Group Policies for MIX- The following is a policy regarding MIX Group Portal:

Groups may choose to be restricted or public in MIX. Only MIX users can use groups. When the moderator completes the online form to apply for a group, he/she must choose whether to be a restricted or public group. Group approval can take up to 3 business days to take place. If a group has applied and has not had a response within 3 business days, the applicant should write to mix@mail.wvu.edu .

Each group should submit an objective as to why they need to be a group on MIX. Objectives must meet an educational, communication, or service goal. For example, legitimate goals might be: "To inform residents of activities, rules, menus, and other important information that is needed to live in the residence hall," or "Student Government will communicate information regarding policies that are in the process of revision." The following are considered unacceptable goals: "We want to talk online instead of using AOL," or "We need a place to store our pictures on the Web." Web Services has the right to deny groups access for goals that do not meet the criteria.

What is a group?

• Any recognized student organization that is registered with Student Organization Services
  
• Athletic Groups Any recognized WVU athletic team
  
• Residence Halls
  
• Project Groups A group that is working on a project that cuts across course lines, such as Alternative Energy Fuel, Microbiology Cell Study Group, Visually Disabled Students, Pumpkins Drop Activity, etc., and supports study or research in a curricular area.
  
• Student Government
  
• Community Service Activity Group These groups support activities that provide education, resources, or information that promotes the betterment of the community or University, such as World’s Aid Day, 9/11 Remembered, Students for Littler Cleanup in Monongalia County. These groups fall outside of student organization groups. They are short-term, usually related to an event or day, and may include multiple student organizations.
  
• Graduate Student Group
  
• Faculty/Department Group

Groups will decide if they want to be a long-term group or a short-term group (one semester only). Short-term groups would include community service groups and project groups. Long-term groups span two semesters or more and are reserved for established organizations, such as registered student organizations.

Long-term groups must send an e-mail to Web Services each year by August 15 requesting that the group be continued for the following fall semester term. Long-term groups are also responsible for keeping content up-to-date, membership current, and managing the group site frequently.

Each group will have one moderator who is responsible for content and some monitoring of content, such as photos or news stories. Moderators can report problems to the Web Services staff at mix@mail.wvu.edu , who will oversee groups and report problems to Student Life if they occur. The main moderator can add other moderators after the Group is approved.

Although students receive MIX accounts shortly after admission to the University, students must have matriculated to at least the freshman level to be a group moderator. Newly admitted freshman are allowed to join a group in MIX before matriculating but are expected to follow the guidelines.

Group members must practice the rules that are established in the MIX agreement, but they must also use civility and use acceptable language in chats, message boards, etc. Moderators have the ability and should use the ability to disable an uncooperative or interruptive group member.

Groups will have a limited amount of space for their group use. When the group exceeds that space, Web Services will notify the group that they will need to save that information in another storage area or risk losing the information.

Groups cannot advertise products or services on MIX. All information distributed is subject to approval by Web Services.

Groups cannot connect to dot-coms without written permission of Web Services. Links to dot-coms must be directly related to the legitimate purpose behind the formation of the group, such as a link to the Web site of the group's national affiliation.

Groups cannot promote use of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco on the group site. Groups cannot advertise parties on the group site.

Groups must not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, disability, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, color, or national origin in their group site.

Groups cannot put up photos that are considered pornographic or unsuitable for viewing by all ages. Moderators will be responsible for content and risk losing group privileges if this occurs.

Although WVU will not routinely monitor group use of MIX, it reserves the right to do so and further reserves the right to close a group account or individual user's account for violation of University rules and policies, including this Group Use Policy, and applicable federal, state, and local laws, including but not limited to laws related to defamation and intellectual property.

Any infractions will be referred to the Office of Student Life's Judicial Affairs for review. WVU Web Services has the right to remove the Group immediately, if an infraction is evident until the Judicial Affairs Office makes a final decision.

Questions can be directed to Cathy Orndorff, Director of Web Communications at 304-293-5305 or Jay Allen, Professional Technologist at 304-293-5276. E-mail questions should be sent to mix@mail.wvu.edu .

WVU reserves the right to modify this policy, in whole or in part, without prior notice.