Computer Use Agreement

Crowder College
Computer and Network Use Policy


As in all interactions within the College community, engaging in electronic communications brings with it the obligation to do so with respect to the recipients of the message. While the College encourages the exchange and debate of values and ideas, it is expected that this exchange will reflect the high ethical standards of the academic community, mutual respect and civility.


Users are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the special requirements and nuances of communicating in an electronic environment. When sending electronic transmissions, users should realize that tone-of-voice, facial expression and other usual communicative cues are absent. Consequently, unlike more familiar means of communication, intent of electronic communication can be lost easily, resulting in hostile interpretation or over/under emphasis. Careful writing and judicious use of words is therefore advised.


Crowder College has as its mission and purpose: “ . . . to serve the needs of people by actualizing each person who chooses Crowder College in terms of his or her self-worth and ability to function in society as a responsible citizen.” It is for this mission that the college has endeavored to provide state of the art electronic resources, including hardware, software, and access to external data sources.


Access to these resources is a privilege offered to college employees and students. The college reserves the right to restrict the use of its electronic resources and limit access to its network when faced with evidence of violations of College policies or standards or of federal or state laws. The College has the right to remove or limit access to material posted on or transmitted by its computers. Software, files and materials stored on or transmitted by College computer equipment will be considered property of the College.


In matters not controlled by law or institutional policy, the College urges users to exhibit ethical conduct in the use of computing resources. Users are encouraged to engage in communication within bounds of reasonable civility. Users found to be using computer resources outside these guidelines will lose their privileges.


Behaviors considered violating College policy with respect to computer systems and use include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Sending harassing, intimidating, offensive and/or threatening messages through electronic mail or other means;

• Intentionally intercepting, disclosing or using any electronic communication to which authorized access is not explicitly provided. Authorized access includes mail directed to or from an individual, and those messages intended for public consumption (news groups, bulletin boards, broadcast messages);

• Initiating or encouraging the promulgation of chain letters, unauthorized automated or mass postings, or other types of unauthorized large-scale distributions;

• Providing others with access to one's personal computer account(s), or gaining or attempting to gain access to the personal computer accounts, files, or electronic information of others or to accounts, files or systems to which authorized access has not been granted;

• "Hacking" or related behavior attempting to compromise College computer security or the security of remote systems accessed through College equipment or systems;

• Creating or releasing computer viruses or engaging in other destructive or potentially destructive programming activities;

• Providing an electronic service such as, but not limited to FTP, TELNET, WEB, CHAT or MAIL to any internal or external system not approved by the College;

• Excessive Printing. Every user should minimize the number of pages they print. No user should ever print more than 200 pages per semester;

• Disruption of timeshare functions or network traffic by recklessly or intentionally overloading the system or otherwise denying or restricting the access of others; otherwise interfering with the normal operations of computers, systems or peripherals;

• Modifying, altering or otherwise tampering with system hardware or software unless explicitly authorized to do so;

• Copying for oneself or distributing to others commercial or other copyrighted software or proprietary data which has not been placed in the public domain or been distributed as freeware;


• Installation or use of unauthorized hardware or software.

• Use of College computers, systems and/or services to perpetrate fraud, misrepresentation or illegal activity;

• Use of College computers, systems and/or services for commercial purposes or unauthorized financial gain;

• Violation of user room policies, disruption of user room activities, or misuse of computer hardware, software or computing time; and

• Any act chargeable as a violation of local, state or federal law, whether or not civil authorities bring charges.


Students identified as possibly violating College policy will be investigated and the Campus Network Administrator will make a determination of violation. Punishment will depend on the severity of the offense. Punishment may include but is not limited to:

• Temporary loss of access to the network and network services.

• Partial loss of network privileges.

• Permanent loss of network privileges.

• Suspension or expulsion from specific classes.

• Suspension or expulsion from school.

• Suspension or termination of employment at Crowder College.

• Prosecution related to illegal acts.


Students are entitled to the Student Grievance Appeal Procedure as listed in the Crowder College Student Handbook.

Employees are entitled to any and all protection as listed in the Crowder College Employee Handbook.


Crowder College
Computer and Network Use Policy



Statement of Compliance:

I have read the policies and guidelines outlined in Crowder College’s Computer and Network use policy and agree to adhere to these policies. I understand that non-compliance will subject me to the punishments listed in said policy.

Sample Only

Signed: ___________________________________


Printed Name: ___________________________________


Login Name: _________________________


Social Security Number: ________________________


Date: __________________________



This is a sample of the Computer Use Agreement. You must agree to the Crowder College Computer usage policy, before your C-net account is accessible.

The Agreement is electronically based and before you’re given access to
C-net, you will see and must agree to, Crowder College’s computer polices.