STCC Policies and Procedures Handbook

General Policies

Campus Grounds Smoking Policy

  1. POLICY


    2. Be it enacted that:

    a. smoking or holding a lit cigarette in the following areas on campus be prohibited:

    1. The back of Building 2(non-"green" side).
    2. Under/near the overhang in the back of Building 13 (non-"green" side);
    3. Under/near the overhang in the back of Building 17 (non-"green" side).

    b. signs be placed on or by each entrance door located in areas defined in (a) saying the following:

    NO SMOKING
    THIS SIDE OF BUILDING

    The first line will be in a larger font than the last line.

     

    II. EVALUATION OF POLICY

    Policy will be evaluated after the Spring Semester of 2004 by Administrative Services and the Student Government, or after Fall Semester of 2004, or any time immediately after the policy has been in effect a full continuous Fall or Spring semester for the first time.

    III. ENFORCEMENT

    The policy will be governed by Article III: Proscribed Conduct, Section b. 8 of the Springfield Technical Community College Student Handbook, covering the "Violation of published College policies, rules or regulations." Student violators should be brought to the attention of the Dean of Students.

    IV. FURTHER ACTION

    Possibility of review of other campus areas in need of consideration to remain open.

Solicitation on Campus

The general policy of Springfield Technical Community College prohibits the selling of merchandise or the solicitation of donations on campus or at off-campus events. Under certain circumstances, exceptions to the rule are made for recognized student organizations, the College, or its departments. Clearance for the disbursement of material aimed primarily at the faculty and/or staff of the College must be secured from the office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Clearance for all other solicitations, distribution of information and literature, must be received from the office of Student Activities and Development, and then may take place only at locations and times specifically designated by the Student Activities and Development Coordinator. Non-affiliated off-campus organizations may apply for permission to use the campus facilities through the Special Events Coordinator. Approval to distribute and post information must be secured from the Student Activities and Development Office.

Campus Safety Disclosure

Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with the Student Right-to-Know Act (Title II of Public Law 101-542), the Uniform Campus Crime Report from Springfield Technical Community College is available from the College's Office of Campus Safety, and will be provided upon request.

Copyright Policy

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

This policy provides guidance regarding the use and creation of intellectual property at Springfield Technical Community College. While the definition of intellectual property is broad and can include works of authorship, computer software, inventions, discoveries, creations, know-how, trade secrets, technology, scientific or technological developments, and research data, regardless of whether subject to legal protection, this policy will focus on that intellectual property at the College which is most likely to be used such as copying copyrighted materials for classroom instruction or course materials, performances and displays in the classroom and distance learning environments, as well as created. This policy will address when it is necessary to obtain authorization to use intellectual property, as well as who owns the rights to intellectual property created at the College.

It is the responsibility of all faculty, staff, students and anyone using the facilities or resources of Springfield Technical Community College to read, understand and follow this policy. Any person with questions regarding the application or meaning of this policy should seek clarification from the Chief Academic Officer. Failure to observe this policy may subject individuals to disciplinary action pursuant to applicable handbooks or collective bargaining agreements, up to and including expulsion from the College or termination of employment. Further, failure to observe this policy may result in violation of civil and/or criminal laws.

DEFINITIONS

Copyright - The exclusive right of an author to reproduce and create derivative works from, distribute, perform, display, sell, lend or rent original works of authorship that are fixed in a tangible medium which are not in the Public Domain and thus, protected under United States Copyright Law Title 17 of the U.S. Code, including literary, musical and dramatic works as well as computer software teaching materials, multimedia works, proposals and research reports, books, articles, study guides, syllabi, workbooks, manuals, bibliographies, instructional packages, tests, video or audio records, films, slides, transparencies, charts, graphic materials, photographic or similar visual materials, film strips, multi-media materials, three dimensional materials, exhibits, software, and databases.

Covered Individuals - All individuals employed by the College, enrolled at the College, attending classes at the College, and/or using the facilities or resources of the College (e.g. community members) are subject to this policy.

Intellectual Property - Includes, but is not limited to, any works of authorship, computer software, invention, discovery, creation, know-how, trade secret, technology, scientific or technological development, research data, regardless of whether subject to legal protection such as copyright.

Public Domain - The status of publications, products, and processes that are not protected by copyright; for example, materials on which the copyright has expired and works created by the federal government or a state government.

Work Made for Hire - Pursuant to Section 101 of Title 17 of the U.S. Code, "(1) a work prepared by an employee within the scope of his or her employment; or (2) a work specially ordered or commissioned for use as a contribution to a collective work, as a part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, as a translation, as a supplementary work,[1] as a compilation, as an instructional text,[2] as a test, as answer material for a test, or as an atlas, if the parties expressly agree in a written instrument that the work shall be considered a work made for hire."

COMPLIANCE WITH COPYRIGHT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWS

It is the policy of Springfield Technical Community College to acknowledge and abide by all applicable intellectual property laws, including but not limited federal copyright law, Title 17 of the U.S. Code as amended at http://www.copyright.gov/title17.[3] The College expects that all individuals employed at the College, enrolled at the College, and/or using the facilities or resources of the College ("Covered Individuals") shall do the same.

In addition to issuing, and educating the College community regarding, this policy, the College will, among other things, ensure that every photocopy machine and printer and other equipment capable of creating copies on campus shall include effective signage incorporating the following text:

Notice: The copyright law of the U.S.(Title 17 of the U.S. Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The person using this equipment is liable for any infringement.

[1] A“ supplementary work” is “ a work prepared for publication as a secondary adjunct to a work by another author for the purpose of introducing, concluding, illustrating, explaining, revising, commenting upon, or assisting in the use of the other work, such as forewords, after words, charts, tables, editorial notes, musical arrangements, answer material for tests, bibliographies, appendixes, and indexes.”

[2] An “instructional text” is a “literary, pictorial, or graphic work prepared for publication and with the purpose of use in systematic instructional activities.”

[3] Since its passage in 1976, the Copyright Law has been amended numerous times by, for example, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in 1998 and the Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization Act (“TEACH Act”) in 2002. These amendments outline the copyright requirements for digital content and online distance education addressed in this policy. Additional information regarding these amendments can be found in the appendices to this policy.

The College has also designated an "Agent to Receive Notification of Claimed Copyright Infringement." Anyone who believes that any faculty, staff, or student of the College has infringed on their rights as a copyright owner should contact the Chief Academic Officer, as the Colleges Copyright Agent, with the following information:

  • Complete name, mailing address, email address, phone and fax numbers;
  • Information about the copyrighted material (URL, book title, etc.);
  • The URL of the College site which has the infringing material; and
  • Any other information supporting the claim.

With regard to Distance Learning, the College will apply measures to protect against unauthorized access (e.g. limiting transmission to students enrolled in a particular course) and requires that only lawfully acquired copies of copyrighted works are used.

USE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: COPYRIGHT

Much of the existing works, information, or materials used at the College, whether written or electronic are copyright protected. Copyright protection vests automatically in original works of authorship that are fixed in a tangible medium of expression which are not in the Public Domain. Copyrighted materials can include literary, musical and dramatic works as well as computer software teaching materials, multimedia works, proposals and research reports, books, articles, study guides, syllabi, workbooks, manuals, bibliographies, instructional packages, tests, video or audio records, films, slides, transparencies, charts, graphic materials, photographic or similar visual materials, film strips, multi-media materials, three dimensional materials, exhibits, software, and databases.

Works in the Public Domain include those created by the federal or a state government and copyrighted works where the copyright has expired. Public accessibility to the works such as via the Internet does not mean that the works are in the Public Domain. To the contrary, much of the materials on the Internet are copyright protected. Since copyright laws protect many materials, and it is difficult to determine whether a work is in the Public Domain, Covered Individuals should assume that the materials they seek to use, for example, in connection with course preparation, course presentation or course materials, are copyrighted works.

Please note that if anyone who is not the copyright owner reproduces, distributes, performs, displays, and/or makes derivative works from copyrighted materials it is an infringement of the copyright owner's rights and the person infringing may be liable for damages to the copyright owner as well as criminal penalties. Accordingly, any time a Covered Individual uses a copyrighted work, either in whole or in part, proper authorization must be obtained from the copyright owner (which can include written consent as well as the payment of a fee) unless one of the exceptions listed below applies. Additionally, Covered Individuals should clearly and prominently acknowledge the copyright owner on, or next to, the copyrighted work along with the following notice:

    This material is protected by federal copyright law (Title 17 of the U.S. Code) and thus, copying of the material is prohibited by federal law.

Obtaining Authorization to Use a Copyrighted Work

Obtaining authorization from a copyright owner to use a copyrighted work is usually not difficult but in some cases, may involve payment of a fee. The Association of American Publishers suggests that the following information be sent to the copyright owner (and/or to the publisher), with a self-addressed stamped envelope, to expedite the approval process:
  • Title, author and/or editor, and edition of materials to be duplicated.
  • Exact material to be used, giving amount, page numbers, reels, cassettes, chapters and, if possible, a photocopy of the material.
  • Number of copies to be made.
  • Use to be made of duplicated materials (including time period or duration if copying on an on-going basis is desired).
  • Form of distribution (classroom, newsletter, etc.).
  • Whether or not the material is to be sold.
  • Type of reprint (photocopy, offset, typeset, reproduced [media]).
It is advisable to allow sufficient lead time to obtain authorization prior to use. In some instances the copyright holder may assess a fee for permission, which may be passed on to students who receive copies of the copyrighted material.

Depending on the type of copyrighted material (e.g. poetry, music), permission may also be obtained (for a fee) by contacting organizations such as the Copyright Clearance Center, Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Harry Fox Agency, Motion Picture Licensing Corporation, Recording Industry Association of America, and The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
 

WHEN AUTHORIZATION IS NOT REQUIRED

Covered Individuals do not need to obtain prior written permission from the copyright owner to use copyrighted materials if use falls under one of the exemptions listed below. Additional guidance and resources are included in the appendices to this policy.

Fair Use Exemption

Copyright law does allow limited copying, distribution, and display of copyrighted works without the copyright owners permission for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple uses for classroom use), scholarship and/or research under certain conditions known as "fair use." Copyright law does not specify what qualifies as of "fair use" but rather provides four interrelated factors which must be considered every time a Covered Individual seeks to use copyrighted material to evaluate whether the use (e.g. copying, distribution) falls within the limited exemption of fair use. The four factors that must be considered on a case-by-case basis are as follows:

  • The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes.

    • Nonprofit educational uses are more likely to be considered fair while commercial uses will likely be an infringement. Duplicating and distributing small portions of copyrighted materials for specific nonprofit educational purposes has been considered to be fair use.
  • The nature of the copyrighted work.

    • For example, use of published non-fiction (e.g. encyclopedias) is more likely to be considered fair while use of unpublished fiction will likely be an infringement. Commercial audiovisual works and consumable workbook materials are less likely to be considered fair than use of many printed materials.
  • The amount and importance of the portion of the copyrighted work used.

    • Use of extracts which are small relative to the whole work and which do not capture the "essence" of the work are more likely to be considered fair.
  • The economic effect of the use on the copyright owner.
    • If copying or distributing the work does not reduce sales of the work then the use is more likely to be considered fair.

    Please note that not all educational uses will qualify as "fair use" and that the concept of "fair use" provides limited exemption and does not allow for the wholesale copying and distribution of copyrighted work for educational or any other purpose without permission. Moreover, when in doubt if use qualifies as "fair use," permission from the copyright holder should be obtained.

Special Library Exemption

Copyright laws allow libraries to exercise special rights in addition to "fair use" such as archiving lost, stolen, damaged or deteriorating works, making copies for library patrons, and, in some cases, making copies for other libraries' patrons (inter-library loan).

Special Classroom Exemption

Copyright laws allow faculty and instructors to use copyrighted materials in the classroom, including distance learning environments, without obtaining permission, for example, in performances of non-dramatic literary and musical works or displays of print materials over the internet as part of a class session in a distance learning course. This special classroom exemption only applies if:
  • The display or performance is done by, at the direction of, or under the actual supervision of an instructor, as an integral part of a class session, an integral part of a class session as part of systematic mediated instructional activities and is directly related and of material assistance to the teaching content.

  • Transmission is made solely for and reception limited to (as technologically feasible) students enrolled in the course, and technological measures are in place to limit access to enrolled students and reasonably prevent download and further distribution of materials.

  • There is no interference with copyright holder's technological measures that prevent such retention and dissemination.


    • The special classroom exemptions do not cover:
  • Digital educational works - works produced or marketed primarily for performance/display as part of mediated instructional activities transmitted via digital networks
  • Unlawful copies - copies which are known (or reasonably should have been known) to be unlawfully made or acquired).
Please note that copyright law allows the conversion of print or analog material into digital formats if no digital version is available or an available digital version is protected by technological measures.

Guidelines for USE of Copyrighted Works At The College
Below are some illustrations of typical educational uses of copyrighted works at the College which are unlikely to require the copyright owners permission if this policy and these guidelines are followed as use will likely fall into one of the exemptions listed above. Even if a determination is made that an exception applies and permission of the copyright owner is not required for use of copyrighted material, Covered Individuals still have limitations on use as outlined in this Policy and below. Additionally, Covered Individuals should clearly and prominently acknowledge the copyright owner on, or next to, the copyrighted work along with the following notice: "This material is protected by Title 17 of the U.S. Code and thus, copying of the material is prohibited by federal copyright law." Please also refer to the appendices of this policy for additional guidance and copyright resources, including, but not limited to other examples where educational uses may be permissible without permission from the copyright owner. These resources may be particularly helpful where Covered Users seek to use copyrighted works in newer forms of technology (e.g. podcasting, PowerPoint). Please note however that this policy and federal copyright law applies to all uses of copyrighted materials, irrespective of technology. Non-digital content that is protected by copyright is also protected in digital form. Additional guidance and resources are included in the appendices to this policy such as "Questions & Answers on Copyright For the Campus Community" at http://www.elac.edu/collegeservices/doc/PC-029-08-06-CopyrightQA_v3.pdf

Single Copy for Classroom Use
A single copy may be made by, or for, a faculty member or instructor, for his or her scholarly research or use in teaching or preparation to teach a class, of all or part of the following: a chapter from a book, an article from a periodical or newspaper; a short story, short essay or short poem, whether or not from a collective work or a chart, graph, diagram, drawing, cartoon, picture from a book, periodical, or newspaper.

Multiple Copies for Classroom Use, including Course Packets
Multiple copies (not to exceed in any event more than one copy per student per course) may be made by, or for, the faculty member or instructor giving the course for classroom use or discussion, provided that the copying meets the tests of brevity and spontaneity and cumulative effect and each copy includes a notice of copyright. Students may not be charged except to recover copying costs.
Works which meet the brevity test are as follows:
  • Poetry - a complete poem (or an excerpt from a poem) if less than 250 words and if printed on not more than two pages.

  • Prose - a complete article, story or essay of less than 2500 words or an excerpt from any prose work of not more than 1,000 words or 10% of the work whichever is less but a minimum of 500 words.

  • Illustration: one chart, graph, diagram, drawing, cartoon or picture per book or per periodical issue.

A work passes the spontaneity test if the copying is at the instance and inspiration of the individual instructor, and the inspiration and decision to use the work and the moment of its use for maximum teaching effectiveness are so close in time that it would be unreasonable to expect a timely reply to a request for permission to copy.

To meet the cumulative effect test, the copying of the material must be for only one course: and not more than one short poem, article, story, essay or two excerpts may be copied from the same author, nor more than three from the same collective work or periodical volume during one class term. Cumulative effect prohibits more than nine instances of such multiple copying for one course during a class term.

Notwithstanding the above, the following copying is prohibited without authorization from the copyright owner:

  • Copying for the purpose of creating, replacing, or substituting for anthologies, compilations or collective works.
  • Copying of works intended to be "consumable" in the course of study or teaching, such as workbooks, exercises, standardized tests and test booklets and answer sheets.
  • Copying as a substitute for the purchase or books, publishers' reprints or periodicals.
  • Repeated copying of the same item by the same teacher from term to term.

Faculty and staff should follow the guidelines above for copying course packets or research materials. Please note that permission of the copyright owner must be obtained for materials that will be used in more than one semester by the same professor for the same class. Copyright notices should include appropriate citations and attributions to the source.

Library Course Reserves

A faculty or staff member may want to have materials on reserve at the library as part of the course materials, including classroom assignments. Library course reserves, whether physical or electronic, are intended to provide supplemental material to courses of instruction at the College. As such, materials placed on reserve (for example disks, audio-visual materials, journal articles and/or photocopies, electronic resources, and non-book items) are not intended to comprise the core of a course's instructional material, but rather to augment it. The library will conduct a fair use analysis described in this policy and limit reserves to lawfully acquired copies of single articles or chapter, or other small portions of a work or originals of an entire work. Copies must include the notices and acknowledgements listed above and access will be limited to students enrolled in the class and will terminate at the end of the class. When the material requested for reserve exceeds what might be permitted under fair use, permission from the copyright holder must be obtained. Please note that placing a lawfully obtained textbook on reserve is permissible.

Network access, including World Wide Web access, to the College-created digitized study collections that include copyrighted material, is restricted to the College's campus network and those authorized to use the network. Such digitized collections are accessible temporarily and for instructional purposes only by the students and faculty for whom the material is intended. These collections should be removed at the end of the academic term in which they were being used. Prominent notice must be given that such study materials may not be downloaded, retained, printed, shared, or modified, except as needed temporarily for specific academic assignments.

The use of a course management system (i.e. Blackboard, Moodle, Angel) offers the capability to provide controlled access to electronic forms of class material. The College's libraries provide access to a number of databases by subscription agreement with vendors. In many cases the license agreements with the vendors or publishers of these materials specifically address whether or not content may be downloaded and reposted to an electronic reserves system. Since the answer to this question is uneven and there are many licenses to consider, the College's libraries will link to any database or eJournal content, rather than downloading the document and uploading it for online access (i.e. BlackBoard, Moodle, Angel).

Digitizing and Using Copyrighted Works in Multimedia Materials for Educational Purposes
Covered Individuals may seek to incorporate copyrighted works into multimedia materials and display and perform a multimedia work in connection with, or the creation of, class assignments, curriculum materials, remote instruction, examinations, student portfolios, or professional symposia. Covered Individuals may incorporate copyrighted works into a multimedia work if the amount of material from the copyrighted work is a very small amount, if copies of the multimedia work are limited to those required to achieve the educational purpose, and if the multimedia work is used for the purpose for no longer than two years (in which case permission from the copyright owner is required). The copyright notices and acknowledgements listed above must also be included.

Digitizing and Using Images for Educational Purposes
Covered Individuals may seek to use images during their class, for example art images for an art history class. Images should only be used with permission from the owner of the copyright in the image. Many images are readily available online or for sale or license at a fair price. If the image is not readily available online or for sale or license at a fair price, Covered Individuals should limit access to all digitized images (except small low resolution "thumbnails") to students enrolled in the class and administrative staff as needed and should terminate access to the images at the end of the class term. Periodically review digital availability. If a previously unavailable image becomes available online or for sale or license at a fair price, it should be acquired before using again.

Distance Learning
A faculty or staff member may display and perform copyrighted works in live interactive distance learning classes, course management systems or in delayed transmission of faculty instruction as follows: the faculty or staff member or the College must own a legal copy of the source (e.g. book purchased in bookstore). Before purchasing materials for Distance Learning Courses, determine whether the applicable licenses provide authority for use of display and performance of the materials without restrictions. If so, a small portion of the Copyrighted materials may be used for a limited time, and with limited access along with the notices and acknowledgements listed above.

Music
A faculty or staff member may copy music for academic purposes, other than performances, limited as follows: 1) excerpts of sheet music, such as performable units (movements, sections, arias) may be copied only if out of print; 2) student performances may be recorded only for teacher or institutional evaluation or student's portfolio, and 3) sound records may be copied once for classroom or reserve room use. Please note that sheet music may be copied in its entirety only for an emergency when purchased copies are not available for an imminent performance provided that purchased replacement copies are substituted in due course. Additionally, the copyright notices and acknowledgements outlined above must be included. There are also sources of free music such as the Choral Public Domain Library. http://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page.

Public Performance
Copyright law governs how copyrighted materials used for a public performance, such as movies, may be used. Neither the rental nor the purchase of a video carries with it the right to show the video outside the home. In some instances no license is required to view a video, such as inside the home by family or social acquaintances and in certain narrowly defined face-to-face teaching activities. Taverns, restaurants, private clubs, prisons, lodges, factories, summer camps, public libraries, day-care facilities, parks and recreation departments, churches and non classroom use at schools and universities are all examples of situations where a public performance license must be obtained. This legal requirement applies regardless of whether an admission fee is charged, whether the institution or organization is commercial or non-profit, or whether a federal or state agency is involved.

Copyright law allows faculty members and instructors to share audio-visual work (e.g. video, VHS tape, laserdisc, DVD movie, 35 mm slide, filmstrip, or 16 mm movie), works with students in face-to-face teaching situations only. Even programs purchased or rented with the caveat "home use only," may be used in face-to-face teaching activities. Such programs may not be used outside of the classroom, for example viewing at a student club meeting, without licensing. Audio-visual works may not be transmitted to other colleges or locations without permission of the copyright holder. Accordingly, unless permission is received, distance education is an unlikely venue for the performance of audio-visual works.

Transmission of an audio-visual work may be permissible over closed circuit television to classrooms located within the same building. Besides use in classrooms, students, faculty or staff at workstations or in small group rooms such as those available in the library may view audio-visual works that are owned by the College. In similar situations, the performance of non-dramatic literary or musical works is permitted, if the performance or display is a regular part of systematic instructional activities, if it is directly related to teaching content of transmission, if the setting is normally devoted to instructional activities, or if it is sited to accommodate persons with disabilities.

Assuming the purpose is curricular and the setting is face-to-face, two additional criteria apply: (1) the performance of the audiovisual work must meet the instructional objective; and (2) the audio-visual work must be a "lawfully made" copy. Any other type of performance or display of an audio-visual work is potentially a copyright infringement.

Recording College Events
Permission to record presentations by registered students, faculty, and staff is assumed if the recording is to be used for archival or classroom use only. Written permission of the presenter or sponsor is required for presentations made by any other individual or group regardless of the recording's purpose. One archival copy of non-classroom events using copyrighted materials may be produced if the presenter has obtained clearance from the copyright holder. Non-archival copies of presentations may only be produced if written permission allowing the duplication of the material has been obtained in advance from all

Off-Air Recording of Broadcast Programming for Educational Purposes
A broadcast program (including cable program) may be recorded off-air and retained for 45 calendar days after date of recording. Off-air recordings may be used once by individual faculty member or instructors in the course of relevant teaching activities and repeated once only when instructional reinforcement is necessary in classrooms and similar places devoted to instruction during the first 10 school days in the 45-day retention period. Off-air recordings may be made only at the request of and use by individual faculty and instructors and may not be regularly recorded in anticipation of requests. No broadcast program may be recorded off-air more than once at the request of the same teacher, regardless of the number of times the program may be broadcast. A limited number of copies may be reproduced from each off-air recording to meet the legitimate needs of faculty and instructors under this policy. Each additional copy shall be subject to all provisions governing the original recording.

After the first ten consecutive school days, off-air recordings may be used up to the end of the 45-day retention period only for teacher evaluation purposes (i.e. to determine whether to including the broadcast program in the teaching curriculum and may not be used in the recording institution for student exhibition or any other non-evaluation purpose without authorization. After 45 days, a license for retention must be obtained or the recording must be erased or destroyed. Recordings need not be used in their entirety but may not be altered from their original content or physically or electronically combined or merged to constitute teaching anthologies or compilations. Recordings must contain the copyright notice on the broadcast program as recorded.

OWNERSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The author or creator of intellectual property is usually the owner of that intellectual property unless the intellectual property is a "work made for hire." Copyright law (Section 101 of Title 17 of the U.S. Code) defines a "work made for hire" as:
  1. a work prepared by an employee within the scope of his or her employment; or
  2. a work specially ordered or commissioned for use as a contribution to a collective work, as a part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, as a translation, as a supplementary work,[4] as a compilation, as an instructional text, [5] as a test, as answer material for a test, or as an atlas, if the parties expressly agree in a written instrument that the work shall be considered a work made for hire.
If the work does not fit the legal definition of "work made for hire" the employer may still own the intellectual property if it is created pursuant to a contract, collective bargaining agreement, or assignment of copyright.
  1. A "supplementary work" is "a work prepared for publication as a secondary adjunct to a work by another author for the purpose of introducing, concluding, illustrating, explaining, revising, commenting upon, or assisting in the use of the other work, such as forewords, after words, charts, tables, editorial notes, musical arrangements, answer material for tests, bibliographies, appendixes, and indexes."
  2. An "instructional text" is a "literary, pictorial, or graphic work prepared for publication and with the purpose of use in systematic instructional activities."
  3. Since its passage in 1976, the Copyright Law has been amended numerous times by, for example, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in 1998 and the Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization Act ("TEACH Act") in 2002. These amendments outline the copyright requirements for digital content and online distance education addressed in this policy. Additional information regarding these amendments can be found in the appendices to this policy.
  4. A "supplementary work" is "a work prepared for publication as a secondary adjunct to a work by another author for the purpose of introducing, concluding, illustrating, explaining, revising, commenting upon, or assisting in the use of the other work, such as forewords, after words, charts, tables, editorial notes, musical arrangements, answer material for tests, bibliographies, appendixes, and indexes."
  5. An "instructional text" is a "literary, pictorial, or graphic work prepared for publication and with the purpose of use in systematic instructional activities."

Distribution of Printed Materials and Posting Guidelines

The following guidelines are designed to ensure a smooth flow of information through the use of posted materials on student bulletin boards. All individuals, student groups, and those not directly affiliated with the College are required to follow these guidelines:
  1. All materials must be submitted to the Student Activities and Development Office for approval prior to posting. Items of questionable taste, or items, which are obscene or libelous, will not be approved for posting.
  2. The materials must include the name of an individual or organization. No anonymous material will be approved.
  3. Priority for space will go first to recognized or forming campus organizations and individuals affiliated with the College, and then to others on a space-available basis.
  4. All materials will be stamped with the date of approval and the date the materials will be removed. In the case of mass-produced material, a copy will b filed with the Student Activities ad Development Office.
  5. The final date of posting will be determined as follows:
    1. Services (typing, babysitting, etc.) - a mutually agreeable time, not to exceed two (2) continuous semesters;
    2. Advertising an event - the day of the event; or
    3. Others - two (2) weeks from the initial date of posting, unless prior arrangements are made.
  6. Materials may not be posted directly on walls, on glass, where they may cause an obstruction, or outside the building. They should only be posted on specified bulletin boards.
  7. The maximum size for signs should be 11" x 14". The Student Activities and Development Coordinator must approve large posters or banners.
  8. Materials not in accordance with these guidelines will be removed. Materials posted over other approved materials will be removed.
  9. All questions should be directed to the Student Activities and Development Coordinator.
  10. Any organization or individual wishing to distribute or sell literature or products on campus must obtain permission for such distribution or sale from the Student Activities and Development Coordinator.
  11. Appeal of any decisions concerning this policy should be directed to the Dean of Student Services.

Community Notification of When to Access Sex Offender Information

In accordance with federal law, Springfield Technical Community College is required to advise the campus community where information concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained.
Information concerning Level 2 and Level 3 offenders is available to the general public by contacting the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board, located at PO Box 4547, Salem, MA 01970-4547, (978) 740-6400, or the Springfield Police Department, located on Pearl Street in Springfield.
Level 3 offender information is also available online at www.mass.gov/sorb

If you have any questions regarding access to sex offender information, please feel free to contact the STCC Chief of Police, located in Building 9, 755-4220 or 755-4444.

Student Right to Know

Notice is hereby given that all Student Right-to-Know information (Public Law 101-542) and all Equity in Athletics information (Public Law 103-382) are available to current or prospective students from the Office of the Registrar and will be provided upon request.

Technical Resources

This policy for students, faculty, staff (full-time and part-time) and guests - users~ at STCC includes the use of computers, printers and other peripherals, programs, data, local and wide area networks, and the Internet. Individual schools or departments may choose to issue additional policies governing the use of technology resources. Use of STCC technology resources by any student, faculty, staff or guest shall constitute acceptance of the terms of this policy and any such additional policies.

User responsibilities: It is the responsibility of any person using STCC technology resources to read, understand, and follow this policy. In addition, users are expected to exercise reasonable judgment in interpreting the policy and making decisions about the use of technology resources. Any person with questions regarding the application or meaning of this policy should seek clarification from appropriate supervisors. Failure to observe this policy may subject individuals to disciplinary action, including termination of employment.

Acceptable use: STCC firmly believes that technology resources empower users and make their jobs more fulfilling by allowing them to deliver better services at lower costs. As such, students, faculty, staff and guests are encouraged to use technology resources to the fullest extent in pursuit of STCCs goals and objectives.

Unacceptable use: Unless such use is reasonably related to a users job, it is unacceptable for any person to use STCC technology resources:
  • in furtherance of any illegal act, including violation of any criminal or civil laws or regulations, whether state or federal
  • for any political purpose
  • for any commercial purpose
  • to send threatening or harassing messages, whether sexual or otherwise
  • to access or share sexually explicit, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate materials
  • to infringe any intellectual property rights
  • to gain or attempt to gain unauthorized access to any computer or network
  • for any use that causes interference with or disruption of network users and resources, including propagation of computer viruses or other harmful programs
  • to intercept communications intended for other persons
  • to misrepresent either STCC or a persons role at STCC
  • to distribute chain letters
  • to access online gambling sites
  • to libel or otherwise defame any person, or
  • to consume excessive bandwidth as determined by STCC officials in their sole discretion
Furthermore, it is unacceptable for any student to use STCC technology resources to violate the Student Code of Conduct as set forth in this catalog.

Data confidentiality: In the course of performing their jobs, STCC employees often have access to confidential or proprietary information, such as personal data about identifiable individuals or commercial information about business organizations. Under no circumstances is it permissible for employees to acquire access to confidential data unless such access is required by their jobs. Under no circumstances may employees disseminate any confidential information that they have rightful access to, unless such dissemination is required by their jobs. The confidentiality of student educational records shall additionally be subject to the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Copyright protection: Computer programs are valuable intellectual property. Software publishers can be very aggressive in protecting their property rights from infringement. No one is permitted to use any software unless it is properly licensed to STCC. In addition to software, legal protections can also exist for any information published on the Internet, such as text and graphics on a website. As such, it is important that users respect the rights of intellectual property owners. Users should exercise care and judgment when copying or distributing information that could reasonably be expected to be copyrighted.

Computer viruses: Users should exercise reasonable precautions in order to prevent the introduction of a computer virus into the local area or wide area networks. Virus scanning software approved by the IT department will be used at all times and, specifically, to check any software downloaded from the Internet or obtained from any questionable source. In addition, executable files (program files that end in .exe) should not be stored on or run from network drives unless authorized, installed, and maintained by the IT department. It is a good practice to scan floppy disks periodically to see if they have been infected. Please contact the Help Desk with any questions.

Security: Most desktop computers are connected to a local area network, which links computers within STCC and, through the wide area network, to the Internet. It is critically important that users take particular care to avoid compromising the security of the network. Users shall not connect any device to any STCC computer equipment or to the STCC campus network without the explicit permission and involvement of the IT department. This includes, but is not limited to, servers, personal computers, notebook/laptop computers, printers, hubs, switches, routers, firewalls, wireless access points, etc.

Because the installation of unauthorized software can severely compromise computer and network security, users are not permitted to install any software on STCC computers without the permission of management and the involvement of IT personnel. Under no circumstances will IT personnel be responsible for the installation and/or configuration of software or hardware on any non-STCC equipment.

Users should never share their passwords with anyone else, and should promptly notify IT personnel if they suspect their passwords have been compromised. In addition, users who will be leaving their PCs unattended for extended periods should either log off the network or have password-protected screen savers in operation. Finally, no user is allowed to access the Internet or other external networks via modem without specific permission from management and the involvement of the IT department.

Email: When using email, there are several points users should consider. First, because email addresses identify the organization that sends the message (username@stcc.edu), users should consider email messages to be the equivalent of letters sent on official letterhead. For the same reason, users should ensure that all emails are written in a professional and courteous tone. Finally, although many users regard email as being like a telephone in offering a quick, informal way to communicate, users should remember that emails can be stored, copied, printed, or forwarded by recipients. As such, users should not write anything in an email message that they would not feel just as comfortable putting into a memorandum.

No expectation of privacy: STCC technology resources are the property of STCC or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and are to be used in conformance with this policy. When reasonable and in pursuit of legitimate needs for supervision, control, and the efficient and proper operation of the workplace, STCC will exercise the right to inspect any users computer, any data contained in it, and any data sent or received by that computer. Use of STCC technology resources constitutes express consent for STCC to monitor and/or inspect any data that users create or receive, any messages they send or receive, and any websites that they access.

Internet Policy
  1. Acceptable Use
    The purpose of the Internet is to facilitate communications in support of research and education by providing access to unique resources and an opportunity for collaborative work. To remain eligible as a user, the use of your account must be in support of and consistent with the educational objectives of Springfield Technical Community College. Use of the Internet is for academic purposes only. Transmission of any material in violation of any United States or state regulation is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, copyrighted material, threatening or obscene material, or material protected by trade secret. Use for commercial activities is prohibited. Use for product advertisement or political lobbying is also prohibited.


  2. Privilege
    The use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right; it is to be used for academic purposes only. Inappropriate use, including any violation of these conditions and rules, may result in cancellation of the privilege, as well as possible civil and/or criminal sanctions. The account holder or user is solely responsible for any and all materials viewed, stored, or transmitted from Springfield Technical Community College based computers. STCC expects, however, that all account holders or users will comply with all College rules and regulations related to Internet use, as well as applicable state and federal law. If Springfield Technical Community College receives notice of a violation of its rules, and/or state or federal law, STCC reserves the right to deny, revoke, suspend, or close any user account. Further, no account holder or user should have an expectation of privacy over e-mail transmissions and the College reserves the right to block any "mass" e-mail transmissions.


  3. Security
    1. Security on any computer system is a high priority, especially when the system involves many users. A user must never allow others to use his/ her password. Users should also protect their passwords to ensure system security and their privileges and ability to continue use of the system. Attempts to log on to the Internet with other than your own account will result in cancellation of user privileges.
    2. If you feel you can identify a security problem on the Internet, you must notify a system administrator.

  4. Vandalism and Harassment
    1. Vandalism and harassment will result in cancellation of user privileges.
    2. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm, modify, and destroy data of another user, Internet, or other networks that are connected to the Internet backbone. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creating of computer viruses or intentionally disrupting network traffic or crashing the network and connected systems.
    3. Harassment is defined as the persistent annoyance of another user or the interference of another user's work. Harassment includes, but is not limited to, the sending of unwanted mail, Trojan horses, logic bombs, trapdoors, backdoors, viruses, and worms.

  5. Monitoring
    Springfield Technical Community College reserves the right to review any material on user accounts and to monitor fileserver space. The system administrator has the right to restrict or terminate network and Internet access at any time for cause. The system administrator further has the right to monitor network activity in any form that it sees fit to maintain the integrity of the network.


  6. No Warranties
    Springfield Technical Community College makes no warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, for the service it is providing. STCC will not be responsible for any damages a user suffers. This includes loss of data resulting from delays, no-deliveries, misdeliveries, or service interruptions caused by STCC negligence or by the users errors or omissions. Use of any information obtained via the Internet is at the users own risk. STCC specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through its services. All users need to consider the source of information they obtain and consider how valid the information may be.
  7. Procedures for User
    1. Student users must sign in legibly on the appropriate log each time they use the network.
    2. Users shall not play games or use the computer resources for other non-academic activities.
  8. Encounter of Controversial Material
    On the Internet it is impossible to control the content of data and a user may discover controversial materials. If you feel you are being harassed or the system is being used in an appropriate manner, it is your responsibility to notify the systems administrator. STCC shall not be held liable for any decision to restrict or regulate access to Internet materials nor for the student's encounters, access, or use of any inappropriate or controversial material.
  9. Network Etiquette
    All users are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
    1. Do not reveal your personal address or phone number or those of students or colleagues.
    2. Note that electronic mail (e-mail) is not private. People who operate the system do have access to all mail. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities will be reported to the authorities and will result in the loss of user privileges.
    3. Do not use the Internet in such a way that you would disrupt the use of the network by other users.
    4. All communications and information accessible via the Internet should be assumed to be the private property of those who put it on the network.

  10. Penalties for Improper Use when improper use is detected, the user may, depending on the severity of the abuse:
    1. Receive an oral warning
    2. Receive a written warning
    3. Receive a written warning and/or interim suspension of privileges and notice of a hearing within two working days
    4. Have privileges formally withdrawn after a hearing
    5. ‌Face criminal prosecution if possible breach of law is involved
Further, intentional, or unintentional misuse of this service by an account holder or user may result in a violation of civil and/or criminal statues, including, but not limited to, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Massachusetts‌ Wire Tap and/or Privacy Laws, defamation, copyright and/or trademark infringement laws, and/or sexual harassment or discrimination laws.

Service Animal Policy

http://www.stcc.edu/handbook/policies.asp#serviceanimal