Responsible Computing Policy

Computing and Campus Networks

    This policy is intended to define acceptable and unacceptable computing uses and practices on the St. Edward's University campus and among members of the university community. It covers all computing environments including multiuser, microcomputer, and network, and all users including students, faculty and staff.

1.The owner of an account on multiuser systems or an id on a network is responsible for all activity performed under the account or id. Each person must use his/her own account (user id) and not use any other account (user id). The password to an account must be kept confidential, not released to any other party, included in any documentation or included in any communication software automatic login script.
2.The owner of the Account is responsible and liable for respecting all copyright and contractual agreements concerning use and reproduction of software or documentation.
3.The owner of the account is responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of all data stored in computer system. This is true even if the software system does not enforce this confidentiality.
4.Use of university owned computer systems for strictly private financial gain is prohibited. For example, using St. Edward's computers to run a word processing service is not permitted. Use of university owned computer systems for professional development activities such as research or publication is permitted within the limits of system capacities.

5.Use of university computer systems for personal activity is allowed provided the use does not interfere with other's use of the machines and no university supplies are used.
6.Personal use of Administrative systems is prohibited during regular working hours, and personal use or academic use of Administrative computing systems by students is not allowed.
7.All users are expected to use good judgement in sharing limited computer resources. Users should avoid wasteful use of computer resources, such as unnecessary printing, storage of unnecessary files, or execution of programs that degrade system performance during periods of heavy use.
8.Mischievous abuse of electronic mail and electronic campus information services that interfere with productivity or computer operations are cause for suspension of computing privileges. Use of profanity or obscenity in electronic mail or campus information services is inconsistent with the St. Edward's mission to communicate "...the dignity of the human person as created in the image of God...", and may also be cause for suspension of computing privileges.

1.Software must be used in a way that is consistent with copyright laws. No more than the authorized number of copies of a software product may be made, either on storage media such as hard disks, or in the memory of computers as when a single disk is used to load a program into the memory of several computers at once. If a temporary evaluation license is granted, the time limits of the software use must be observed.
2.Microcomputer equipment is a limited resource, just as a shared multiuser system resources are limited. Microcomputer users should avoid waste of resources such as excessive printing and use of software for recreational purposes.
3.Use of university owned microcomputers for strictly private financial gain is prohibited as is private use of multiuser systems. Use of university owned microcomputer systems for professional development activities such as research or publication is permitted within the limits of resources the university can afford to provide.
4.Microcomputer users must take precautions to avoid introducing computer contaminants, such as viruses into university computer software and software storage media. Such precautions include, but are not limited to, using only authorized copies of software, installing virus protection software on hard disks and using virus scanning and repair programs as needed.
5.Each university owned microcomputer system should have a designated system manager

whose responsibility it is to insure that university related data and programs are backed up to protect against data loss. Each faculty member who has been provided with a microcomputer by the university is system manager for his or her microcomputer. Departmental supervisors should assign system management duties for each microcomputer used in the department to a staff member.
6.Microcomputer system managers are responsible and liable for respecting all copyright and contractual agreements concerning use and reproduction of software or documentation. System managers must keep proof of licensing documentation for software on their systems on campus and available for inspection at all times. Proof of licensing for volume or site licensed software will be kept at the Academic and Administrative Computing Centers. Proof of licensing for software not included in institutional volume or site licensing agreements must be kept on campus by the individual microcomputer system manager.
7.University owned microcomputer equipment may not be removed from campus for use in another location unless permission is obtained from a faculty member's dean, or staff member's supervisor. When university equipment is taken to be used off campus, the supervisor or dean must be notified in writing. In some cases, deans or supervisors may not be able to grant permission to remove a computer from campus if location of the equipment is governed by grant or gift restrictions.

    The University does not encourage or condone unethical or illegal use of computing resources. The University will not provide legal defense for illegal use of its computers or software. Penalties for actions which violate the responsible computing policy will be assessed through existing disciplinary channels for students, faculty and staff. Disciplinary action may include dismissal from the university student body or staff.