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Policies and Guidelines
for Computer Use
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The WCSU Information Systems / Computer Center offers computing
services on various computer systems at no charge to all members of
the University community (i.e., faculty, students, and staff). This
document delineates the current policies on software ownership,
software copying, and gaining access to the computer facilities as
well as a set of guidelines and responsibilities for the users of
these resources.
The general principles underlying these policies and guidelines are
that the computing facilities are a resource made available to the
WCSU community for educational and research purposes. Users must
assume responsibility for trying to minimize costs and be responsible
in their use of these facilities.
The guidelines are not intended to be an exhaustive list of rules.
Rather, these guidelines establish the spirit in which the facilities
should be used.
Index
1. General Policies
1. Software Ownership
2. Software Copying
2. General Guidelines
3. Account Policies & Guidelines
1. Policies
2. Guidelines
4. Microcomputer Policies & Guidelines
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I. General Policies.
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1. Software Ownership.
(This section represents policy adopted in February, 1985 along
with January, 1987 revisions by the board of Governors for Higher
Education.)
1. Software Conversion. It shall be the policy of the state
system of higher education that the end product of any work
done by a student from any of the state's public colleges or
universities to convert, modify or update state-owned
software shall be owned by the state.
2. Software Creation (state-owned). If a student from any
college or university, receives monetary remuneration from
the state for creating software, including source code and/or
documentation, it shall belong to the state.
3. Software Creation (student-owned and state-licensed).
Software belongs to the student but shall be licensed gratis
to the state for use/or modification under the following
conditions:
1. The state, at the inception of the project, informs the
student in writing of the state's intention to use the
software; and/or
2. The student uses state computer resources to create
software.
The State shall not have any other rights to such
software.
4. Software Creation (student-owned). Any software developed by
a student, unless it is covered under policy statements 1, 2,
or 3 above, or is produced under the provisions of a grant or
an agreement with an outside funding agent, is owned by the
student.
5. Software Copying. Each constituent unit in the state system
of higher education shall have policies in place regarding
the use and copying of software and/or documentation to
protect against lawsuits by vendors.
2. Software Copying.
1. All software and manuals are copyright protected by the
software vendor. Any user attempting to copy the software
shall be subject to prosecution by the software vendor.
2. Any person who has been authorized to use the computing
resources shall be expected to regard all copyrighted or
proprietary information which may thereby become available to
him/her as confidential, unless he/she obtains from the
appropriate person written permission to copy, modify, or
otherwise use any part of it.
3. Users shall not copy system files nor shall they attempt to
access or modify such files or software components or
computer management programs and data, except for
specifically approved purposes.
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II. General Guidelines.
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1. The computer facilities are available for academic university work
only. No commercial work is allowed.
2. A user's programs and data should be treated as his/her private
property. Users must not attempt to access or make use of any
other user's programs or data without the permission of the user
concerned.
3. The granting of access to Western's computer systems presupposes
that the user is knowledgeable in the use of the existing computer
facilities. Users should realize that the Computer Center Staff is
limited in the amount of time they can spend assisting them with
extensive problems.
4. Printer output represents very real, measurable costs to the
Computer Center. Users should be careful to avoid wasting these
resources.
5. Responsibility for a computer account belongs to the person to
whom the account was issued (the account owner). No account owner
shall furnish any other person(s) with the password to their
account. Unless otherwise authorized by the Computer Center, only
the person to whom an account was issued should be using the
account.
6. Any computer user who knowingly or continually violates the
policies governing the use of accounts, equipment and resources
will have his/her account withdrawn and such misuse may result in
disciplinary and/or legal action.
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III. Account Policies & Guidelines.
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1. Policies.
1. For classification purposes, there shall be two types of
accounts available to members of the WCSU community.
1. Student Accounts.
Students must request accounts from the Computer Center.
Requests must be made in person.
2. A Faculty Account.
Faculty members must request accounts from the Computer
Center. Requests must be submitted, in writing, to the
Director of Information Systems/Computer Center.
Applications must be filed a week in advance. A written
response will be forwarded to the applicant.
2. Guidelines.
1. Users have the right to expect that their work will remain
secure and private. The Computer Center cannot readily
determine if the use of an account by another individual is
appropriate, so users should only use their own accounts.
Account owners can assist in assuring privacy of their work
by using a password that is not obviously a nickname or
initials.
2. The Computer Center reserves the right to access users' data
and programs for appropriate management purposes (e.g.,
making back up copies and to ensure system integrity).
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IV. Microcomputer Policies & Guidelines.
(see also General Policies and Guidelines)
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1. Policies
1. Any person that has been issued a valid WCSU identification
card is authorized to use the WCSU computer facilities.
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