Regulations for the Use of College Computing Facilities
1. Introduction
This document provides important information, codes of conduct and regulations relating to the use of all St Martin's College computer, electronic information and communication facilities. These regulations are partly imposed by external providers of networks and software, such as the JANET Acceptable Use Policy (Appendix 1). All members of the College community must familiarise themselves and comply with the regulations covering the use of College computing facilities.
2. Scope
St Martin's College computing facilities are available to all staff and registered students of the College. These regulations apply to the use of all College computer, electronic information and communication facilities and include:
2.1 All central and departmental computing facilities, multi-user systems, fileservers, work stations, personal computers, micro computers and networks or other electronic information and communication systems;
2.2 All remote network resources and electronic information systems which are accessed through College computer, electronic information and communication facilities.
3. Code of Conduct
The following code of conduct must be adhered to by all members of the College community at all times:
3.1 All users of College computing facilities must not, through any act or omission, engage in any conduct which prevents, obstructs, disrupts or otherwise has an adverse effect upon staff carrying out their duties.
3.2 Students and staff are expected to use College computing facilities and equipment carefully and with consideration to others.
3.3 Smoking, eating and drinking in College computing facilities is prohibited.
3.4 The use of mobile phones in College computing facilities is prohibited.
3.5 With the exception of guide dogs, no animals are allowed in College computing facilities.
3.6 Children of staff and students are not permitted in College computing facilities. In particular and exceptional circumstances permission may be given by the Principal or delegated representative to waive this ruling. This regulation does not apply to children or young adults legitimately on site as in the case of organized visits.
3.7 Visitors and other non College members are not permitted to access College computing facilities without the prior approval of a senior Information Services staff member, and must be supervised at all times. This regulation does not apply to those legitimately on site as in the case of organised conferences and visits.
4. Usernames and Passwords
Users must not disclose their username or password, and must take all reasonable precautions to ensure that their user account details remain confidential. Any user who discloses their user account details to another individual will be held responsible for any improper actions committed under that username.
The use of another individual's username and password is not permitted under any circumstances unless, in the case of staff, the explicit approval of Head of Services is obtained.
5. Acceptable Use
College computing facilities may be used for:
-
Teaching, learning and assessment
-
Research
-
Educational development
-
Administration and management of College business
-
Development work and communication associated with the above
-
Consultancy work contracted to the College
-
Reasonable use of computer facilities for personal correspondence (email and internet access) is at present regarded as acceptable so long as this does not compromise the work and mission of the College in any way. In addition, they must not be used for the purpose of any individual's non-college business association.
Prior permission from the Principal or delegated representative, as appropriate, must be obtained in writing if use could possibly fall outside of the terms defined above.
6. Unacceptable Use
St Martin's College computer facilities, and any external network, may not be used for any of the following:
6.1 The access, creation or transmission (other than for properly supervised and lawful research purposes) of any offensive, obscene or indecent images, data or other material, or any data capable of being resolved into obscene or indecent images or material.
6.2 The access, creation or transmission of material which is designed or likely to cause annoyance, offence, inconvenience or needless anxiety.
6.3 The creation or transmission of defamatory material.
6.4 The transmission of material such that this infringes the copyright of another person.
6.5 The transmission of unsolicited commercial or advertising material.
6.6 The use of unlicensed software,
6.7 Deliberate unauthorized access or modification to facilities or services or other misuse of network resources.
6.8 Deliberate activities with any of the following characteristics:
-
Wasting staff effort or networked resources, including time on end systems and the effort of staff involved in the support of those systems;
-
Corrupting or destroying other users' data;
-
Violating the privacy of other users;
-
Disrupting the work of other users;
-
Using College computing facilities, or other external networks, in a way that denies service to other users (for example, deliberate or reckless overloading of access links or of switching equipment);
-
Continuing to use an item of networking software or hardware after being requested that use cease because it is causing disruption to the correct functioning of College computing facilities or other external network;
-
Other misuse of College computing facilities or networked resources, such as the introduction of "viruses".
- Where College computing facilities are being used to access another institution's network, any abuse of the acceptable use policy of that institution will be regarded as unacceptable use of College computing facilities.
7. Monitoring of Use
The College reserves the right to monitor the activities of all users of College computing facilities to ascertain whether a breach of the regulations has occurred.
All Internet and Email transmissions to and from College computing facilities are recorded and may be scrutinized to ascertain whether a breach of the regulations has occurred. The scope of this monitoring is governing by ensuring compliance with 'Regulations for the Use of College Computing Facilities'. Specifically monitoring is undertaken in the areas of:
-
Maintaining effective operation of networked communication systems through preventing transmission of computer viruses;
-
Preventing unauthorized use of facilities by monitoring access to web-sites and restricting access where unacceptable use is discovered ;
-
Monitoring network service standards
8. Breach of the Regulations
8.1 The College has the right to withdraw a user's access to College computing facilities in circumstances where a user has breached the regulations.
8.2 The College may temporarily suspend a user's access to College computing facilities where the College reasonably believes that a user may have breached the regulations, pending an investigation into the suspected breaches.
8.3 A breach of the regulations may also constitute a criminal offence, for example under the Data Protection Act 1998 (Appendix 2), Computer Misuse Act 1990 (Appendix 3), the Telecommunications Act 1984 (Appendix 4), the Obscene Publications Acts (Appendix 5). A breach of the regulations may also be a breach of the Copyright Laws (Appendix 6). In the event that the College suspects that a user may have committed a criminal offence, the police or other appropriate enforcement authority may be contacted to investigate whether a criminal offence has been committed.
8.4 A breach of the regulations may also breach professional codes of conduct and may lead to matters being reported to a professional body; in the case of students the breach of regulations could lead to discontinuation on a professional course.
8.5 In addition to the above sanctions, a suspected breach of the regulations, such as the access, creation or transmission of any offensive, obscene or indecent images, data or other material, is likely to be regarded as gross or serious misconduct and will therefore be investigated and decided upon in accordance with the College's Disciplinary Procedures. In the case of staff this will be dealt with initially by the Head of Department.
8.6 A user who is in breach of the regulations will indemnify and extricate the College against all costs incurred by and losses caused to the College, or others, by reason of such breach, including but not limited to: repair costs; any claim for damages; legal costs; fines or other financial penalties.
Appendices
Appendix 1 JANET Acceptable Use Policy
http://www.ja.net/documents/use.html
Appendix 2 Data Protection Act 1998
http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk/dpr/dpdoc.nsf
It is also recommended to follow the link from the above URL to an appendix called "Guidance and other Publications".
Appendix 3 Computer Misuse Act 1990
The definitive guide can be accessed via JANET web site using the following
URL:
http://www.ja.net/CERT/JANET-CERT/law/cma.html
For further information try the HMSO link: http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1990/Ukpga_19900018_en_1.htm
Appendix 4 Telecommunications Act 1984
http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1997/1997004.htm
Appendix 5 Obscene Publications Acts
The following JISC web site gives a full overview:
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/legal/index.cfm?name=lis_cybercrime#
For a run down of obscenity in general consider the following :
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/legal/index.cfm?name=lis_cybercrime#p5
For HMSO statutes only go to:
http://www.cps.gov.uk/Home/LegalGuidance/12/12-E.pdf
note you may find this document too legalistic.
Appendix 6 Copyright, Design & Patents Issues
The definitive guide is the HMSO link:
http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/Ukpga_19880048_en_1.htm