Illegal File Sharing

In compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008, Lewis-Clark State College hereby articulates its plan to combat illegal file sharing via its technological infrastructure.

In 2021, Lewis-Clark State College implemented the Cisco “Umbrella” DNS service to permit the college’s IT personnel to manage specific protocols utilized in peer-to-peer file sharing.

IT personnel receive alerts from “Umbrella” that indicate which college computers are attempting access to peer-to-peer networks. Illegal peer-to-peer networks are blocked by default. This deterrent virtually makes it impossible to utilize the peer-to-peer networks and has resulted in users contacting IT.

When contact by an end-user has been made regarding peer-to-peer file sharing networks, IT personnel advises the individuals of the college, state, and federal laws associated with illegal file sharing.

Students are apprised of the college’s polices concerning illegal file sharing (and other inappropriate uses of technology) during a required new student orientation program. The policies are also published in the annual Student Handbook and are posted on the college’s web site.

Umbrella permits specific usage on legal alternatives to peer-to-peer file sharing. This information is shared routinely on student news boards via the student e-mail system and in some college classrooms.

Statements about criminal and civil liabilities, both state and federal, associated with illegal file sharing are communicated to students in the annual Student Handbook, during in-class presentations by IT personnel, during phone and e-mail consultations with IT personnel, and during the new student orientation program.

This plan and its associated policies are reviewed annually by the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Director of Information Technology.

Cases involving illegal file sharing are subject to disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct.

Sanctions imposed for cases involving illegal file sharing may include warning, probation, suspension, and/or community service.

Lewis-Clark State College will not release the names of those who are found to have illegally downloaded or illegally shared protected material to outside agents or agencies unless required to do so by court order or subpoena.