HEOA Compliance

UNL Information Technology Services response to The Higher Education Opportunity Act.
The complete UNL HEOA plan is at: http://heoa.unl.edu

 

Part 1: The plan to effectively combat copyright infringement

1-1. Link to relevant Web page(s)

1-2. What technology-based deterrent(s) have you decided to use?

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has initiated the UNL ResNet Quota system to manage bandwidth utilization in campus residence halls. This quota system measures traffic out of and in to devices on the residence hall network. When bandwidth quotas are reached each day, the machine is moved into a shared pool with others who have exceeded the quota until 5 a.m. the next morning when the quota is reset.

Incoming DMCA notices are reviewed by university information security analysts that attempt to match the data in the complaint with campus networking logs. All complaints that are validated by our analysts receive an electronic take down notice and the instance is logged as a part of the campus three strike policy.

1-3. What mechanism(s) are you using to educate your community?

All students are required to read and accept Digital Copyright Guidelines before they are allowed to register their computer on the network. If they do not accept, they are not granted access to network resources.

Information is provided to all students who will live in campus housing in a Community Living pamphlet. This pamphlet reminds students that they are expected to abide by all UNL Computer Use Policies. If they violate those policies, their access to the UNL network could be revoked.

Flyers are provided to all University of Nebraska-Lincoln Housing Resident Assistants each fall during "Resident Assistant Training" sessions. The Resident Assistants are encouraged to post these flyers around their floors for residents to review.

1-4. What procedures are you using for handling unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material (e.g., monitoring, sanctions, etc.)?

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln follows a three strike policy when dealing with notifications of copyright infringement.

1. The machine owner is identified using the details that are provided in the copyright infringement notification. 
2. The first infringement notice triggers an email to the owner of the machine. The notice includes a copy of the complaint, and a request to remove the copyrighted file(s), and the file sharing application. If the owner cannot be contacted, the network port will be disabled until such contact can be made.
3. The second infringement notice will trigger a second warning, which will include the new complaint, and the date the first warning was issued. Network access will be disabled for that machine until the student has communicated electronically or in person that all copyrighted materials have been removed, and that there will be no further illegal distribution of copyrighted material. In addition, the student is required to complete security awareness focused on DMCA.
4. The third infringement notice will trigger network access to be immediately and indefinitely disabled. In addition a notice of this action will be sent to the Dean of Students office for their review. The offender may also be subject to additional disciplinary action and enforcement of state and federal law.

 

1-5. How are you periodically reviewing the plan? What criteria are you using to determine if it is effectively combating copyright infringement?

The Chief Information Security Officer meets with the Chief Information Officer on a monthly basis to review trending reports on takedown notices, updates or changes in technologies available to monitor network activity, and the awareness of the campus as a whole on the issue of copyright infringement.

The Chief Information Officer consults with General Counsel annually to review the effectiveness of the copyright plan taking all of the above criteria into consideration. If any of those items point towards a decline in compliance, modifications to the plan will be suggested and reviewed by Information Technology Services administration and campus leadership.

Part 2: Offering Alternatives

2-1. Link to relevant Web page(s)

• University of Nebraska-Lincoln Legal Media Downloads

2-2. Are you carrying out your own survey of alternatives or linking to one or more lists maintained by others?

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has been referring students to options listed here. We occasionally review this listing and others to make sure ample opportunities for legal downloading are available to the campus.

2-3. Have you made any special arrangements with one or more content providers to obtain content through legal methods?

All students residing in university residence halls are provided cable television hookups as a part of their room and board package. Students can upgrade the service to include premium movie, sports, or music channels directly with the local cable provider.

 

Part 3: Informing the Community

3-1. Link to relevant Web page(s)

• Digital Copyright Guidelines and Resources at UNL
• UNL Computer Use Policies

 

 

3-2. Have you developed your own statement regarding copyright and copright law in general or are you linking to such statement(s) maintained by others? If the latter, which statement(s)?

This policy was created with administrative oversight and approval.