Information Technology Services provides computing facilities and services
for the legitimate instructional, research, and administrative computing
needs of the university. Proper use of those facilities and services supports
the legitimate computing activities of EIU students, faculty and staff.
Proper use respects intellectual property rights.
Legitimate instructional computing is work done by an officially registered
student, faculty, or staff member in direct or indirect support of a recognized
course of study. Legitimate research computing is work approved by an
authorized official of a university department. Legitimate administrative
computing is work performed to carry out official university business.
Intellectual property rights begin with respect for intellectual labor
and creativity. They include the right to acknowledgment, the right to
privacy, and the right to determine the form, manner and terms of publication
and distribution.
Proper computing use follows the same standards of common sense and courtesy
that govern use of other public facilities. Improper use violates those
standards by preventing others from accessing public facilities or by
violating their intellectual property rights. Therefore, the basic policy
of the university on proper use is:
- Any use of Information Technology Services facilities or services
unrelated to legitimate instructional or research computing is improper
if it interferes with another's legitimate instructional or research
computing.
- Any use of Information Technology Services facilities or services
that violates another person’s intellectual property rights is
improper.
- Any use of Information Technology Services facilities or services
that violates any university policy, any local, state or federal law,
or which is obscene or defamatory is improper.
- Any use resulting in commercial gain or private profit (other than
allowable under university intellectual property policies) is improper.
The following sections describe some known instances of improper use.
They do not constitute a complete list. When new occasions of improper
use arise, they will be judged and regulated by the basic policy stated
above.
Disruptive Conduct
Avoid behavior at any computing facility that would interfere with another
person’s legitimate use of the facility. This includes noisy and
over-exuberant conduct.
Damage
Avoid actions that would damage Information Technology Services facilities,
hardware software, or files.
Access to Files
Avoid reading or using others' files without their permission. Proper
usage standards require everyone to take prudent and reasonable steps
to limit access to their files and accounts.
Fraud and Forgery
Avoid sending any form of electronic communication that bears a fraudulent
origin or identification. This includes the forging of another's identity
on electronic mail or news postings.
Copyright
Refer to Eastern Illinois University Regulation 16a.and applicable sections
of the Federal Copyright Act, including fair use provisions I Section
107 of H.R. 2223, to avoid violating the copyright law as you contemplate
copying software, digital images, and other electronic media. You should
also review the report of the Information Infrastructure Task Force (IITF)
for concerns about digital images and educational multimedia.
Harassment
Avoid using the university computing facilities to harass anyone. This
includes the use of insulting, obscene or suggestive electronic mail or
news, tampering with others' files, and invasive access to others' equipment.
Networks
Avoid using local, national and international networks for things that
are not legitimate instructional or research activities of the university.
This includes, but is not limited to articles for commercial gain posted
on electronic news networks and repeated attempts to access restricted
resources.
Unauthorized Use of Accounts
Avoid accessing an account not specifically authorized to you, whether
it is on an Information Technology Services system or one at another place.
Avoid using an account for a purpose not authorized when the account was
established, including personal and commercial use.
Don't engage in computing activities that are designed to invade the
security of accounts. Attempts to decipher passwords, to discover unprotected
files, or to decode encrypted files are examples.
Proper usage standards require that everyone take prudent and reasonable
steps to prevent unauthorized access.
Unauthorized Use of Software
Do not make unauthorized copies of licensed or copyrighted software.
Do not make copyrighted or licensed material accessible from a Web page
without the specific written permission of the copyright owner.
Avoid actions that are in violation of the terms or restrictions on the
use of software defined in official agreements between the university
and other parties.
Examples include: the copying of software from personal computers unless
it is clearly and specifically identified as public domain software or
shareware that may be freely redistributed; and the copying of restricted
Unix source code. Read the policy topic "Rules for Access to UNIX
Source Code" for more information on Unix license restrictions.
WWW Specific Clauses
General policies for computer use apply to those who develop or are responsible
for the development of web pages on our World Wide Web server. However,
the ability to publish electronically creates some unique opportunities
and concerns.
- Privacy
People have a right to privacy. Employees acting within the scope of
their employment may not place any item(s) (regardless of whether the
person can be identified) such as, but not limited to, pictures, videos,
audio-clips, or information about an individual(s) without the express
written permission of the individual(s). The exception is those items
that are determined to be necessary for university administrative functions.
- Fair Warning
Users of the EIU WWW must realize material put on the WWW is available
to a wide audience, often beyond that originally intended for the material.
There must be a recognition that, in different contexts, material may
be construed in a manner different from that of the original intention
of the author(s). Therefore, at the request of the appropriate university
official(s), an information provider will provide a warning page at
one level before any WWW page(s). This will be a standard page expressing
that the content below may not be suitable for all audiences. WWW users,
particularly minors, have a right to a "fair warning."
- Use of University Name, Seal, and Logo
Use of the university name, seal, and logo is not permitted except as
allowed and/or required by university policy and regulations.
- Personal Home Pages and WWW Servers
EIU provides Internet/WWW access and resources for conduct of university
functions. Personal use, e.g. development and posting of personal home
pages and WWW servers, is permitted insofar as such activity does not
disrupt, due to time, place, or manner, the conduct of university functions
and as long as it is in compliance with the remainder of this and other
university policies. The official EIU home page will not link directly
to personal pages
Enforcement
When instances of improper use come to its attention, Information Technology
Services will investigate them. During those investigations Information
Technology Services reserves the right to access private information,
including the contents of files and mailboxes, while making every effort
to maintain privacy. Investigations that discover improper use may cause
Information Technology Services to:
- Limit the access of those found using facilities or services improperly;
- Refer flagrant abuses to deans, department heads, the responsible
vice president, the university flagrant abuses to deans, department
heads, the responsible vice president, the university police, or other
authorities for appropriate action;
- Disclose private information to other university authorities.
Users who violate this policy may have their computing privileges terminated
and may be subject to disciplinary action by the university in accordance
with appropriate policies or judicial affairs procedures.
Rules for Access to UNIX Source Code and Licensed Software
One of the big factors in the increasing popularity of the UNIX operating
system at EIU is how easily UNIX source code applications can be moved
among different variations of the UNIX system. This process, commonly
called porting, often requires nothing more than copying and compiling
an application to move it from one UNIX platform to another. The porting
process is so simple that it is easy to lose sight of the ownership of
individual programs and the license agreement restrictions on their source
code.
- License Agreements
Source code for computer programs is usually owned by the organization
that developed the programs. Since many of these organizations have
an economic stake in their developmental investment, they don't just
give it away. At a minimum, they usually declare their copyright on
the programs. But legally, a more powerful means exists: a license
agreement.
Software license agreements are contracts in which the seller agrees
to provide the program, and perhaps its source code, provided that
the buyer agrees to abide by the rules of the license. Most workstation-based
software that is issued with the installation of a UCAN workstation
is licensed software. NCSA Telnet and Kermit packages are noted exceptions.
Sellers can specify just about any rules they desire so long as the
buyer agrees to those rules. And just to make life interesting, every
seller of computer software seems to have its own special rules to
follow. Licensed software must not be duplicated, distributed, modified,
or used without authorization.
Some programs are distributed in source form without a license agreement.
They may be totally unrestricted (called ``public domain'') or the
owner may retain the copyright but allow free distribution. A lot
of useful software designed to run on UNIX systems is distributed
this way. As a user of one of EIU's systems, you may find source code
to such programs in various system directories.
- Source Code at EIU
Whenever possible, most UNIX system administrators at EIU strive
to obtain the source code for programs because it makes it easier
to maintain systems and quickly fix problems. In order to obtain source
code for commercial software systems, it is necessary to negotiate
the ``Terms and Conditions'' of the software license agreement with
each software vendor. Some of those agreements permit anyone at EIU
to have access to the source code while others stipulate restrictions.
Therefore, you may find that you have access to source a source code
that is restricted by a license agreement. Just because you have access
does not mean you have the right to port a program to another system.
When it comes to the UNIX operating system and its associated utilities
and libraries, EIU adheres to license agreements with IBM, Sun Microsystems,
the University of California at Berkeley, and other vendors that redistribute
UNIX. These license agreements specify the rules under which we may
have access to the source code in the first place.
If you have a UNIX system of any kind and want to
obtain source access, please follow these rules:
- Check with the source-code vendor to determine if an additional
vendor license is required. Follow the vendor’s restrictions
on redistributing the vendor’s source code.
- Source code access for most Sun UNIX systems is provided under
agreements between EIU and the Sun Corporation.
- When in doubt, do not assume you have the right to copy sources
from another UNIX system to your own; contact the SUN license administrator
at EIU or the administrator of the system from which you wish to
copy the sources before doing so.
Waste
Avoid any wasteful use of Information Technology Services facilities.
This includes squandering expendable resources, processor cycles, disk
space, or network bandwidth. Use expendable resources such as paper prudently,
and recycle them if possible. Use a system whose capacity is appropriate
to the size of the computing task.
Requests for Services
Information Technology Services is the central coordinating department
for computerized instruction, research, and administrative functions of
the university. If a change in or addition to programming or networking
services is desired, a request must be submitted, in writing, to the Associate
Vice President for Information Technology Services. The request shall
state in detail the change in service desired and shall be signed by the
Fiscal Agent of the requesting unit. User Services support requests should
be brought to the attention of the Director of User Services, or if clarification
is needed, the request should be discussed with a member of the staff
within the User Services Division of Information Technology Services.
Information Technology Services staff shall not be responsible for initiating
changes in administrative mainframe applications; however, they do maintain
the right to make suggestions. Applications shall be revised when systems
software requires it or when hardware that is necessary for processing
reaches obsolescence.
Acquisition of Commodities
The Information Technology Services operations manager maintains the
inventory of supplies necessary for central data processing system operation.
The acquisition of microcomputer supplies is the responsibility of the
owning department. Forms that are currently not on inventory must be acquired
by the requesting department. However, the acquisition of new forms to
be printed by mainframe connected printers must be coordinated through
the Associate Vice President of Information Technology Services or the
Assistant Director for Operations.
Microcomputer and Network Services
Information Technology Services shall provide the following services:
- Maintenance
Services provided by Information Technology Services staff shall include
the repair of microcomputers that are currently approved for maintenance
support and consultation on microcomputer and software purchases. Replacement
parts are a part of this service fee; however, if, in the judgment of
the Information Technology Services staff, the microcomputer is beyond
repair, the using department shall be responsible for funding any replacement.
A maintenance service fee shall be charged for each IBM PC/XT/AT, Zenith,
Swan, Apple, or other covered microcomputer that was purchased from
an account other than an appropriated account and that is on inventory.
- Network Support Services -- Uniform Campus-wide Area Network
(UCAN)
Information Technology Services staff shall provide for the installation
of network hardware and software components and shall service the communications
components that are installed by them. The UCAN circuit boards and the
electronic equipment within wiring closets is to be maintained and modified
by Information Technology Services staff only. UCAN software components
should all be treated as licensed software by end users.
Printers, Plotters and Modems
Information Technology Services staff shall provide advice and minor
repairs for printers, plotters and modems; however, the using department
is responsible for major repairs and replacements. Examples of minor repairs
would include cleaning, simple mechanical adjustment, and the replacement
of a print head that is furnished by the using department.
Mainframe, UCAN Network Server, and Work-station File Security
Information Technology Services acts as the custodian of all university
data bases or data processing files, but it is not the owner of these
files. Individual users should take reasonable precautions regarding the
physical security of their equipment and should change their passwords
frequently. The system administrator for servers other than the mainframe
will provide mechanisms for backup and password controls. However, the
management, security, and backup of files stored on servers other than
the campus mainframe are the responsibility of the individual user. You
are best able to assess the level of privacy and security of the data
and text files that you create.
Approved:
President's Council
February 4, 1998 |
