Current Students - Student Portal

Computer Systems Use Policy
North Country Community College is respectful of freedom of expression and reveres the diversity of perspectives, values, and beliefs of the individual members of the College community. NCCC owns and operates computing systems which are provided for the express use of registered students, faculty, and staff in support of the programs of the College and are to be used for educational, research, academic development, and public service only. COMMERCIAL, SOCIAL, AND RECREATIONAL USES ARE PROHIBITED. All computer users, including special permission invitees, are expected to use the available hardware, software, and Internet access in an effective, efficient, equitable, ethical, and lawful manner in accordance with College policies, the Code of Conduct - Individual Rights and Responsibilities, as well as Local, State, and Federal Laws.

Agreement:

By using any of these computer systems the user agrees that they have read, understand, and will comply with the established guidelines set forth by the administrators of the system.

Rights:

The College does not condone censorship. NCCC does, however, reserve the right to place limited restrictions on the use of its computers and systems in response to verified complaints presenting evidence of violations of College policies, the Code of Conduct - Individual Rights and Responsibilities, as well as Local, State, and Federal Laws.

Responsibilities:

Users of NCCC computers and computer systems are responsible for maintaining the following conditions:

• Equitable use of all computers, computer systems, software, and Internet access and instructional services.
• An educationally sound environment conducive to teaching, research, and learning.
• An environment free of illegal, unethical, malicious, harassing, or hostile acts.
• An electronically safe and secure environment based on academic honesty and integrity.

Inappropriate Computer Systems Usage:

• Prohibited and inappropriate use of NCCC computers and computer systems includes, but is not limited to, intentional behaviors which violate one or more the following:
• Any Federal, State, or Local Law.
• The stated mission of the College.
• The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (The Buckley Act, P.L. 93-308), or in any way accessing, divulging, or transmitting any personally identifiable information of another individual.
• The NCCC Code of Conduct - Individual Rights and Responsibilities.
• Any College rule or regulation, particularly those found in the College Catalog and in Appendix A of the NCCC Code of Conduct - Individual Rights and Responsibilities.
• NCCC sexual harassment policy. This includes, but is not limited to, creating, displaying, printing, downloading, or in any way transmitting sexually explicit, pornographic, graphically disturbing, or sexually harassing images or text.
• Installing and/or playing computer games.
• Use of chat rooms for social, rather than educational, purposes.
• Knowingly installing or running any program, virus or worm, or conducting any other activity that threatens or contaminates the integrity of the computers, computer systems, computer programs, or software of the College.
• Illegally accessing and/or using the intellectual property of another individual.
• Installing, changing, or deleting software on any computer system, to include changing system defaults, personally customizing settings, deleting files belonging to others, and inappropriate storing of data files.
• Using electronic messages to harass, intimidate, or in any manner that violates the personal and property rights of others.
• Deliberately overloading computer resources and/or wasting or failing to conserve computer resources, including document printing, instruction, and time.
• Using computer equipment for personal, financial, or commercial gain.
• Violating copyright laws, usage policies, or violating network regulations or contracts.
• Plagiarism, cheating, or any behavior that violates academic honesty standards.
• Purchasing or ordering for trial use any goods or services without documented administrative approval.

Violations and Reporting Violations:

Adhering to due process rights, all reports of alleged violations will be handled in accordance with the provisions set forth in the North Country Community College Code of Conduct - Individual Rights and Responsibilities. All such alleged violations will be administratively handled by the Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services and/or the Vice President of Academic Affairs, and should be immediately submitted using the "NCCC Incident Report Form". Incident Report Forms should be routed directly to the deans(s) or through class instructors, academic department chairs, academic coordinators, computer lab supervisors, and/or any computer service administrator. Under extreme circumstances, an individual's computer access rights may be immediately and/or temporarily suspended. Some violations may constitute criminal offenses requiring immediate legal action.

Sanctions:

The full range of sanctions is available for any and all reported violations. In extreme instances, or in the case of criminal acts, further legal action beyond the scope of the NCCC Code of Conduct - Individual Rights and Responsibilities may be necessary.

P.5, Section V, Code of Conduct - Individual Rights and Responsibilities - Available sanctions for violations of the Code of Conduct.

A. In the event a violation of the Code of Conduct is established, the following sanctions can be imposed:

• OFFICIAL REPRIMANDS AND WARNING LETTERS may be imposed outlining the consequences if the behavior continues.
• RESTRICTIONS ON ACTIVITIES OR PRIVILEGES may be imposed, including social probation, by which students are prohibited from attending non-academic functions sponsored by the College or the Student Government Association. Social probation may be given for academic or disciplinary reasons, and shall be made for a specific time period.
• RESTITUTION may be imposed, which may include direct payment for damages caused by the offender or indirect payment of the same through service to the College.
• LOSS OF COURSE CREDIT may be imposed for academic offenses only. In such cases, no monetary refund of any College fees shall be allowed.
• DENIAL OR REVOCATION OF A COLLEGE HONOR, DEGREE, OR CERTIFICATE may be imposed in cases where falsification of records or academic offenses are of such nature that the absence of entitlement to the honor, degree, or certificate is established. In such cases, the final decision is subject to review and final determination by the College President. In such cases, no monetary refund of any College fees shall be allowed.
• WITHDRAWAL FROM A COURSE may be imposed and may be made for academic or non-academic reasons. No monetary refund of any College fees shall be allowed.
• SUSPENSION FROM COLLEGE may be imposed, and shall mean that the student is not allowed to participate in any College activity in any form, including classes, for a specified length of time. No monetary refund of any College fees shall be allowed.
• DISMISSAL FROM COLLEGE may be imposed, and shall mean that the student is prohibited from taking part in any College activity. No monetary refund of any College fees shall be allowed. In such cases, the final decision is subject to review and final determination by the College President.