the Associate Vice-President, Human Resources or such

incidents by students to the Office of Student Conduct.

DEFINITIONS

(1)

Policy:

means the Acceptable Use of Computing and Communication

Resources Policy

(2)

University:

means Mount Royal University

RELATED POLICIES

•

Code of Conduct Policy

•

Code of Student Conduct Policy

•

Human Rights Policy

•

Internet and Network Access at Mount Royal University Policy

•

Protected Disclosure (Whistleblower) Policy

•

Records and Information Management Program Policy

•

Workplace Violence and Harassment Policy

RELATED LEGISLATION

•

Criminal Code of Canada

RELATED DOCUMENTS

•

Appendix A: Student Lab Guidelines

REVISION HISTORY

Date

(mm/dd/yyyy)

Description of

Change

Sections

Person who

Entered Revision

(Position Title)

Person who

Authorized

Revision

(Position Title)

02/20/2014

NEW

08/24/2017

Editorial - formatting

University Secretary

01/29/2020

Editorial

Template Update

Policy Specialist

University Secretary