Brown University Wiki Usage Policy

1.0 Purpose

Brown's wiki services support the educational and administrative activities of the University and serve as one means of communication by and among users. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that this service remains available and reliable, and is used for purposes appropriate to the University's mission.

2.0 Scope

This policy applies to all members of the Brown community who are entitled to use of its wiki services: faculty, staff and students, and other affiliated classes of individuals.

3.0 Policy

Wiki services are provided as an online tool in support of a collaborative work effort at Brown. Its use is restricted to Brown-affiliated groups, departments and organizations only. Wiki spaces will not be created for personal non-Brown use. All student requests will require approval by a sponsor. The sponsor for Student Activities groups is the Student Activities Office.

3.1 Service Provided

Current procedures for the support and management of the wiki service can be found in the document Wiki Service Definition.

3.2 User Responsibilities

• Use of wiki space must be consistent with Brown’s educational goals, as well as comply with local, state and federal laws and university policies.
• Wiki space users are accountable to Brown and fellow wiki collaborators for the content they publish.
• A Brown username is required to add or change content.
• Configuring a wiki with anonymous writing permissions is not allowed.
• Content of a wiki space must adhere to Brown’s Acceptable Use Policy.
• No confidential information may be contained in a wiki space as per Brown’s Guidelines for Safeguarding Information.
• Wiki space owners, defined as those with admin privileges within the Confluence application, must keep data space usage to a reasonable level for the purpose of their wiki.
• Wiki space owners are responsible for keeping content current and up to date.
• Wiki space owners are responsible for notifying the system administrator if the wiki space is no longer needed or needs to be removed for any reason.

4.0 Related Policies and Procedures

Acceptable Use
Computing Privileges
Guidelines for Safeguarding Information
Service Definition
Wiki Documentation

Questions or comments to: ITPolicy@brown.edu

Interim Policy Effective Date: June 28, 2007

Policy Approved: TBD