Acceptable Use of Cherry Hill Seminary Electronic Communications Systems and Services
Cherry Hill Seminary’s electronic communications systems and services are essential resources provided to the Seminary community in a manner consistent with the Seminary’s official recognition of the formal role that the community plays in fulfilling Cherry Hill Seminary’s mission of providing quality higher education and practical training in Pagan ministry.
To this end, the Cherry Hill Seminary uses, supports and provides electronic communications systems and services for telecommunications, mail, education, and research conducted by faculty, students, administrators, and officially recognized partners and supporters, whether acting individually or collectively, in their respective roles as a part of the Seminary community on behalf of Cherry Hill Seminary.
The Seminary further recognizes that such a diverse community of faculty, students, administrators, and officially recognized partners and supporters have a clear need to freely and creatively utilize these electronic communications systems and services in the conduct of their business with and on behalf of the Seminary, and that these users additionally have the right to expect fair and equitable access to these resources in an atmosphere of mutual respect, professionalism and academic excellence.
In order to ensure such fair and equal access to and use of these essential resources by the entire Seminary community, and specifically without compromise to the exercise of academic freedom, all users are prohibited from utilizing Cherry Hill Seminary’s electronic communications systems and services for any purposes not specifically related to the fulfillment of their individual responsibilities related to conducting the Seminary’s business.
In this regard, users are specifically prohibited from utilizing Cherry Hill Seminary’s electronic communications systems and services not only for exclusively personal purposes but also for any unlawful, unethical or unprofessional purpose or activity. Examples of prohibited use include but are not limited to:
–Solicitation or commercial activities unrelated to the mission of the Seminary. This includes soliciting, promoting, selling, marketing or advertising products or services (e.g. consulting services) or other revenue-generating private business operations for personal financial benefit. Disputes regarding a commercial activity’s relatedness to mission of the Seminary shall be conclusively resolved by the Executive Director or designee.
–Transmission of threats, harassment or defamation.
–Download or distribution of material or programs that could be deemed harmful to the Seminary’s electronic communications systems or services.
–Violations of any state or federal laws, or any applicable Seminary policy or regulation, including but not limited to, Non-Discrimination Policy, Sexual Harassment Policy, Information Policy, Academic Honesty and Student Conduct, and Student Confidentiality.
–Violation of software licensing agreements.
–Intentional damage to equipment, software or data.
When there is reason to believe that a violation of this policy has occurred, an investigation shall be conducted under the guidance of the Executive Director or designee. Investigating officials shall examine charges of violations with due respect for individual privacy, the security of other users and the rights of due process, and are encouraged to proactively consider, in consultation with the Seminary’s executive and administrative leadership, the option of the Seminary’s consultation with legal counsel.
User access to electronic communications systems and services may be temporarily suspended while an investigation is being conducted, with prior written notification by the Executive Director or designee to the individual(s) whose access is being affected, as well as to the appropriate dean, chair or other appropriate Seminary official.
The Executive Director or designee, after consultation with the Seminary’s executive and administrative leadership, shall have the sole authority to make a final decision on what, if any, action on the part of the Seminary will be taken.
Violations of Seminary policy may result in formal sanctions, including but not limited to, limitation or revocation of access rights and/or reimbursement to the Seminary for any expense related to the violation, including costs associated with the detection and investigation of the violation, as well as from the violation itself. Violation of applicable statutes may result in criminal prosecution.
Regardless of whether the investigation’s findings warrant Seminary action, an explanation of the causal events shall be reported, in writing, to the appropriate dean, chair or other appropriate Seminary official , along with a summary of whatever course of action is decided upon by the Executive Director or designee. This report will also include what final disposition will be taken in regard to reinstatement or modification to, or revocation of, access to the Seminary’s electronic communications systems and services by the individual(s) involved in the investigation.
