GPTC Computer Use Policy: Home

COMPUTING RESOURCES POLICY

GEORGIA PIEDMONT TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Students, faculty and staff of Georgia Piedmont Technical College have access to computing resources and may be issued a user account to access some of these resources. The proper use of these resources is the responsibility of the individual who is allowed to use them. User accounts must not be shared; passwords should be protected. The privilege of using these computing resources brings with it the responsibility of exercising high standards of honesty and considerate behavior. Students are expected to use these computing resources only for their academic work, to demonstrate consideration of others, to not provide computing resources access to unauthorized users, to respect the privacy of others, and to obey all Georgia Piedmont Technical College regulations and relevant laws. The intent of this policy is to allow maximum freedom of use consistent with Georgia Piedmont Technical College policy, along with state and federal law—to help ensure a productive learning and working environment. Using a computer without permission is theft of services and is illegal under state and federal laws. In addition, the following specific computer crimes are defined by state law (GA Code 16-9-90 et seq.):

 Computer Theft (including theft of computer services, intellectual property such as copyrighted material, and any other property);

 Computer Trespass (unauthorized use of computers to delete or alter data or interfere with others’ usage);

 Computer Invasion of Privacy (unauthorized access to financial or personal data or the like);

 Computer Forgery (forgery as defined by other laws, but committed on a computer rather than on paper);

 Computer Password Disclosure (unauthorized disclosure of a password resulting in damages exceeding $500 – in practice, this includes any disclosure that requires a system security audit afterward).

 Misleading Transmittal of Names or Trademarks (falsely identifying yourself or falsely claiming to speak for a person or organization by using their name, trademark, logo, or seal (GA Code 16-9-93.1).

Maximum penalties for the first four crimes in the list are a $50,000 fine and 15 years of imprisonment, plus civil liability. The maximum penalties for computer password disclosure are a $5,000 fine and 1 year of imprisonment, plus civil liability. Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s computing resources are provided for authorized users only. Privacy of our users is respected, but general usage and system resources are monitored in order to detect unauthorized access, illegal activities, and proper network performance. When there is suspicion of illegal or inappropriate activities, users’ files are subject to inspection. Anyone using Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s computing resources expressly consents to this monitoring and is duly advised that any evidence of criminal activity may be provided to school officials and/or law enforcement officials.

The following regulations apply to all users:

1) Computing resources are intended to be used for academic pursuits and should not be used for any type of commercial gain or advertising;

2) Use of computing resources is for Georgia Piedmont Technical College students, faculty, and staff in the pursuit of learning, teaching, or in assisting the administrative operations in support of these educational endeavors;

3) Deleted files are subject to being restored, using backup software or other utilities, as necessary to document user abuse;

4) E-mail, along with other computer files, cannot be considered private, given the open nature of the Internet; computer users should avoid sending or storing confidential information;

5) Users of computing resources must not attempt unauthorized access to computer installations outside of Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s network;

6) Users agree to abide by all patent, trademark, trade name, and copyright laws. Georgia Piedmont Technical College prohibits the unauthorized copying or electronic transmission of copyrighted computer software, computer data, and software manuals. Such unauthorized duplication or installation is grounds for disciplinary action by Georgia Piedmont Technical College and is subject to criminal prosecution under the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986. According to the U.S. Copyright Statutes, illegal reproduction or installation of software can be subject to civil damages of $50,000 or more, and criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment.

7) Users must not copy or delete software from any computer or server;

8) Users must not copy unauthorized software to any computer or server;

9) Users must not attempt to alter any restrictions associated with their computer accounts;

10) Computer users must not use computing resources to send or publish obscene, vulgar, rude, abusive, threatening, or harassing messages via electronic mail or other means;

11) Computer users must not attempt to access, store, or print offensive or pornographic material;

12) Computer users must not tamper with any computers, networks, equipment, software, configuration parameters, files, or documentation; this includes, but is not limited to, moving of equipment and connecting devices to computing equipment;

13) Computer users must not intentionally damage, interfere with, or copy the information of another user;

14) Computer users who maliciously introduce or spread computer viruses will have their computing resources terminated and are subject to other disciplinary action;

15) Users must refrain from monopolizing systems, overloading systems or networks with excessive data, or wasting computer time, connect time, disk space, printer paper, manuals, or other resources.

Georgia Piedmont Technical College will suspend or revoke computing privileges to any individual or group who abuses the provisions listed above. If deemed appropriate for further action, violators of the computer resources regulations are subject to additional disciplinary action by Georgia Piedmont Technical College; state and federal agencies will be notified as necessary. 

Georgia Piedmont Technical College makes no warranties of any kind, either express or implied, for the computers, computer systems and Internet access it provides. Georgia Piedmont Technical College shall not be responsible for any damages users suffer, including but not limited to loss of data resulting from delays or interruptions in service. Georgia Piedmont Technical College shall not be responsible for the accuracy, nature or quality of information gathered through technical college diskettes, hard drives or servers; nor for the accuracy, nature or quality of information gathered through technical college-provided Internet access. Georgia Piedmont Technical College shall not be responsible for personal property used to access Department computers or networks or for Technical college-provided Internet access. Georgia Piedmont Technical College shall not be responsible for unauthorized financial obligations resulting from technical college provided access to the Internet.