Blackboard at the University

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Currently Running:
Blackboard Version 7.3

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Terms and Conditions of Use of the University's Virtual Learning Environment (Blackboard)

Copyright

  1. Unless otherwise indicated, this Virtual Learning Environment ("VLE") and its contents are the property of Canterbury Christ Church University ("the University").
  2. The University maintains the VLE for learning and teaching purposes. You may access those parts ("courses") of the VLE that you are enrolled in and you may download or copy the available learning and teaching material for private study that constitutes as non-commercial use. Without prior approval, copying, distributing or use of the materials contained on the VLE for any commercial purpose is not permitted. Access and use by you constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions set out in this statement, and take effect from your first use.
  3. Any copyright in the material contained on this VLE belongs to the copyright holders. English law and international trademark law protect any trademarks.
  4. Access and use by you constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions set out in this statement, and take effect from your first use.

Conditions of Use

  1. By registering on the VLE each user accepts and agrees to abide by the conditions set out below. The University, through the Director of Computing Services, reserves the right to exclude anyone from the VLE who fails to comply. Use of the VLE is subject to the University's rules relating to the use of computers.
  2. The VLE is provided for education, research and administration. Users are personally responsible for their contributions to the system and shall indemnify the University against any liability incurred by the University (including liability in defamation and for breach of copyright), which arises out of any such contribution.

Disclaimers

  1. The University makes no warranty that information contained on the VLE is complete, accurate or up-to-date. The University takes no responsibility for the results of reliance on any such information.
  2. The University reserves the right to vary, change, alter, amend, add to or remove any material on the VLE.
  3. The University makes no warranty that use of the VLE will be uninterrupted, virus-free or error-free; or that use will not affect other software or operating systems used to access the VLE.
  4. The University makes no warranty that use of the VLE will not infringe the rights of any other person or organisation; or that it is of reasonable quality or fit for any particular purpose, even if the University received notice of an intention to use the VLE for that purpose.
  5. The University accepts no liability for any loss or damage suffered by other parties as a direct or indirect result of using the VLE, including loss of profit, loss of opportunity, loss of business, and consequential loss, to the extent permitted in law.
  6. You may contribute to any communication facilities (e.g. discussion boards or chat sessions) that you have access to on the VLE, provided you follow the Code of Conduct for the University's Virtual Learning Environment; your use is only authorised on that basis. Persons submitting material other than members of staff of the University to this VLE are solely responsible for the material and any claims relating to its content, whether made against the University or otherwise. The opinions of such persons are those of the individuals making them, and not of the University. The University accepts no responsibility for such opinions or any claims resulting from them.
  7. While the University does not exercise editorial control over any content posted to the VLE by users, the University reserves the right at its sole discretion to remove any content about which it receives notification that it considers objectionable. The University may remove such content whether or not the objection is sustainable. In addition, the University reserves the right to review, edit or delete any comments posted by users deemed defamatory, unlawful, threatening or otherwise objectionable. The University accepts no responsibility or liability for any material communicated by third parties by means of the VLE, to the extent permitted in law.
  8. Contributions must not consist of, or contain, illegal or offensive material; any material which is considered by the University to be illegal or offensive may be removed from the system. For this purpose the expressions illegal and offensive include (without limitation) material the publication of which is defamatory or would infringe copyright of a third party or which contravenes Data Protection legislation or the Telecommunications Act and material which constitutes incitement to racial hatred or which is offensive or obscene.
  9. Each user of the University's VLE undertakes that he or she will not hold the University liable for any material contributed to a discussion board or synchronous chat by another person, which is defamatory of that VLE user.

Prohibitions and Regulation of Use

  1. Subject to the above, those gaining access to this VLE are authorised to make use of the VLE and of any interactive facilities available through it, for any lawful purposes. The following is a non-exclusive list of uses which are expressly prohibited:
    1. using the VLE to commit or encourage unlawful acts;
    2. misrepresenting the user's identity or authority;
    3. distributing any virus or other device intended to cause nuisance, loss or corruption of any information on the VLE or accessed through it, or of any systems used to operate the VLE or any systems accessed through it;
    4. tampering with communications that are not the user's, or making any alteration to any information on the VLE;
    5. accessing or attempting to access other user accounts;
    6. any misuse, including hacking, or attempting to hack, any part of the VLE, system used to run it, or system accessed through the VLE;
    7. disrupting the flow of communications in interactive areas;
    8. storing personal data derived from the VLE;
    9. posting material that:
      1. is offensive, obscene or hateful, or which other users are likely to consider offensive, obscene or hateful;
      2. infringes intellectual property rights;
      3. defames or threatens other people or organisations;
  2. Use of the VLE by members of the University is subject to the University’s rules relating to the use of computers.

General

  1. Nothing in these terms of use is intended to, nor shall it, confer any benefit on a third party under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.
  2. If the University does not enforce any right against you, this does not constitute the waiver of such a right. Jurisdiction
  3. English law governs these terms and conditions, and English courts have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to them.
  4. If a court having competent jurisdiction finds one of these terms illegal or unenforceable, the invalidity of that provision will not affect the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining terms.

Comments and Enquiries

  1. You should address any enquires about these terms and conditions of use to the Assistant University Secretary, Canterbury Christ Church University, North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1QU (contact the Assistant University Secretary).
  2. The University aims to make the VLE accessible to as many people as possible, including people with special needs. If you have any comments or suggestions as to how we may improve the VLE to make it more accessible to you, please contact the Blackboard Administrator.