Security Awareness

Each new faculty member, staff member, or student receives an initial information resource briefing during orientation and, upon applying for a computer account, signs a form acknowledging awareness and compliance with information resource procedures. The briefing covers items such as personal use of UTSA information resources, password protection, and copyright guidelines. This briefing is also available on the UTSA Web site for refresher training.

Access to Information Resources

All personnel (faculty, staff, and students) must acquire a user id and pass word before accessing UTSA information resources. This access is approved by representatives of the information resource owner and processed through the Office of Information Technology. This access is reviewed at least annually to ensure that it is still valid.

When the access is no longer valid, the Office of Information Technology terminates it.

Access to Confidential/Sensitive Information

Access to confidential and sensitive information is restricted to individuals who are authorized by owners on a strict "need to know" basis. Owners of confidential and /or sensitive information are responsible for classifying the data. Resources containing this information should be clearly marked. Managers should be aware of which personnel are in positions of special trust.

Use of UTSA Information Resources

UTSA information resources provided to faculty, staff, and students are owned by UTSA and are to be used for University related activities only. Resources are not to be used for commercial purposes and/or personal financial gain or for any other non-university-related activities. When off-site UTSA terminals are used to access University information resources, their operation must be only for university business. At no time should UTSA information resources be used to disrupt, damage, degrade, or obstruct systems/networks. University resources should not be used to gain unauthorized access to systems, subvert restrictions associated with computer accounts, or obtain additional resources. Users are responsible for their own individual accounts and should never make them available to others. User IDs and passwords exist for account protection and should not be compromised.

Email

Email should be considered to be the same as printed communication and should meet the same standards of taste, professionalism, accuracy and legality that are expected in printed communication. Fraudulent, harassing, threatening or libelous messages should not be transmitted, and personal or sensitive information about individuals should not be posted without their consent. Junk mail (e.g. random mail, chain letters, etc.) is unacceptable. All messages must correctly identify the sender. If you are being harassed via e-mail, immediately notify the Office of Information Technology, Student Affairs, or the appropriate academic department administrator. It is not the intent of the University to monitor e-mail in the absence of policy or law violations. E-mail is subject to disclosure to third parties under the Texas Public Information Act or through subpoena or other processes.

WWW

University Communications is responsible for the content and structure of the UTSA World Wide Web home page and administrators at the associate dean or associate vice president level are responsible for University home pages containing official information. Divisional, departmental, and other official home pages are subject to review and approval by the University. Students may develop personal home pages but they are expected to conform to the standards governing University computers and networks and to University Communications policy. Only home pages developed by official campus organizations may link to the UTSA home page. Although it is not the intent of UTSA to review or monitor faculty, staff, or student home pages, these pages must meet the same standards as other electric communications authorized by the University.

Copyright

Copyrighted material includes, but is not limited to, software, audio recordings, video recordings, photographs and written material. Copyright policy can be complex and fairly confusing but the following general guidelines apply to UTSA:

• Software licensed to the university may be copied only if explicitly authorized by the software developer.
• Copying software licensed to the University onto a personal home computer must be expressly authorized in the license agreement.
• Multiple use over a network must also be specifically authorized in the license agreement.
• Users must have permission to access, copy, or transport data maintained by other University users.
• Faculty, staff, and students may not use unlicensed or unauthorized copies of software on University-owned computers.
• Specific UT System copyright policy may be found in "Use of Copyrighted Materials". A broader range of copyright topics may be found in "Copyright Crash Course". For help in determining whether your use of copyrighted work is a fair use or requires permission, access "Fair Use of Copyrighted Materials".