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Computer Users' Privileges and Responsibilities |
This document constitutes a University-wide policy for the management of computer data networks and the resources they make available, as well as stand-alone computers that are owned and administered by Indiana University. The policy reflects the general ethical principles of the university community and indicates, in general, what privileges and responsibilities are characteristic of the university computing environment. Because some networks operate in environments in which some of the specific items in this policy do not apply, system administrators are free to create policies that are at variance to this one. In such cases the system administrators should make relevant variances known to their users.
A number of terms used below have very specific meanings in the context of this document. We define them here:
Computer use has become an essential part of many university activities. While much computing is now done on privately controlled computers (personal computers, workstations, and so forth) most information sources and telecommunications systems reside on shared, central computers, or use shared networks. Distributed resources such as microcomputer clusters provide additional computing tools. University Computing Services (UCS), together with computing centers at each campus, as well as many academic departments and administrative units, have responsibility for providing and maintaining shared computing tools. General policies regarding the resources IU provides are outlined below.
Indiana University will help users of its central and campus shared computing resources protect the information they store on those resources from accidental loss, tampering, or unauthorized search, or other access. Appropriate information on the security procedures implemented on each central or campus resource will be made available by the system administrator.
In the event of inadvertent or non-malicious actions resulting in the loss of or damage to that information, or the invasion of the user's privacy, the IU computing centers will make a reasonable effort to mitigate the loss or damage. The university will provide an industry-standard level of system security on university-maintained systems. Users are responsible for maintaining properly the protections under their control, specific to files associated with their computer accounts. Users may request that arrangements be made to protect information stored on such resources. These requests will be honored at the discretion of the unit that manages the resource.
The system administrators of departmental and individual computing resources are responsible for the security of information stored on those resources, for making appropriate information on security procedures available to users of those systems, and for keeping those systems free from unauthorized access.
In general, information stored on computers is considered confidential, whether protected by the computer operating system or not, unless the owner intentionally makes that information available to other groups or individuals. Indiana University will assume that computer users wish the information they store on central and campus shared computing resources to remain confidential. IU computing centers will maintain the confidentiality of all information stored on their computing resources. Similarly, privileged information on account usage (i.e., that available only to users with system privileges) will be held in confidence.
Requests for disclosure of confidential information will be reviewed by the administrator of the computer system involved. Such requests will be honored only when approved by university officials authorized by the campus involved, or when required by state or federal law. Except when inappropriate, computer users will receive prior notice of such disclosures.
Note: Indiana State law requires that public records be made available to any citizen who requests them. Exceptions are made for records concerning research conducted under the auspices of an institution of higher education; examinations and students' scores; intrauniversity or interagency advisory or deliberative material communicated for the purpose of decision making; diaries, journals, or other personal notes serving as the functional equivalent of a diary or journal; administrative or technical information that would jeopardize a recordkeeping or security system; and computer software owned by the university or entrusted to it.
Free expression of ideas is central to the academic process. IU computer system administrators will not remove any information from individual accounts unless the appropriate system administrator finds that:
IU computing centers may remove from central or campus computers any information that is inappropriate, as defined above. Guidelines for appropriate use of each Indiana University bulletin board system shall be available on that system. Users whose information is removed will be notified of the removal as soon as is feasible. Users who wish to appeal such removal of information may do so through an appeals board made up of the governing body appropriate to the status of the user.
Access to computing resources is a privilege to which all university faculty, staff, and students are entitled. Access may also be granted to individuals outside the university for purposes consistent with the mission of the university. Certain responsibilities accompany that privilege; understanding them is important for all computer users. These responsibilities are listed below.
Computing resources should be used in accordance with the high ethical standards of the university community as described in the "Code of Student Ethics" and the "Academic Handbook." Examples of unethical use follow; some of them may also be illegal.
IU computing resource users can facilitate computing in the IU environment in many ways. Collegiality demands the practice of facilitative computing. It includes:
Violation of the policies described above for legal and ethical use of computing resources will be dealt with seriously. Violators will be subject to the normal disciplinary procedures of the university and, in addition, the loss of computing privileges may result. Illegal acts involving IU computing resources may also be subject to prosecution by state and federal authorities.
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Last updated: 01/23/2001