Computing and Networking: Acceptable Use

Please note that while the following are examples of acceptable and unacceptable behaviors on the network, this document is not the University's official Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). The University is currently considering a more formal AUP, in the meantime, users may be interested in the University's Policy on Computing and Electronic Communications: Security and Privacy.

In making acceptable use of resources you must:

• Use resources only for authorized purposes.
• Protect your userid and system from unauthorized use. You are responsible for all activities on your userid or that originate from your system. Your userid and password act together as your electronic signature.
• Access only information that is your own, that is publicly available, or to which you have been given authorized access.
• Use only legal versions of copyrighted software in compliance with vendor license requirements.
• Be considerate in your use of shared resources. Refrain from monopolizing systems, overloading networks with excessive data, degrading services, or wasting computer time, connection time, disk space, printer paper, manuals, or other resources.

In making acceptable use of resources you must not:

• Use another person's system, files, or data without permission (note that permission from an individual user may not be sufficient - some systems may require additional authority).
• Give your password to another person. Contact the OIT Help Desk if you need assistance with giving other people authority to access your files or e-mail.
• Use computer programs to decode passwords or access-control information.
• Attempt to circumvent or subvert system or network security measures.
• Engage in any activity that might be purposefully harmful to systems or to any information stored thereon, such as creating or propagating viruses, worms, or "Trojan horse" programs; disrupting services; damaging files; or making unauthorized modifications to university data.
• Make or use illegal copies of copyrighted software, store such copies on university systems, or transmit them over university networks.
• Use mail or messaging services to harass or intimidate another person, for example, by broadcasting unsolicited messages, by repeatedly sending unwanted mail, or by using someone else's name or userid.
• Waste shared computing or network resources, for example, by intentionally placing a program in an endless loop, printing excessive amounts of paper, or by sending chain letters or unsolicited mass mailings.
• Use the university's systems or networks for commercial purposes; for example, by selling access to your userid or by performing work for profit with university resources in a manner not authorized by the university.