MCCCD Computing Resource Standards

Dear Maricopa,

As we approach the winter recess, this message addresses important changes that will take place next year regarding our technology resources. Please take a moment to review it in full.

Technology is an important resource within the Maricopa County Community College District, allowing our family of colleges to stay in touch, as well as for us to communicate outside of this organization. From telephones to computers, we depend on many forms of technology. Earlier in the year, I asked a committee (comprised of faculty, staff and students) to examine administrative regulations that were related to our electronic resources. After careful review and discussion, the committee proposed changes that have been formalized as part of the administrative regulation review process.

Beginning in January, we will begin to implement these changes throughout our district. Changes to the MEMO system have been addressed in a message previously sent to all of Maricopa by Ron Bleed, Vice Chancellor for Information Technology Services.

I wanted to personally address the changes made to the administrative regulation for Computing Resource Standards. This regulation governs the general use of computing and technology resources, as well as what were called ?personal websites?. When the regulation was first adopted several years ago, this provision was included as a way to encourage employees and students to become familiar with a new and emerging technological tool. While Maricopa continues to be dedicated to innovative learning systems, the appropriate use of technology resources that are acquired and maintained with public funds was an issue that the committee was charged with reviewing.

During the open comment portion of the review process, some concerns were expressed relative to academic freedom and free expression. The original proposed changes to this regulation attempted to make a distinction between an ?official? versus an ?unofficial? website. Based upon the comments received, the regulation underwent a series of edits with the specific purpose of weighing and balancing the interests of academic freedom, freedom of speech and the appropriate use of public resources.

The final document that I have adopted makes the following changes to the regulation:

• The regulation was renamed Technology Resource Standards.
• The regulation contains language on links and images to external sites (posted via MCCCD technology resources), and requires that links and images shall not violate federal and state regulations.
• Instead of making a distinction between ?official and unofficial? web sites, the language for personal websites was removed altogether. The presumption will be made that technology resources, including websites, are used for business and not for personal purposes.
• The regulation contains language on complaints and violations. Technology users will need to demonstrate and/or establish the business relevance if a complaint is received regarding the use of the resource.
• The committee is continuing to draft a standard complaint process that will also be submitted for your review during an open comment process.
• The regulation still allows complaints to be addressed, even while a standard complaint process is being formatted.
• Disclaimer language has been updated and should appear on the home page of web sites.

Web authors are encouraged to begin reviewing their sites in order to determine the business relevance of information and the appropriate display of the revised disclaimer.

Formal implementation will begin on January 18, 2005. While a period of transition (through March 31st) has been factored in, obtaining compliance with this regulation should be viewed as a priority.

Please take a moment to review the amended Technology Resource Standards regulation. It is posted at:
http://www.dist.maricopa.edu/gvpolicy/adminregs/auxiliary/4_4.htm

Further operational questions that are not specifically addressed in this message may be directed to Ron Bleed.

This administrative regulation, as all others contained under our governance model is a living document. MCCCD regulations are regularly reviewed and amended in order that our operations reflect current practices or changes in federal or state regulations. Any individual or group may also initiate amendments by following the established approval process.

I thank the committee for the work that it completed during this review and for its continued work on developing a complaint process for the Technology Resource Standards regulation.