Academic Computing Center
Internet Access Policy
Chesapeake College provides access to the Internet in order to support Chesapeake's Mission and Objectives as a Community college serving the counties of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, and Talbot. Specifically, the Internet is used to support the following objectives:
I. Provide for the information needs of the students, faculty, and staff of Chesapeake College and for the information needs, as deemed appropriate by the College, of the residents of the five county area.
II. Expand the distance learning services of the college, so that the residents of the five county area have access to a school without walls.
III. Develop the information literacy skills of the students of Chesapeake College.
IV. Support the lifelong learning of the community.
V. Support the professional development needs of the faculty and staff of Chesapeake College and enhance communication between members of the college community and their colleagues across the country.
It is a general policy that Chesapeake College facilities used for connection to the Internet are to be used in a responsible, ethical, and legal manner in accordance with the stated objectives for Internet access and the mission of Chesapeake College. Users must acknowledge their understanding of the general policy and guidelines as a condition for use of the Internet through Chesapeake College. Failure to adhere to this policy and its guidelines below may result in suspension of the offender's privilege of network access by the College. Persons who make use of the resources of the College to access the Internet do so as guests of the College and are expected to conduct themselves accordingly. Conduct which adversely effects the ability of others to use the Internet or which is harmful to others will not be permitted. The College reserves the right to monitor its computing resources to protect the integrity of its computing systems, workstations, and lab facilities.
Guideline 1. Acceptable uses of the Internet are activities which support learning and teaching. Internet users are encouraged to develop uses which meet their individual needs and which take advantage of the Internet's functions: electronic mail, conferences, bulletin boards, databases, telnet and ftp resources, etc.
Guideline 2. Persons obtaining access to the Internet through Chesapeake College should adhere to the commonly accepted social norms of classroom behavior.
Guideline 3. Unacceptable uses of the Internet include:
- Violating the rights to privacy of students and employees of the College including attempts to access another person's account, private files, or e-mail without permission of the owner.
- Use of the College's computer resources to threaten or harass others.
- Reposting personal communications without the author's prior consent.
- Copying commercial software in violation of copyright law.
- Using the Internet for any illegal activity.
- Attempts to write, produce, copy or attempt in any way to introduce any computer code designed to self-replicate, damage or otherwise hinder the performance of any computer. Any such software is commonly referred to as computer virus.
- Attempts to alter system software or hardware configurations. Deliberate attempts to degrade or disrupt system performance will be viewed as criminal activity under applicable state and federal laws.
- Storing or printing files, materials, or messages that violate Maryland obscenity laws.
- The display of sexually explicit materials on a College computer screen in such a manner that it can be seen by others may be a violation of the College's policies on sexual harassment.
- Playing of computer games or simulations not in support of the curriculum at Chesapeake.
- Use of the Internet for any commercial purpose without the express written consent of the College.
Guideline 4. Accounts issued to individuals are intended for the sole use of that individual. The person in whose name an account is issued is responsible at all times for its proper use. Users should change their passwords frequently.
Guideline 5. When making copies of information from the Internet, files should be downloaded to your own removable media (floppy disk or zip disk). Files downloaded to the College's network, or hard disk drives attached to the network, are subject to deletion without notice.
Guideline 6. Access to the Internet may be limited at the College's discretion. In the event that other users are waiting to access College computing facilities, you will be asked to limit your time. Please be considerate of other users.
If there is inaccurate information on this page, please send corrections or comments to academiccomputing@chesapeake.edu