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Managing
Campus Cyberspace & the Law
The
Internet has become an important resource for institutions of
higher education. Most colleges and universities provide
Internet access to students, faculty, and staff. Students and
faculty rely on information from the Internet to conduct
research and communicate through e-mail inside and outside the
campus community. Institutions provide web sites with various
services and resources to many constituents including students,
faculty, staff, alumni, prospective students, and the community.
New
challenges have developed for college administrators as the
capabilities of the Internet have expanded. For example,
copyrighted text, pictures, music, and video can be digitally
copied and transferred with ease over the web. When a student or
faculty member infringes a copyright using the campus Internet,
the institution could be exposed to liability. Furthermore, when
campus Internet users send e-mail messages that are abusive,
harassing, or defamatory, the institution may again face
liability.
Other
issues arise when disabled students are not able to access the
resources on the campus Internet or web site. Under Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act, colleges and universities must
provide reasonable accommodations to disabled students so they
have access to Internet resources.
These
issues and others must be addressed by college decision-makers.
The following topics are addressed in Managing Campus Cyberspace
and the Law:
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