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Computer Use and File Sharing Disclaimer

Standards and Policies Regarding Technology Use

Use of computer facilities

Access to computer systems and networks, including the information placed on or distributed through these systems and networks owned or operated by Roanoke College, imposes certain responsibilities and obligations on the user and is granted subject to College policies and local, state, and federal laws.

Appropriate use always is ethical, reflects academic honesty, and shows restraint in the consumption of shared resources. It demonstrates respect for intellectual property, ownership of data, system security mechanisms, and individuals' rights to privacy and to freedom from intimidation, harassment, and unwarranted annoyance.  For more information on this policy, please visit the IT website for full compliance regulations.

File sharing

Roanoke College's compliance with section 668.14 of the Higher Education Act of 2008, commonly known as the Peer-to-Peer Provision, includes compliance in five main areas (Technology Based Deterrents, Combat Infringements, Legal Alternatives, Communication and Periodic Review). Once an offending violation has been identified through normal monitoring activities or brought to the attention of the College by a third-party, the DMCA representative at dmca@roanoke.edu instructs a member of that team to identify the offending user and take action to halt the offending violation. The student and details of the violation are then reported to the Dean of Students Office for educational follow-up and potential disciplinary action.

Confidentiality

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (commonly referred to as the "Buckley Amendment" or "FERPA") is designed to protect the confidentiality of the records that educational institutions maintain on their students and to give students access to their records to assure the accuracy of their contents. The act affords you certain rights with respect to your education records. They are:

  1. Access to Education Records: the right to inspect and review your education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a written request for access, anytime after your matriculation.
  2. Request for Amendment of Education Records: the right to request amendment of your education records if you believe they are inaccurate or misleading.
  3. Disclosure of Education Records: the right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information in your education records, except to the extent that the act or any superseding law authorizes disclosure without your consent.
  4. Compliance: the right to contact the Family Policy Compliance Office with a complaint concerning the College's compliance with the requirements of the Buckley Amendment. For more information, contact the Registrar's Office.

Release of directory information

In the interest of protecting the privacy of student records and in compliance with legislation passed in 2019 by the Virginia General Assembly, directory information for Roanoke College students is only available through login authentication using Roanoke College credentials. 

Non-public disclosure of student address, telephone number, and email address may be allowed for the following purposes: (1) use within the Roanoke College community, including but not limited to those that facilitate student participation in courses, programs, and experiences, communications to and from the College and members of the College community, and student directory information, and (2) use in College processes and operations as needed to conduct College business.

Requests for non-disclosure may be made by currently enrolled students. To withhold disclosure, written notification must be made to the Roanoke College Registrar's Office. Requests are in effect from the date received in writing from the student until rescinded in writing by the student. Students should understand that, by withholding directory information, some information considered important to students might not reach them.

Identity Theft

The risk to the College, its employees and students from data loss and identity theft is a significant concern to the College and can be reduced only through the combined efforts of every employee, student, and vendor.

The College developed and adopted this Identity Theft Prevention policy pursuant to the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Red Flags Rule, which implements Section 114 of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003.  This program is to help protect employees and students from damages related to the loss or misuse of sensitive information.

This policy enables the College to protect existing employees and students, reducing risk from identity fraud, and minimizes potential damage to the College from fraudulent new accounts. The program will help the College identify risks that signify potentially fraudulent activity within new or existing covered accounts; detect risks when they occur in covered accounts; respond to risks to determine if fraudulent activity has occurred and act if fraud has been attempted or committed; and update the program periodically, including reviewing the accounts that are covered and the identified risks that are part of the program.