IU Blogs Terms of Use
Scope
These Terms of Use apply to all subscribers, contributors, authors, editors, and administrators of the Indiana University Blogs service.
Related Policies
Appropriate Use of Information Technology Resources
Misuse and Abuse of Information Technology Resources
Reason for Terms of Use
Indiana University expects IU Blogs and related information technology resources to be used in a lawful manner and in support of the university’s mission of research and creative activity, teaching and learning, and civic engagement.
Terms of Use
Unless otherwise specified in this Terms of Use or other university policies, the use of IU Blogs is restricted to purposes related to the university’s mission of research and creative activity, teaching and learning, and civic engagement. Eligible individuals are provided access in order to support their studies, instruction, duties as employees, official business with the university, and other university-sanctioned activities.
IU Blogs may not be used in a manner that violates the law, for private commercial activities that are not approved by the university, for personal private gain, or for political campaigning and similar activities that are inconsistent with the university’s tax-exempt status.
The purpose of the IU Blogs platform is to provide blogging tools to staff, faculty, and students. IU Blogs is intended for blogging purposes only and may not be used for creating course websites, distributing news, or serving as a website whose primary purpose is not blogging. Users are granted permission to create, publish, and manage blog content within the IU Blogs platform.
IU Blogs offers a variety of plugins, themes, and features to enhance your blogging experience. These tools are continually being updated and improved, so it’s possible that some of them may change or be removed without notice. The IU Blogs Administrators will give notice of changes when possible.
IU Blogs accounts are provided to individuals with university accounts that authenticate through IU Login. Individuals may not share with or transfer to others their university accounts, including network IDs, passwords, or other access codes that allow them to gain access to IU Blogs. Group accounts may not be used as the site owner and to request an IU Blogs site.
All IU Blogs site owners and content creators are required to maintain the accessibility of their blogs and content. Learn more about web accessibility at Indiana University.
Data storage
Only Public and University-Internal data are suitable to be stored in IU Blogs. Restricted and Critical data cannot be stored in IU Blogs. For definitions of Public, University-Internal, Restricted, and Critical data, see Classification levels of institutional data. In addition, federally and state-protected data, human subjects research data, and passwords cannot be stored in the WCMS. For more about data classifications, see About sensitive data at IU.
Enforcement
Indiana University will handle reports of misuse or abuse of information and IU Blogs in accordance with existing policies and procedures issued by appropriate authorities. Depending on the individual and circumstances involved, this could include the offices of Human Resources, Vice Provost or Vice Chancellor of Faculties (or campus equivalent), Dean of Students (or campus equivalent), Office of the General Counsel, and/or appropriate law enforcement agencies. For more details, see policy IT-02, Misuse and Abuse of Information Technology Resources.
Failure to comply with IU Blogs Terms of Use may result in sanctions relating to the individual’s use of IU Blogs (such as suspension or termination of access, removal of online material, or disabling of the individual’s IU Blogs site). IU Blogs Administrators are authorized to define violations of and enforce the Terms of Use. For more details, see policy IT-01, Appropriate Use of Information Technology Resources.
History
Created May 3, 2021
Posted May 2021
Added Data storage section October 2022
Updated June 14, 2023
Updated February 21, 2024