Below are some common questions regarding the college's policy for acceptable use.
| Q: |
Why does Cascadia have an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)? |
| A: |
The AUP establishes the rules and prohibitions that define acceptable use of college information systems and technology. All members of the Cascadia Community - faculty, staff, administration and students - are required to adhere to the policy. |
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| Q: |
Can I share my Cascadia user-ID and password with a friend? |
| A: |
No. Cascadia has established that account only for your personal use. It is never a good idea to share your ID and password with others. |
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| Q: |
I am taking a class that focuses on network security. Is it okay for me to test Cascadia's system/network security measures as a special project? |
| A: |
No. This sort of exploratory activity would be considered a serious infraction of the AUP. If this is part of a class project, you may want to work with one of the system administrators to see if they can help with your project. |
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| Q: |
Can I use one of Cascadia's computers to host a personal web site advertising my skills? |
| A: |
No. The college systems cannot be used for commercial or political purposes. This is a state mandate to protect the taxpayers' investment. |
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| Q: |
Can I use my Cascadia email account to send a mass mailing, for example to advertise a miracle weight-loss diet supplement? |
| A: |
No. This would fall under two categories. First, this would be under the state mandate restricting commercial or political activity. Second, spamming could possibly clog Cascadia's network. |
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| Q: |
Cascadia has a fast Internet connection. Is it okay for me to load software that links my Cascadia computer to a network of computers that share music, files or other resources? What about Internet Gaming? |
| A: |
No. Applications like Limewire, Bearshare, Wrapster and Gnutella create peer-to-peer networks. These networks pose a serious security risk to the college. They also consume an incredible amount of bandwidth, which will adversely affect our computer network. The same applies for Internet Gaming. |
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| Q: |
May I load software that either I own or have downloaded for free from the Internet on Cascadia's computers? |
| A: |
No. This would be a violation of the AUP. These computers are optimized for the software already loaded on them. Loading new software can cause the existing programs to run poorly. Some popular programs found on the Internet can also open up portals for hacking into Cascadia systems. |
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| Q: |
My friend has a music CD that I'd like to get a copy of. Can I use Cascadia's computers to copy the CD or rip MP3s from his disc? |
| A: |
No. The music on the CD is copyrighted and this is an illegal activity. |
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| Q: |
Okay, then what if it is my own CD. I'd like to rip MP3s and store them in my directory. It's no longer a copyright issue, right? |
| A: |
You are correct about the copyright, however the AUP would disallow this. The college would see this as a misuse of shared resources (disk storage). |
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| Q: |
I am receiving harrassing emails from another student. I want it to stop. What can I do? |
| A: |
The AUP prohibits the use of Cascadia's resources to harrass or intimidate another person. You should arrange a confidential meeting with the Vice President for Student Success (425.352.8247) to get some assistance. |
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| Q: |
Is it true that Cascadia email and Web activities are public record? |
| A: |
Yes. These records are subject to disclosure under Washington's Public Disclosure Act. Deleted emails and files can be recovered and will be disclosed pursuant to state law. |
