The largest cohort came from public institutions offering the associate degree followed by private baccalaureate-granting institutions. The sample represents almost one-half million students. Approximately half of the responding institutions monitor, supervise, restrict, or record access. When an institution reported monitoring student Internet usage, staff monitoring was the primary methodology. Usage policies are disseminated via postings or statements in student handbooks, listed on a home page, or issued verbally.
Many institutions use a variety or combination of methods.
There was no discernable difference in policy dissemination between private and public institutions. Not all respondents with formal institutional usage policies indicated that they had formal penalties for policy violations. Penalties mentioned included the loss of computer privileges and expulsion for more serious offenses. Several mentioned civil penalties. Problems of defining pornography were often mentioned.