Acceptable Use of Network Resources

1. Students are to abide by all rules and regulations posted in the terminal rooms, labs and printer areas.

2. Students are not to log into a computer under another person’s ID or use accounts that have not been assigned to them. With or without permission, this constitutes theft of computer resources.

3. Students should keep their password and NEVER give it to anyone else. Account holders will be prompted to change passwords frequently. In addition, if students suspect that their passwords are known by another user, they should be changed immediately.

4. Students are not to penetrate system security:

• They are not to attempt to use system passwords or attempt to use other users’ passwords.
• They are not to attempt to override or crack a system’s account or security routines.
• They are not to deliberately crash or attempt to crash a system. System crash is defined as the stoppage of a computer system due to a hardware or software failure in a component or system during operations which renders it unavailable for use.
• They are not to intentionally cause or attempt to cause a system to behave atypically. Examples of atypical behavior include the following:
• System response is considerably slower than normal due to an individual running a program whose major intent is to slow system response.
• Workstation behavior is altered from that established by College policy.

5. Students are not to ever use a computer to annoy or harass anyone; this especially applies to the use of electronic mail, conferencing, bulletin boards, and message facilities. This includes flooding individuals or news groups with large amounts of electronic mail to annoy the individual or disrupt the news group.

6. Students are not to transmit or print languages or images which are obscene, vulgar, or abusive.

7. Students are to respect posted limits on the use of computer resources, e.g., volume printing. No student has the right to use a computer in a way that hampers the ability of “the average user” to work. For example, students are not to use the computer printing resources to print multiple copies of social organization newsletters (including mailing lists), private business matters, surveys or questionnaires, or personal communications. Computers should not be used for any commercial activity.

8. If a staff member informs a student that something he/she is doing is causing a problem for a computer system or its users, the student is to stop doing it and NOT repeat the action.

9. Absolutely no hacking at a system or other public software is permitted. No student may attempt to increase one’s rights, to substitute another user ID for one’s own, or to gain unauthorized access to system material or private material whose owner has not given explicit permission.

Hacking is defined as unauthorized access or entry, or attempted access or entry, to computer facilities and/or computer-based data. This definition includes unauthorized attempts to breach security techniques set up to protect a computer system as well as unauthorized experimentation with system hardware, software, and communications system. This definition applies whether or not there is any intent to obtain, alter, or destroy specific information.

10. The purpose of the Internet is to support research and education in and among academic institutions by providing access to unique resources and the opportunity for collaborative work. The College supports this purpose, and therefore the use of the Internet or the College network for purposes of game playing, listening to radio stations or music on the Internet and chat programs, etc. are not allowed. In addition, the College does not permit actions on the Internet that violate government regulations and/or are not in keeping with the mission of this institution. It is the responsibility of each individual to ensure that all material created, used, or passed via the Internet complies with all government regulations. The College reserves the right to remove any and all material that it deems inappropriate.

11. The College officials reserve the right to access and examine the files and/or actual terminal sessions of any computer user to investigate violations or suspected violations of security and/or policies, terminal interactions which may be contributing to poor computer performance, or computer malfunctions. In such an event, users whose files or terminal sessions are being examined should not expect privacy with regard to their files, data, or communications.

Interpretation: Investigations of suspected security or policy violations which require examination of terminal sessions will receive prior approval from the President or his designee. In situations of this nature, College officials will inform the authorized user whose terminal session(s) is/are being examined about the reason for the examination as soon as practical.

12. Enforcement and application of these rules and regulations shall normally be handled by Business Office personnel. However, cases may also be referred to the administration.

VIOLATION

Penalties for violation of this Policy include, but may not be limited to, the following:

• Warning : Alerting an account holder to a regulation with the understanding that any recurrence of the behavior will result in disciplinary action.
• Loss of Computer Privileges : Limitation or removal of computer privileges, including restriction from the use of computer facilities for a period specified by College officials.
• Restriction for Damages : Reimbursement for repairs to computer-related material, equipment, hardware, software, and/or facilities.
• Monetary Fine .

Students experiencing difficulties accessing the Internet should contact extension 247.