Quick Index:

Introduction:

These guidelines describe the responsible use of university computing resources (equipment, software, and the networks) by students, faculty, staff and university affiliates (i.e., anyone and any entity having access to a university computing account). This statement incorporates, and expands upon the principles set forth in the Access To Information and Computing Agreement signed or acknowledged by each community member before opening a computer account at NJIT. (top)

Code of Ethics:

Users must comply with all local, State and federal laws, including, but not limited to, laws regarding libel, harassment, privacy, copyright, infringement, theft and threats. All of NJIT's policies, including its Sexual Harassment Policy, extend to computer use. All persons who use university computing resources have the responsibility to respect and follow the guidelines set forth herein, and to honor the ethical norms associated with the highest standards of professional conduct. Illustrative of such mandated responsible use, but by no means exhaustive, is the responsibility to report any observed attempts to (1) degrade the performance of a computer system, (2) improperly or without authorization use university computing resources or facilities, (3) interfere with proper access to any university computer system, or (4) exploit any gaps in systems security. (top)

Access Is a Privilege:

University computing resources are the property of NJIT, and are provided to current students, faculty, staff members and affiliates as either a limited privilege or a directed responsibility. Use is not a right. The university reserves the right to extend, limit, restrict or remove computing privileges and/or responsibilities. Individuals, persons representing organizations, and/or organizations who fail to respect these guidelines may be subject to loss of access and use of computing resources, disciplinary action by the university, and civil and/or criminal prosecution. (top)

University-Related Use Only:

Computing resources are to be used for university-related activities consistent with the mission of NJIT. Appropriate, university sanctioned use includes, but is not limited to, instruction; completion of academic and administrative assignments; academic research and scholarly work; authorized work of university departments, offices, centers and laboratories, recognized campus organizations, and university affiliates; and, only where and as expressly authorized, limited recreational use. In recognition of the educational enrichment and benefit of work experience in professional programs, use of computing resources by individuals for non-academic purposes, such as limited work within one's field, co-op participation, internships, competitions, and so on, in which neither restrictions on university software licenses nor university policies are violated, may be permitted by the Associate Provost for Information Services and Technology or his express designee, in consultation with department head when applicable. If and when authorized, such private use of resources shall be considered the lowest priority use in allocation of computing resources and time. University computing resources may not be used for private commercial purposes, soliciting, or outside political campaigning. (top)

Abuse of Computer Time & Resources:

Unauthorized use of computing time and/or resources is considered an abuse of computer time and resources and also potentially theft of paid employment time. As such it is a theft offense. Theft offenses will result in disciplinary action and may result in civil or criminal prosecution. Tying up local or network computing resources for game-playing or other non-essential activities, such as sending inordinate amounts of mail, copies of documents, and the like, is a form of abuse and except as (and only to the extent) expressly authorized by the university, is prohibited. (top)

Account Security:

Users shall be responsible for ensuring individual account(s) security, taking all reasonable measures to maintain security. One's password should not be given to anyone else or written down in accessible places. Passwords comprised of letters, numbers, and characters are much more difficult for others to discover. Passwords should be changed periodically to enhance security of accounts. Discovered, unauthorized use of one's account shall be reported to the system administrator, and the password should be changed immediately. Users may not use another person's account(s) or authorize others to use their account(s), except for group accounts expressly approved by the university. Attempts to discover another person's password or to enter into another person's account shall result in disciplinary action. No computing account provided by the university may be transferred to, or used by, any individual or entity other than the individual or entity to whom it was originally assigned. (top)

Privacy of Information:

Information stored within university computing resources is generally private. The university does not routinely audit or inspect individual accounts, however it does maintain log files that contain header information. Users should be aware that their communications are stored within university computing resources, including deleted communications, and these communications may constitute "public records" (to the extent such communications are not statutorily exempt) and are subject to both statutory and common law "right to know" requests, with which the university must comply. Further, (1) with respect to evidence of violations of these guidelines, (2) under regular business audit (3) as initiated by a good faith investigation into a violation of law or other university policy, (4) pursuant to a statutory, or common law public records request or (5) a subpoena issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or a discovery request within the course of litigation, the university holds and does reserve the right to inspect, copy, remove, lock out, use, or otherwise alter any data or file or terminate a network connection which contains evidence of violation(s) of these guidelines, law or other university policy or to which it need review and utilize pursuant to its right as the owner of the computing resources and as an employer. Except for those authorized agents of the university as set out immediately above, users shall not seek information about, acquire, modify, or distribute material that belongs to another person or entity without the explicit permission of the original owner. Users shall not attempt to obtain privileges to which they are not entitled. Violations of this proscription may result in severe disciplinary sanctions and may result in private suit from another user to which the violators of this policy will neither be defended nor indemnified. (top)

E-Mail:

E-mail are written messages/records and subject to etiquette observed in other written materials. Personal communication is a transmission to someone's personal workspace or account on a computer system, such as through electronic mail or interactive messaging systems (e.g., "Talk" on UNIX). Personal communication is used primarily to discuss subjects on a one-to-one or small, group basis. Personal communication tools can also be used to discuss issues with multiple individuals, but such communication should only be used when each of these individuals has either agreed to be in the discussion, has solicited e-mail on the specific topic discussed or is a necessarily responsible party to the official communication. Use of personal communication systems to contact multiple recipients on a topic in which they have no interest and for which they have not solicited information is improper use of the system and is not permitted. Communication targeted to multiple persons should be posted in public areas of the computing system. The language of the public posting may solicit members of the Internet community to send messages to the posting author's personal workspace. The electronic mail user is responsible for insuring that this communication is not in violation of these guidelines. Users may not harass, threaten or otherwise harm others by sending obscene, abusive, or injurious messages. Sending forged e-mails will be considered a serious violation of these guidelines and constitutes actionable misconduct. Sending or forwarding electronic chain letters is prohibited. Publishing the address (electronic or mailing) of another entity with the intent (implied or stated) of soliciting unwanted responses to that entity is also not permitted. Employee use of electronic mail for non-business or academic related personal conversation is not authorized by the university and as such is, at best, unrelated to the purpose of authorized access to computing resources. As such it is potentially disciplinable as a theft of services and in no event is its content considered within the scope of employment for purposes of the university's indemnification policy. (top)

Copyright:

Users shall abide by all copyright or trademark laws which may relate to the use of computing resources, and shall not copy, disclose, modify, or transfer such material. The university endorses the guidelines set forth by EDUCAUSE, a non-profit consortium of colleges and universities, which states:

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, may be grounds for sanctions against members of the academic community. (top)

Home Pages:

Material contained in personal home pages may be seen by anyone who has access to the World Wide Web, regardless of age. Users must be sensitive to the public nature of this material and avoid the displaying of images, sounds or script which could rationally be considered as harmful to others. Each home page will automatically include the following disclaimer: "The content of Home Page material is personal to its author and is neither endorsed nor critiqued by the university prior to its display. Further, it does not necessarily represent the view of the university." Nevertheless, the presence of material on an individual's home page adjudged by the university to be obscene, threatening, defamatory, racist, patently false, in violation of policy, regulation or law, or otherwise actionably inappropriate, or the automatic linking to another page or location containing such material, shall be cause for severe disciplinary action. Providing non-public information about other individual(s) or organization(s) without their permission shall be considered tortious in nature and may be an illegal invasion of privacy. It is therefore prohibited. Material contained in home pages must comply with the provisions set forth in these guidelines. The reader is reminded that the university reserves the right to inspect, remove, block access to, or otherwise alter any data or file which contains evidence of violations of these guidelines. (top)

Academic and Professional Integrity:

All users are expected to conform to the highest standards of academic and professional integrity. One of the most egregious violations of academic integrity is plagiarism. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to: copying another person's computer file and submitting it as one's own work; using another person's computer file to paraphrase the work and submitting it as one's own; copying another's computer file and using it as a model for one's own work without reference; and knowingly permitting another to use your computer file(s) and submit it as their own work. For a more complete description of the principles of academic integrity, as it relates to a student's academic work and processes, please refer to the section on the Honor Code in the NJIT STUDENT HANDBOOK. (top)

Use of Computing Facilities:

Access to NJIT's computing facilities is provided to those current students, faculty, staff members and formal affiliates who are expressly authorized to have a computer account. Users will not engage in frivolous, disturbing, or otherwise inconsiderate use or conduct in the terminal areas. Eating, or drinking is not permitted in computer use areas unless expressly departmentally sanctioned. Tampering or interfering with the delivery of electronic mail or news postings, eavesdropping on network traffic, possessing a file or program to fraudulently obtain unauthorized privileges or access, or accessing other computer networks to which the NJIT system is connected, unless authorized for academic instruction, shall be in violation of these guidelines. Engaging in behavior not specifically stated in these guidelines, but which is nonetheless in violation of the spirit and intent of these guidelines will be considered a violation of same. (top)

Discipline:

Any violation of these guidelines may result in disciplinary action. Violators may also be subject to civil and/or criminal prosecution. The university may restrict or suspend user privileges while the alleged violation(s) are being investigated and adjudicated. In the event of restriction or suspension of computing privileges, a reasonable effort will be made to accommodate the academic computing needs of the individual during the investigatory period. Disciplinary action shall be taken by the Dean of Student Services Office relative to student violations, and by the appropriate university officer relative to faculty, staff and/or university affiliate violations. Student discipline may include, by way of illustration and not limitation, loss of computing privileges on a temporary or permanent basis, loss of privilege to exhibit a web site, a decrease of disk quota, the removal of files in the system's temporary or scratch area, suspension or expulsion from university computing facilities, disciplinary probation, and/or suspension or dismissal from the university. Employee discipline may include, by way of illustration and not limitation, verbal or written warning or reprimand, suspension or dismissal from employment at the university. Additionally, employee use of computing resources may be altered, restricted or denied. Affiliate discipline may include, but not be limited to, verbal or written warning, loss of computing privileges on a temporary or permanent basis, loss of privilege to exhibit a web site, a decrease of disk quota, the removal of files in the system's temporary or scratch area, and/or, suspension or cancellation of the contract or license with the university. (top)

Last Updated: December 07, 2006 4:43:57 pm.