Student Technology Use

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Network and Internet Acceptable Use Policy

(Statement No. 306; December 4, 2013)

The MGCCC Network and Internet access will provide students, faculty, staff and administrators a wide variety of communication and informational resources.

All users (employees and students) will abide by policies and procedures, which require users to be identified and to follow a set of practical guidelines when utilizing the college’s information technology resources and telecommunications network to protect the integrity of its computing systems, workstations, and lab facilities. These policies and procedures define appropriate use of e-mail and other network services.

Access via an ID number and password is provided after individuals agree to abide by the policies and procedures.

To view the entire copy of this policy, please go to the Network and Internet Acceptable Use Policy found on the college website.

Student Email and Computer Usage

(Statement No. 306.10; June 23, 2021)

1. STATEMENT. The purpose of this statement is to define acceptable use of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College computer and email systems for students. This statement applies to all students accessing the MGCCC wireless network, student email system, lab computers, and/or accessing the MGCCC network via residence halls.
    
2. PROCEDURES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
    
   1. MGCCC will use electronic mail to communicate official college information of many kinds to students. Examples include, but are not limited to, financial aid announcements, registration or enrollment information, course cancellations, etc. Students are responsible for reading their e-mail on a frequent and regular basis, since some official communications may be time sensitive. The college suggests that students access their e-mail accounts daily, or at a minimum, three times a week.
       
   2. MGCCC’s student email (@bulldogs.mgccc.edu) mailbox size limits are set by Microsoft Office 365, the service provider. Students should be aware that after messages have been purged there is no way for IT to retrieve those messages.
       
   3. In accepting an account to access MGCCC’s student email systems or in the use of any of the computer equipment at MGCCC including network access for the purposes of accessing the internet, the student user agrees to the following terms and conditions:
       
      1. Students are responsible for keeping their passwords confidential and should never share this information or access to their college resources with others, including family members. Students who lose or forget their passwords through Single Sign On/Web Services should contact the MGCCC Helpdesk to reset their password. If students continue to have issues, they may submit a ticket to the IT helpdesk for assistance.
          
      2. The college does not routinely monitor or inspect individual accounts, files, or communications. There are situations, however, in which the college has a legitimate need to do so: to protect the integrity of MGCCC systems and resources; with appropriate authorization, when there is a reasonable suspicion that the user has violated either laws or MGCCC policies; or when required by law to do so. All monitoring and inspection shall be subject to proper authorization, notification, and other legal requirements.
          
      3. Any attempt to interrupt or damage the operation of any of the systems shall result in the termination of the user’s access and appropriate disciplinary action.
          
      4. Any attempt to acquire information stored on the systems other than that declared as public information or information stored by the permitted users shall constitute a violation of college policies regarding privacy of information.
          
      5. The user is responsible for his/her account and all work done under that account. Any unauthorized use of that account by other users must be reported.
          
      6. No material should be placed on the system or retrieved from the system without the permission of the college. Users should be aware that it is a criminal offense to copy any material protected by copyright.
          
      7. Students are prohibited from posting on or transmitting through the MGCCC systems any unlawful; harmful; threatening; abusive; harassing; defamatory; vulgar; obscene; profane; hateful; or racially, ethnically, or otherwise objectionable material of any kind.
          
      8. MGCCC reserves the right to block internet traffic from all file sharing or other non-educational sites.
          
      9. IT reserves the right to reduce residence hall internet traffic during regular business hours as necessary for business operations.
          
      10. For non-returning students or students that do not attend for three consecutive semesters, all accounts on MGCCC systems will be permanently disabled/deleted one day after the final day of the third semester.
           
      11. When a student returns for courses after their account was permanently disabled/deleted, their account will be reactivated. All reactivated accounts will use the existing on-file email address in the ERP system.
           
      12. Using email forwarding is no longer permitted, to minimize malicious email attacks.
           
      13. Students attempting to access MGCCC’s wireless networks must have a valid and up-to-date anti-virus program with all updates being current to within the last 7 calendar days. Non residence hall student access is limited to the wireless network for personal device usage while on campus.
           
      14. IT does not support student software installed on their personal systems. Please refer to the software or hardware manufacturer.

Multi-Factor Access

(Statement No. 306.21; June 23, 2021)

STATEMENT. The purpose of this statement is to define how Multi-Factor Access (MFA) will be assigned to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College employees, faculty, and students.

PROCEDURES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

MGCCC’s IT department will assign MFA to all employees, faculty, and students.

Each constituent will use MFA to access the following systems or services:

Students

1. Would require MFA access for college email.
2. Would not require MFA access for Banner Web Services.

Employees and Faculty

1. Would be required to use MFA when logging into their computer each day.
2. Would be required to use MFA when offsite using VPN.
3. Would be required to use MFA when using Webmail on/off site.

Approved MFA devices will include:

1. Students – Automated Email, mobile app, or text to a mobile phone.
2. Employees and Faculty - Automated Email, mobile app, key fob (upon request), or text to a mobile phone.