072.1 Electronic Messaging

072.1 Electronic Messaging

A. Background

Furman University owns and maintains for students, faculty and staff electronic messaging systems for their usage. This policy seeks to give guidance and outline appropriate expectations and usage inside and outside the university community.

B. Policy

Electronic messaging is provided to students, faculty and staff as a tool that facilitates valid educational and administrative purposes. Standards of conduct for electronic messaging conform to those standards of conduct outlined in the Helmsman, the Faculty Handbook, and the Policies and Procedures Manual.

C. Guidelines

1. Electronic mail messages or postings must meet the same standards for distribution or display as any other campus communication. Users are free to publish their opinions, but sources of such opinions must be clearly and accurately identified.

2. Users should be aware that no system has yet been devised that cannot be compromised so users should never assume that electronic mail messages will be private and confidential. System administrators may, from time to time, find it technically necessary to look at any data files in any electronic mail account in order to maintain system functionality. Any information obtained will be held in absolute confidentiality unless evidence is discovered indicating activity prohibited in this policy, the Helmsman, the Faculty Handbook, or the Policies and Procedures Manual. Therefore, users not wanting certain information viewed by others should not store such information in their electronic mail account nor in the electronic messaging system.

3. Persons violating university guidelines and policies concerning the appropriate use of electronic mail services at Furman will be disciplined by the normal and appropriate university oversight body (i.e., University Disciplinary Committee, faculty committee, or administrative officer). Penalties may include but are not limited to verbal or written warning, disciplinary probation, temporary access denial, permanent access revocation, disciplinary suspension, or dismissal.

4. The Director of Computing and Information Services or the Network Systems Manager may, at their own discretion, and without notice, temporarily disable any account which is believed to be the source of mail messages or postings which are disrupting normal operation of the university's electronic messaging system.

5. There are several activities that are expressly prohibited as inappropriate use of electronic messaging at Furman:

• Activities involving unprofessional, harassing, discriminatory, illegal and/or unethical behavior;
• Electronic messaging is not to be used for commercial gain or personal profit without written permission by the appropriate administrative vice president;
• Forgery of messages;
• Hacking or otherwise breaking into someone's files or stealing their password;
• Downloading of copyrighted materials without proper consent;
• Origination or forwarding of "chain letters" defined as a letter sent to several persons with a request that each send copies to several persons with the same, or similar request; and
• Any activity that significantly prevents or inhibits the conduct of university academic or administrative work.

6. The Director of Computing and Information Services or the Network System Manager may, at the request of the President, the Director of Human Resources, or the Director of Public Safety, assist in the investigation of activities involving prohibited activities by examining the contents of electronic messages stored in or passing through any electronic messaging system owned by or under the control of the university for any purpose at any time.

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