Daniel Webster College :: ITS :: Policies

Policies :: User's Rights

Central computing facilities

Faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, and College employees may obtain an ID for use with the central computing facility for activities related to research, instruction or College administration. Recognized student organizations at Daniel Webster may also obtain ID's when authorized by the Dean of Student Life. Contact the Director of Information Technology Services, the Computing System Administrators, or a Computer Operations Assistant for detailed information about obtaining and using central computing facility accounts.

Other ITS computing resources
Most of Daniel Webster's computing facilities and services-such as the public computer labs-are available to members of the College community at no charge. For more detailed information about access to any facility or service, contact Information Technology Services.

Departmental computing resources
For information on access to departmental computing resources, contact your department chair.

Data security and integrity

ITS-maintained equipment

ITS provides reasonable security against intrusion and damage to files stored on the central computing facilities. ITS also provides some facilities for archiving and retrieving files specified by users, and for recovering files after accidental loss of data. However, neither the College nor any ITS staff can be held accountable for unauthorized access by other users, nor can they guarantee protection against media failure, fire, floods, etc.

Users should use all available methods to protect their files, including the frequent changing of their passwords, encryption of data, and storing back- up copies of information off site. In the event that data have been corrupted as a result of intrusion, ITS should be notified immediately. Every reasonable attempt will be made to restore files to their status prior to intrusion; however, ITS cannot guarantee full restoration. Upon request, ITS staff will assist in implementing procedures to maximize security.

Although Information Technology backs up departmental servers and makes reasonable attempts to protect those servers from intrusion, it does not provide the same level of protection or offer restoration of files stored on departmental servers. Therefore, it is especially important that users back up their files and use all available means to protect their data on departmental systems.
Departmental facilities Data security and integrity in departmental computing facilities varies depending on the department.

Privacy

Access by ITS staff on behalf of the College

Although not legally required to do so, ITS respects the privacy of all users. Members of ITS staff are forbidden to log on to a user account or to access a user's files unless the user gives explicit permission (for example, by setting file access privileges).

Exceptions to this privacy policy are made, however, under specific conditions. One such condition is a program suspected of causing disruption to the network or other shared services. Another condition is a suspected violation of state or federal law. In these instances, the Director of Information Technology Services and one other senior officer of the College must be convinced that there is sufficient cause to review a file(s) before those file scan be searched without the user's permission.

Before logging onto a user's account or accessing a user's private files, a reasonable attempt will be made to contact the user to inform him or her that ITS will access the files. If that is not possible, the Director of Information Technology Services or an authorized representative will view the files for the suspected violation and will inform the user afterward that the files have been reviewed. Information obtained in this manner is admissible in legal proceedings or in a College hearing. In accepting a user account, the user agrees to this policy.
Access by project owners to accounts on central computing facilities

Ownership of copyright for materials developed with Daniel Webster College's resources:

Daniel Webster College has established guidelines related to ownership of copyrightable property. The exact policies and procedures relating to copyrights may be obtained from the office of the Dean of the college.

Responsibility for errors in software, hardware, and consulting:

ITS and other departments make their best effort to maintain an error-free hardware and software environment for users and to ensure that the computing staff are properly trained. Nevertheless, it is impossible to ensure that hardware or system software errors will not occur or that computing staff will always give correct advice. Daniel Webster presents no warranty, either expressly stated or implied, for the services provided. Damages resulting directly and indirectly from the use of these resources are the responsibility of the user.

However, at the request of the user, when hardware, software, or consulting errors are determined to have occurred on computing facilities, computing staff will make a reasonable attempt to restore files to their state prior to the failure, at no cost to the user. As part of maintaining the software environment, computing staff applies vendor- supplied or locally developed fixes as appropriate when problems are identified. Given that vendors may be involved and that staff resources are finite, no guarantee can be made as to how long it may take to fix an error once it has been identified. When software errors are considered major problems or could produce inaccurate results, users will be notified as soon as possible using appropriate electronic and/or other media.

Changes in the computing environment:

When significant changes in hardware, software or procedures are planned, computing system administrators will notify their user community through electronic and other media to ensure that all users have enough time to prepare for the changes and to voice any concerns that they might have.