Section IX - Information Systems & Technology

IX A

Acceptable Use (Electronic Access)

To state the College’s policy regarding the acceptable use of technology resources provided by Randolph Community College

I.     OVERVIEW

The College expects employees and students to use computers, networks, network access, telephones, and other information technologies in a responsible, considerate, ethical, and lawful manner. Compliance with policies that ensure the security and integrity of all College information systems is mandatory and critical to ensure continuing provision of technological resources to the entire RCC community. This policy applies to all users of technology resources provided by the College.

Randolph Community College understands that information technology has become vital in its mission of teaching and training. Thus, the College owns a variety of technological resources that are provided primarily to support the academic and administrative functions of the College. These technological resources enable users to locate and disseminate information, to communicate and collaborate with others in a global setting, and to build the necessary strategic technologies for the current and future needs of the College community.

Use of RCC technology resources shall be consistent with local, state, and federal law and in accordance with all College policies and procedures. Disregard for the rights of authorship, including plagiarism, invasion of privacy, unauthorized access, and copyright violations, may be grounds for sanctions against members of the College community. Access to technology resources is a privilege, not a right, and as such, can be withdrawn from those who use it irresponsibly. Users of RCC technology resources who are determined by the College to have purposely violated any of the information technologies policies will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including suspension of access to technology resources, discharge, dismissal, suspension, expulsion, and/or legal action.

II.     NETWORKING/INTERNET ACCESS

The College provides network and Internet access to aid in the transfer of information electronically. These networks may be used for a wide variety of on- and off-campus communications relating to college business. 

Generally, a user's network and Internet use will not be monitored except in the following types of situations: the user gives prior consent, the College needs to ensure the security or operating performance of its systems or networks, the College has a reasonable concern that a violation of College policy or applicable law has occurred, or the College is complying with a valid subpoena or search warrant issued by a court of competent jurisdiction. While general content review will not typically be undertaken, monitoring of electronic information may occur for these reasons and others as necessary. For these reasons, the College cannot guarantee the privacy of electronic communications.

Unauthorized use of the network, intentional deletion or damage to files and data belonging to other users or copyright violations may be considered theft pursuant to some state and federal laws.

To ensure appropriate use of information systems and networks, users must do the following:

  1. Use resources only for authorized purposes
  2. Protect any user ID and password from unauthorized use
  3. Access only files and data that are publicly available, or to which the user has been given authorized access
  4. Use only legal versions of copyrighted software in compliance with vendor license agreements
  5. Be considerate in the use of shared network resources. Users should refrain from monopolizing systems, overworking networks with excessive data transfers or downloads, and abusing disk space on workstations or network servers with personal data
  6. Immediately inform Computer Services of any occurrences of a computer virus
Prohibited actions include, but are not limited to, the following:
  1. Intentionally using information systems or networks to send or receive offensive, insulting, harassing, attacking, or obscene text and/or images
  2. Engaging in any activity that might be harmful to systems or to any information stored thereon, such as creating or propagating computer viruses, disrupting services, or damaging files on workstations or servers
  3. Using the computer to perpetrate any form of fraud, or software, film or music piracy
  4. Attempting to circumvent, subvert, or damage system software or security measures
  5. Using another person's user ID/password or trespass in another user's files or folders without permission
  6. Intentionally wasting limited resources including network bandwidth
  7. Utilizing the network for commercial purposes
  8. Creating, modifying, executing, or retransmitting any computer program intended to obscure the true identity of the sender of electronic mail or electronic messages including, but not limited to, forgery of messages and/or alteration of system and/or user data used to identify the sender of messages
  9. Violating any copyright laws 
  10. Engaging in personal social networking activities that conflict with work commitments and misusing state internet resources for personal use. 
  11. Visiting internet sites that contain obscene, hateful, pornographic or otherwise illegal material 
  12. Publishing defamatory and/or knowingly false material about RCC, RCC employees and/or RCC students on social networking sites, 'blogs' (online journals), 'wikis' and any online publishing format.

III.      EMAIL 

Email may not be used for transmission, receipt, or storage of a communication of a defamatory, discriminatory, or harassing nature or materials that are obscene. Email is not guaranteed to be private or confidential. All electronic communications are property of RCC. 

Internal and external email messages are considered business records and may be subject to discovery in the event of legal actions. Users should be aware of this when sending any email. 

IV.     TEXT MESSAGING

Text messaging is intended to supplement the RCC communications strategy. The College provides options for employees and students to receive text messages for both emergency and non-emergency related information.

The college uses an emergency alert system that provides a texting option for emergency notifications. The emergency alert texting system is separate from the non-emergency texting systems. Employees and students must login to the alert system and provide a cell phone number to receive these messages. 

Non-emergency text messaging may be used by authorized RCC officials to relay information to students. Students or families must opt-in, or be given an opportunity to opt-out, to receive text messages from authorized users at RCC. 

Text messaging should not be used as the sole means of communicating an essential message or announcement. The text message should be supplemented by some other means of communication, such as an email or paper notice, to ensure that employees and students, including those who have not opted in or have opted out, receive the message. Text messages should be sent via a system approved by the RCC department of Information Technology. 

 V.     SOCIAL MEDIA

Current and prospective students, alumni, staff, faculty, and friends utilize the College’s social media pages to stay connected. Having a presence in these areas helps the College raise its visibility and connect with external audiences. In order to operate within social media effectively, the RCC Office of College Marketing (OCM) has developed a set of guidelines and a contract to approve and support interactions on behalf of RCC. Individuals who manage social media as representatives of RCC (including faculty, staff, and designated students) are responsible for following all normal expectations for professional behavior. Information about social media access or accounts can be obtained by emailing the OCM at ocm@randolph.edu.

VI.     PORNOGRAPHY

The viewing, possession, or saving of pornography on North Carolina government networks and devices is prohibited as outlined in Section 7 of S.L. 2024-26 and GS 143-805. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

Viewing pornography on any device, whether personal or Randolph Community College-issued, while connected to Randolph Community College's network (e.g., Wi-Fi) is prohibited. Viewing or engaging with pornography on any device owned, leased, maintained, or otherwise controlled by Randolph Community College, regardless of the network used is prohibited.

This does not apply to personal devices when not connected to government networks, provided that such devices are not considered to be owned, leased, maintained, or controlled by Randolph Community College.

 

Adopted: 04/15/1999

Revised: 05/15/2008, 03/17/2011, 07/20/2023, 02/20/2025