The IES Abroad Student Acceptable Use Policy is designed to lay a foundation for a strong commitment to technology access for students, while protecting both students and IES Abroad from malicious actions.
The scope of this policy extends to any and all technologies at work at IES Abroad facilities, and to any computing resources (irrespective of ownership) located in Residence Halls, apartments, homestays or other sites made available to any member of the IES Abroad community, worldwide, by or on behalf of IES Abroad. These resources are designed to support the work of IES Abroad faculty, staff, and students only. These resources consist of computer networks, computers, workstations, telephones, fax machines, copiers, printers, and scanners. Users must, at all times, adhere to any and all policies applicable to the operations of these resources.
Authorized personnel may use any or all of the resources specified above for purposes related only to instruction, coursework, research, and administration. These resources are not to be used for commercial or resale purposes if not directly related to the mission of IES Abroad. These resources are not to beused for improper or illegal purposes, including unlicensed use of software, intent to breach security, chain letters, and introduction of computer viruses. Access to or transmission of pornographic or sexually explicit images or text is prohibited. Making use of any IES Abroad resource, or any equipment or computing resource located in a residence hall, apartment, homestay, or other facility provided by or on behalf of IES Abroad to illegally obtain or distribute any copyrighted material is strictly prohibited.
Each member of the IES Abroad community is responsible for protecting access codes, passwords, and other authentication data from non-authorized users. No user may reveal his/her password to any other person.
Misuse of computing resources includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Unauthorized access to the resources of the IES Abroad computer systems or network (e.g. attempting to log or break into accounts or computers for which you are not authorized). IES Abroad computer systems and network are those maintained within IES Abroad facilities, including but not limited to, IES Abroad Headquarters in Chicago, all IES Abroad Centers, and those services rendered for IES Abroad by a third party.
- Disruption or obstruction of authorized use of the network.
- The excessive or unneeded use of IES Abroad resources such as staff time, network bandwidth, or computer capacity.
- Destroying the integrity of computer-based information.
- Unauthorized use, or attempted unauthorized use, of IES Abroad computer systems, computer networks, computer software, data files, or computing facilities.
- Compromising the privacy of users, including, but not limited to, misrepresenting or forging identities on or through the use of the IES Abroad network, publically posting IES Abroad program fact sheets and specific travel itineraries.
- Using IES Abroad computer and network systems for personal or commercial purposes unrelated to activities which support and are consistent with the educational and business purposes of IES Abroad.
- Using IES Abroad computer or network systems and resources for obscene purposes or in a pervasively profane manner, including but not limited to, any use which may bring into public disrepute IES Abroad’s established identity and image as a serious professional educational institution.
- Theft, distribution, or reproduction without lawful authority of copies or reproductions of property, such as digital images and photos, or subject matter of any kind belonging to another, including, but not limited to, that which is protected by federal, state, host country, or international law governing patent, copyright, trademark, trade names, trade secrets, privacy, publicity, unfair competition, or licensing agreements, together with tampering with computer software or data files belonging to others, or using the resources in such a manner that would cause IES Abroad to be at risk of suit, regulatory action, or liability for vicarious or contributory infringementof federal, state, international, or host country laws protecting intellectual property, including but not limited to, laws which protect patents, copyright trademarks, trade names, trade secrets, privacy, publicity, unfair competition, or licensing agreements.
- Using these resources in a manner, or with the intention, to inflictmental harassment, to intimidate, or to invade the privacy of any particular individual in a manner that is extreme or offensive in the sense of being unacceptable to reasonable members of a civilized society and which, in the case of other students, faculty, staff, administrators, or members of the IES Abroad community, including all home stay families and other residents or university community members, interferes with their ability to exercise their rights to participate fully in the purpose, mission, education, and life of IES Abroad.
- Sharing IES Abroad account passwords with others, or using networked machines to provide IES Abroad network access to people or organizations that do not already have legitimate access.
- Using these systems to electronically publish information, including websites and blogs, that violates any section of the IES Abroad Student Handbookor any pertinent law regarding slander or copyright. IES Abroad requires that all members of the IES Abroad community act in a responsible, reasonable, culturally sensitive, and non-defamatory manner when exercising free speech through digital and all other forms of communication.
- Using these resources to post material on behalf of other parties, sharing personal access to IES Abroad resources with others, or using personal computers connected to the IES Abroad network to mirror another site (i.e., to make a copy of someone else's site).
- Using these resources to threaten any particular individual with violence, to engage in that which naturally and directly tends to provoke acts of violence, or a breach of the peace by the person to whom, individually, the conduct or remarks are addressed.
- Using these resources in a manner that violates the laws of the United States of America, the State of Illinois, the relevant host country, or international law.
- Using these resources in a manner that would lead IES Abroad to reasonably believe that continued use of its property and resources in such a manner may subject it to the risk of suit, regulatory action, or liability of any kind under the host country, international law, the laws of the United States of America, the State of Illinois, or any U.S. state.
- Using these resources for the creation or maintenance of a hostile working or educational environment involving discrimination based on race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, veteran status or disability, whether physical or mental, or in such a way that would cause IES Abroad to reasonably believe that continued use of its property and resources in such a manner may result in a determination that it is in breach of its legal duty to take reasonable steps to eliminate such attributes, conditions, or vestiges of a hostile educational and business environment.
Any individual or group that participates in conduct which adversely impacts IES Abroad’s pursuit of its educational and business objectives, violates or shows disregard for the rights of individuals within the IES Abroad community, or damages property, will be subject to institutional discipline. Officials charged with enforcement of these regulations shall have the authority in execution of such duties to perform such acts as required to maintain the security, well-being, and safety of the IES Abroad community or any of its members. Disciplinary sanctions will be in accordance with the violation up to and including dismissal from the IES Abroad program.
IES Abroad reserves the right to suspend and examine any account or network access at any time it deems fit.