TO:                All Faculty and Staff, East Tennessee State University

FROM:          Paul E. Stanton, Jr., President

DATE:            January 17, 2002

SUBJECT:     Utilization of Computer Resources at East Tennessee State University

Over the past several months, we have experienced several instances of abuses on and to our computer Internet and e-mail systems.  These abuses have been in the form of receiving and/or downloading sexually explicit materials.  This is a violation of the Computer Resources Code of Ethics and may be offensive to persons viewing these materials in the workplace.

The university has retained the right to inspect individual accounts and files stored on any system owned, maintained, and/or leased by the university; however, the indiscriminate examination of individual user's files are not permitted.  The offensive materials referenced here have been discovered during routine operation, maintenance, or upgrading of systems components.  While no prior authorization by individual users is required to inspect their files and accounts, you are, by virtue of accepting the account offered by ETSU and "logging" on to its computing equipment, granting to the university prior unrestricted permission, subject to university policy, to review, examine, and/or otherwise view, by any method at the sole discretion of the university and without any additional advance notice to said user, any account and/or file stored on university computer resources.

It is essential that users observe responsible and ethical behavior in the use of university computer resources.  Use of our computers for obscene material or deliberate and wasteful use of the resource conveys the intent of irresponsible and/or unethical use.  In addition, working hours spent on these unauthorized activities may constitute fraudulent use of wages and salaries paid for constructive university assignments.  All employees are prohibited from utilizing ETSU computer resources (including connection of personal laptop or portable computers to the ETSU Internet) for the unauthorized viewing, downloading, storing, or retransmission of sexually explicit materials or any other files that are not associated with their assigned duties.

Serious or repeated instances of abuse of computer facilities and resources will be referred to the proper authorities for disciplinary or legal actions including, but not limited to, restitution, restrictions, reprimand, suspension, probation, or termination.

See Personnel Policy and Procedure No. 44, Information Technology Code of Ethics

Mailing Address:  Office of Human Resources
ETSU Box 70564
Johnson City, TN  37614-1707
Telephone:  423-439-4457
Fax:  423-439-8354
TDD:  423-439-4710

Office Hours:  8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern; Monday - Friday
Office Location:  Room 307, Dossett Hall

Webmaster

since 1/17/02

Updated on 01/08/08