Policies :: Guidelines

Guidelines for appropriate computing behavior:

The following list, while not exhaustive, provides some specific guidelines for responsible and ethical behavior: 

1. Use only the computers, computer accounts and computer files for which you have authorization. Do not use another individual's ID or account, or attempt to capture or guess other users' passwords. Users are individually responsible for all use of resources assigned to them; therefore, sharing of IDs is prohibited. 

2. Obey established guidelines for any computers or networks used both inside and outside the College. For example, individuals using Daniel Webster's public computing labs must adhere to the policies established for those labs; individuals accessing off-campus computers via external networks must abide by the policies established by the owners of those computers as well as policies governing use of those networks. 

3. Do not attempt to access restricted portions of the operating system, security software, or accounting software unless authorized by the appropriate College administrator. Breaking into computers is explicitly a violation of Internet rules of conduct, no matter how weak the protection is on those computers. 

4. Abide by all state and federal laws. (Appendix B provides an extract of some relevant New Hampshire and federal laws.) 

5. Respect the privacy and personal rights of others. Do not access or copy another user's electronic mail, data, programs, or other files without permission. Daniel Webster endorses the following statement on software and intellectual rights distributed by EDUCOM, the non- profit consortium of colleges and universities committed to the use and management of information technology in higher education, and ADAPSO, the computer software and services industry association: 

"Respect for intellectual labor and creativity is vital to academic discourse and enterprise. This principle applies to work of all authors and publishers in all media. It encompasses respect for the right to acknowledgment, right to privacy and right to determine the form, manner and terms of publication and distribution. Because electronic information is volatile and easily reproduced, respect for the work and personal expression of others is especially critical in computer environments. Violations of authorial integrity, including plagiarism, invasion of privacy, unauthorized access and trade secret and copyright violations, may be grounds for sanctions against members of the academic community."

6. Abide by all applicable copyright laws and licenses. Both College policies and the law expressly forbid the copying of software that has not been placed in the public domain and distributed as "freeware." "Shareware" users are expected abide by the requirements of the shareware agreement.  Do not  violate the Federal Copyright Law by downloading copyrighted audio, video, graphics or text materials from the Internet without proof of proper licensing arrangements.  Reference the No Electronic Theft Act (NET) for details.  The sanctions are listed at http://www.cybercrime.gov/ipmanual/07ipma.htm

7. Use appropriate standards of civility when using computing systems to communicate with other individuals. When sending personal messages to other users or posting on electronic bulletin boards, identify yourself as the sender. Using Daniel Webster's computing resources to harass other individuals deliberately is explicitly prohibited. 

8. Be sensitive to the needs of others, and use only your fair share of computing resources. For example, users of shared resources, such as the computer labs, should use these facilities for only the most essential tasks during periods of peak demand. Broadcasting non-critical messages to large numbers of individuals and sending chain letters are examples of activities that cause network congestion and interfere with the work of others, and thus are not allowed. 

9. Treat computing resources and electronic information as a valuable College resource. Protect your data and the systems you use. For example, back up your files regularly. Set an appropriate password and change it regularly. Make sure you understand the access privileges you have set for your files. Do not destroy or damage any computing equipment, networks or software. The willful introduction of computer code that compromises the integrity of a system, such as viruses and worms, into the Daniel Webster College computing environment or into other computing environments via Daniel Webster's network violates College standards and regulations. 

10. Use Daniel Webster's computing facilities and services for university related work. Activities that would jeopardize the College's tax exempt status are prohibited. 

Personal financial gain: Use of College computing resources for personal financial gain requires prior approval. Contact the Director of Computer Services for detailed information. 

Political activity: Refer to the "Guidelines for Political Activities" in the Daniel Webster College Student Handbook for information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of College resources for political activities. (A copy of the relevant section is included in Appendix D.) 

11. Stay informed about the computing environment. The computing environment is continually evolving, as new products are introduced and others become obsolete. Services change as the number and needs of users' change. Daniel Webster publishes information in a variety of ways, including logon messages, general news items that users are prompted to read, news items associated with particular compilers or software packages, on-line documents about software, policy and procedures, newsletters, and in some cases, letters mailed to individuals. Users are responsible for staying informed about changes in the computing environment and are expected to adapt to changes in the College computing environment. 

12. Do not give your password to your spouse or children. Do not allow your spouse or child to "fix" your computer.