The purpose of the Computing
Ethics and Guidelines Policy is to help maintain
an information technology infrastructure that
supports the basic mission of the Duquesne University.
Information technology is a critical resource
for the University as it acquires and distributes
data for the purposes of teaching, learning,
research, and management. These guidelines rely
on common sense and ethical behavior to protect
the privacy and access rights of each member
of the community. Failure to adhere to these
guidelines can result in the suspension of computing
privileges, charges being brought according
to the appropriate University policy and/or
procedures based on one’s status in the
University, and prosecution under state and
federal laws, where applicable.
A. POLICY
Students, faculty, and administrators at Duquesne
University have two basic rights regarding computing:
privacy and access to an equitable share of
hardware, software, and network resources. It
is unethical for any other person to violate
these rights. University owned computing resources
are intended for administrative, research, and
educational purposes only; they should be used
in a manner consistent with the administrative,
instructional, and research objectives of the
University. They should not be used for personal
profit, commercial development, or frivolous
activities.
B. ACCESS
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Access to
computers, programs, and files is restricted
to authorized users. Respect for the privacy
of others is maintained by not intentionally
seeking information about passwords or files
belonging to other users unless explicitly
authorized to do so by those users.
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Academic
communities are by nature open. Respect for
the spirit of academia should be maintained.
The theft, mutilation, or abuse of public
or private computing resources violates the
nature and spirit of the academic environment.
This theft includes theft of services. Acts
of theft will be referred to both the appropriate
University authority and Campus Police.
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Computer
systems, software, applications, and other
resources are provided for the benefit of
the individuals within the University community.
Deliberate or suspicious introduction of computer
viruses, deletion or removal of software programs
or files is a violation of computer usage
policies. Acts of this nature will be referred
to the appropriate University authority for
disposition.
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Central
and network computer access are protected
by password security. Protection of computer
accounts is accomplished by not divulging
one’s password to others, by changing
one’s password frequently, and by deleting
unwanted files. If another user should gain
access to one’s password, the password
should be changed immediately.
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Computer
resources, while widely available, are finite.
Common sense regarding shared resources should
be exercised. Engaging in deliberately wasteful
practices—for example, printing large
amounts of unnecessary listings, using the
laser printer as a copy machine (printing
multiple copies of a document), making unnecessary
laser printouts (printing after every editing
change), or unnecessarily holding a public
PC or workstation for a long period of time
when other users are waiting for these devices—is
to be avoided.
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Computers
in individual student rooms, faculty, and
staff offices are for use by authorized persons
only. Activity on these machines is considered
to be under the control of the assigned user.
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No server
of any sort may be run on the Duquesne Network
other than those sanctioned by Computing Technology
Services (CTS) and the policies as ratified
by the University. This includes, but is not
limited to game servers, Windows Servers,
Novell NetWare Servers, or any form of Unix
in a server configuration.
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Institutionally
owned systems may not operate recreational
peer-to-peer applications or any peerto- peer
messaging application that is exploitable
due to improper configuration or application
weakness. Institutionally owned computers
and privately owned computers performing institutional
business must have current managed anti-virus
software installed.
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Services
such as DNS, DHCP, BOOTP, WINS, FTP, or HTTP
may be operated only within the guidelines
and polices of CTS.
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Duquesne
University maintains public access computing
labs for use by Duquesne faculty, students,
and staff only. Proper use of public computer
laboratory facilities is expected. Proper
use follows the same standards of common sense
and courtesy that govern the use of other
public University facilities. Anyone engaged
in an activity or use of the facility which
hampers or interferes with the ability of
others to do their work may be asked to quit
the activity and/or leave the facility. Examples
include loud conversation, disruptive behavior,
excessive computer volume or display of pornographic,
offensive or obscene materials.
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Computer
mail (email) is a resource widely distributed
and supported on the Duquesne Campus. Electronic
mail is to be used for appropriate educational,
research, and administrative purposes only.
It is a violation of the Computing Policies
of the University to start or forward chain
letters. This behavior is also in violation
of most network policies. In addition, University
policy prohibits users from sending threatening,
obscene, or harassing messages to other users.
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It is the
policy and practice of the University to respect
the copyright protection given to software
owners by the Digital Millennium Copyright
Act. Therefore, it is against policy for any
student, faculty, or staff member to copy
or reproduce any licensed software or other
copyrighted material on University computer
equipment except as expressly permitted by
license. Appropriate laws and copyrights are
to be respected. Requests for the duplication
or installation of software will not be honored
without proof of license or proof of purchase.
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The University
supports the rules of use stipulated and recommended
by EDUCAUSE. Established guidelines for any
networks or systems used both inside and outside
the University are to be followed.
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All faculty,
administrative, and student use of computers
is governed by this guideline statement. Users
requesting access to the University computing
resources will be required to sign a statement
on the appropriate user account request form
indicating that they have read, understand,
and agree to abide by these guidelines.
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