 Troy UniversityPolicies and Guidelines Concerning the Publication of Informationon Prism, TROY's Student World Wide Web ServerBACKGROUND AND PURPOSETroy University recognizes that the World Wide Web is a powerful and important communication medium that should be used to inform, communicate and positively promote TROY to its internal and external audiences. This policy establishes guidelines for its use by TROY students on the Prism World Wide Web Server. The purpose of this policy is to ensure fair access to and responsible use of the Prism Web Server by TROY students.Because the Web is a form of electronic publication with a potentially large audience and because it is accessible from most countries throughout the world, Troy University encourages high standards of presentation of Web pages on the Prism World Wide Web Server. It is important that Troy University student World Wide Web publications be fair, accurate, with high-quality, current and in keeping with TROY's policies. Troy University provides World Wide Web access to all members of the University community and encourages students to publish freely and openly on the World Wide Web, within the constraints of existing laws and policies. Troy University is committed to the principles of freedom of speech and expression that the World Wide Web offers. However, the goals and values of Troy University as an institution of higher education must be reflected in the design and content of Web pages published on TROY's Web servers. This policy is intended to augment, not replace, the existing "Troy
University System Information Technology Usage Policy." Copies of
this policy are available in the Library and on-line at
http://www.troy.edu/techpolicy.html.
OFFICIAL TROY UNIVERSITY HOME PAGESColleges, schools, offices, departments, programs and other units are encouraged to create World Wide Web pages to communicate their programs via the Web. Official Web pages may be created only by units which are officially affiliated with the University. These pages are published on the Trojan Internet host computer operated by TROY's MIS Department. Policies concerning Official TROY Web pages are published in other documents.FACULTY AND COURSE PAGESFaculty members are encouraged to publish course materials and handouts for students on Spectrum, TROY's Academic World Wide Web Server. Established policies concerning publication on this server are published in other documents.STUDENT PERSONAL PAGESCurrently enrolled students, both undergraduate and graduate, are encouraged to publish their personal World Wide Web pages on Prism, TROY's Student World Wide Web Server. Personal pages for individual TROY students are not considered official home pages. All personal Web pages on the TROY student server Prism must include the following disclaimer:The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this page are those of the author or organization and not necessarily those of Troy University or its officers and trustees. The content of this page has not been reviewed or approved by Troy University and the author or organization is solely responsible for its content. Non-Troy University links may be provided for instructional support and community service. Their appearance does not constitute an endorsement by Troy University.
Instead of adding the disclaimer shown above to your pages, you can add the following
HTML code to your pages.
The content of any such pages must not violate applicable export laws and regulations; must not constitute a copyright or trademark infringement; cannot violate the dignity and privacy of others; and cannot be used to promote harassment, support for terrorist activities, hate speech, obscenity, pornography, child pornography, indecency or other activities prohibited by local, state or federal law or University regulation. In addition, the content of any such pages must not create any hazardous or dangerous condition posing a threat to persons or property. Web pages published on Prism may not be used for any illegal purpose and they may not disrupt or obstruct Troy University's institutional mission. Students are prohibited from misrepresenting themselves through TROY's electronic communication system. Abusing, intimidating, threatening, stalking or discriminating against others through the use of Troy University's electronic communications systems and web servers is prohibited. TROY's network, electronic communication system and web servers may not be used to engage in vandalism, mischief that incapacitates, compromises, or destroys TROY's resources and/or these may not be used to infiltrate the systems, damage, alter, copy and/or distribute the software components and data, messages or information stored on or transmitted through any campus networked facility, nor may users use these resources to disrupt TROY activities. Users may not duplicate nor distribute licensed software and/or documentation without the express written permission of the original copyright owner. All such pages must be in compliance with all appropriate Troy University campus policies and procedures, including the "Troy University System Information Technology Usage Policy." TROY's Academic Web Master will serve as the Web Master for Prism, TROY's Student World Wide Web Server. The Academic Web Master will work with the Vice President for Information and Technology, the Vice President for Student Affairs and TROY's Director of MIS and will have general oversight responsibility for the web pages on the student web server. The Web Master can remove any Web page from the student web server that does not follow the established policies governing electronic communication. Users objecting to such action by the Academic Web Master may appeal to the Vice President for Student Affairs, who may convene an appropriate panel to reiview the action. Publications on the Web are subject to the University's communications and public information policies found in Troy University Graphic Standards Manual, Student Handbook, Faculty Handbook and other official publications. Users should refrain from all acts that waste or prevent others from using these resources or from using them in whatever ways have been proscribed by Troy University and state and federal statutes. Any World Wide Web pages, pictures, graphics or similar items that make excessive use of network bandwidth shall be terminated by the Web Master or campus network administrator in accordance with these policies. Student status must be verified every term for those with web page accounts on Prism. Web pages may be removed from the campus network and web servers if the account holder no longer attends Troy University. If space permits, student pages will be retained one term after the last attended but upgrade access to the pages will be suspended. Students will be assigned a password for their web accounts. This password may not be shared with anyone. If a user suspects that his or her password has been compromised, the Academic Web Master will assign a new password for that account. The e-mail address of the author, or other person responsible for placing the information on the World Wide Web, shall be readily apparent for each such page, by information on the page itself, a link to another page, or the context. Since Prism is a web server, it does not support e-mail. Students wanting e-mail services should contact MIS for an e-mail account on the Trojan machine. Personal home pages must not be used for private business or commercial enterprise and must not be used for advertising or fundraising. You may not add a "banner advertisement" to your pages. Any text or graphics placed on your page in exchange for money, goods or services is considered to be "advertising" and is prohibited. Each user is responsible for the page(s) he or she publishes to Prism, Troy University's Student World Wide Web Server. In addition, each user is responsible to any page he or she links to in their documents. A link from a student page to a page that violates this policy or the law will result in disciplinary action and the loss of publishing privilege on Prism. Any page which violates any of these Policies and Guidelines shall be
immediately expunged from the Network.
RESPONSIBILITY AND LEGAL ISSUESAuthors or originators using trademarks must have written permission of the person(s) or organization(s) owning the trademarks prior to their use.Only approved Troy University logos or trademarks may be used on personal World Wide Web pages. Approved TROY graphics are provided on the Academic Web Server Spectrum. Authors or originators using photos and images need the permission of not only the person or organization that owns the photo or image, but also from any persons included within the images. The University determines who is authorized to use its network and who may publish materials on a World Wide Web server attached to the University's network. Use of the network and TROY's World Wide Web servers is a privilege and access is conditioned on adherence to applicable university regulations and legal statutes. Users of the network are additionally responsible for respecting and adhering to local, state, federal and international laws as well as the regulations of any interconnected network used. Any attempt to break those laws or regulations through the use of the network may result in litigation against the offender by the proper authorities. Users may not copy or misuse copyrighted software or related material owned or licensed by the University. All home pages and World Wide Web documents using the Troy University network and information technology systems are subject to the provisions in the Troy University System Information Technology Usage Policy. Troy University reserves the right to establish file storage limits for home page items maintained on campus Web servers. Troy University is not responsible for unofficial web pages. The university reserves the right, however, to remove from any TROY web server any page that is found to be in violation of the law or university policies or interests or that is detrimental to the performance of the web server, the network or the university's mission. Troy University reserves the right to change this policy without notice. (Approved September 25, 1998)
Click here for Troy University's Technology Policy |
