Certain employees may be provided with access to technology resources such as computers, telephones, copiers, audio/video equipment and the Internet to assist them in performing their jobs. These resources can be valuable tools and sources for information and research. In addition, e-mail can provide excellent means of communicating with other employees, our customers and clients, outside vendors, and other businesses. Use of these technology and Internet resources, however, must be tempered with common sense and good judgment.

If you abuse your right to use these resources, it may be taken away from you. In addition, you may be subject to disciplinary action, including possible termination, and civil and criminal liability.

This policy governs your use of Lee University’s technology and Internet resources.

• Disclaimer of liability for use of Internet.
  Lee University is not responsible for material viewed or downloaded by users from the Internet. The Internet is a worldwide network of computers that contain millions of pages of information. Users are cautioned that many of these pages include offensive, sexually explicit, and inappropriate material. In general, it is difficult to avoid at least some contact with this material while using the Internet. Even innocuous search requests may lead to sites with highly offensive content. In addition, having an e-mail address on the Internet may lead to receipt of unsolicited e-mail containing offensive content. While the University has taken steps to minimize the possibility of accessing inappropriate sites and materials, users accessing the Internet do so at their own risk.
   

• Duty not to waste technology resources.
  Employees must not deliberately perform acts that waste technology re sources or unfairly monopolize resources to the exclusion of others. These acts include, but are not limited to, sending mass mailings or chain letters, spending excessive amounts of time on the Internet, playing games, engaging in online chat groups, printing multiple copies of documents, or otherwise creating unnecessary network traffic not related to Institutional goals. Because audio, video and picture files require significant storage space, files of this or any other sort should not be downloaded unless they are business-related.
   

• No expectation of privacy.
  The computers and computer accounts given to employees are to assist them in performance of their jobs. Employees should not have an expectation of privacy in anything they create, store, send, or receive on the computer system. The computer system belongs to Lee University and should only be used for business purposes.
   

• Monitoring computer usage.
  Lee University has the right, but not the duty, to monitor any and all of the aspects of its computer system, including, but not limited to, monitoring sites visited by employees on the Internet, monitoring chat groups and news groups, reviewing material downloaded or uploaded by users to the Internet, and reviewing e-mail sent and received by users.
   

• Blocking of inappropriate content.
  Lee University may use software to identify inappropriate or sexually explicit Internet sites. Such sites may be blocked from access by the University’s networks. In the event you nonetheless encounter inappropriate or sexually explicit material while browsing on the Internet, immediately disconnect from the site, regardless of whether the site was subject to company blocking software and notify the office of Information Systems so that the site can be added to our Internet filtering system.
   

• Prohibited activities.
  Material that is fraudulent, harassing, embarrassing, sexually explicit, profane, obscene, intimidating, defamatory, or otherwise unlawful, inappropriate, offensive (including offensive material concerning sex, race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, or other characteristic protected by law), or violation of the University’s equal employment opportunity policy and its policies against sexual or other harassment may not be downloaded from the Internet or displayed or stored in University computers. Employees encountering or receiving this kind of material should immediately report the incident to their supervisors or the Human Resources Department. The University’s equal employment opportunity policy and its policies against sexual or other harassment apply fully to the use of the Internet and any violation of those policies is grounds for discipline up to and including discharge.
   

• Games and entertainment software.
  Employees should not use the University’s technology resources and Internet connection to download games or other entertainment software, including wallpaper and screen savers, or to play games over the Internet.
   

• Illegal copying.
  Employees may not illegally copy material protected under copyright law or make that material available to others for copying. You are responsible for complying with copyright law and applicable licenses that may apply to software, files, graphics, documents, messages, and other material you wish to download or copy. You may not agree to a license or download any material for which a registration fee is charged without first obtaining the express written permission of the University.
   

• Accessing the Internet.
  To ensure security and to avoid the spread of viruses, employees accessing the Internet through a computer attached to the University’s network should do so through an approved Internet firewall. Accessing the Internet directly by modem should be avoided unless the computer you are using is not connected to the University’s network.
   

• Virus detection.
  Files obtained from sources outside the University, including disks brought from home; files downloaded from the Internet, newsgroups, bulletin boards, or other online services; files attached to e-mail; and files provided by customers or vendors may contain dangerous computer viruses that may damage the University ’s computer network. Employees should never download files from the Internet, accept e-mail attachments from outsiders, or use disks from non-University sources, without first scanning the material with University-approved virus checking software. If you suspect that a virus has been introduced into the University’s network, notify the Help Desk immediately.
   

• E-mail usage.
  The University’s E-mail system should be used only for business purposes and not for personal purposes and all information transmitted by, received from, or stored in that system are the property of the University.
   

• Storage of institutional data.
  Data represents time spent by the employee on behalf of the University. As such, it should be safeguarded and stored in a safe place – on network drives that are backed up regularly. Employees should not take it upon themselves to store institutional data in risky locations such as local hard drives, floppy drives, zip drives and the like without the expressed permission of their supervisor.
   

• Purging electronic messages.
  Messages no longer needed for business purposes should be periodically purged by users from their personal electronic message storage areas. After a certain period—generally six months—electronic messages backed up to a separate data storage media (tape, disk, CD-ROM, etc.) may be automatically deleted by IS staff.
  
  Not only will this increase scarce storage space; it will also simplify record management and related activities. If the University is involved in a litigation action, all electronic messages pertaining to that litigation will not be deleted until the University President or his designated representative has communicated that it is legal to do so.
   

• Sending unsolicited e-mail (spamming).
  Without the express permission of their supervisors, employees may not send unsolicited e-mail to persons with whom they do not have a prior relationship.
   

• Amendments and revisions.
  This policy may be amended or revised from time to time as the need arises. Users will be provided with copies of all amendments and revisions. Violations of this policy will be taken seriously and may result in disciplinary action, including possible termination, and civil and criminal liability. Use of the Internet via the University’s computer system constitutes consent by the user to all of the terms and conditions of this policy.