image 1Technology@Adelphi
Policies Acceptable Use Policy

The information systems (including computers, computer accounts, microcomputers, printers, networks, software, electronic mail, video, telephones, telephone long distance, and voicemail accounts) and all communications and information transmitted by, received from, or stored in these systems are property of the University and are provided for the use of Adelphi students, faculty, and staff, as approved, for the purpose of enhancing the mission of scholarship, research, and education. All students, faculty, and staff are responsible for seeing that these information systems are used in an effective, efficient, ethical, and lawful manner. The use of information systems is a privilege, not a right, which may be revoked at any time for misuse, including, but not limited to, violation(s) of this policy. Adelphi University reserves the right for authorized personnel to access and examine the contents of its information systems for business and/or security reasons. The following policies relate to information system use and the University reserves the right to modify these policies at any time.
  1. The information systems are owned by the University and are to be used for University-related activities only. All access to central information systems, including the issuing of accounts, must be approved through the Office of Information Technology and Resource (OITR). Access to school, institute, college, or departmental information systems must be approved by authorized personnel.

  2. Information systems are to be used in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws, only for the purpose for which they are assigned and are not to be used for commercial purposes or non-university, personal, solicitous, or union related activities.

  3. Computer programs, email, voicemail and electronic files are presumed to be private and confidential unless there is suspected misuse or they have explicitly been made available to authorized individuals. Authorized OITR personnel may access others' files when necessary for the maintenance and the security of information systems. When performing maintenance, every effort will be made to insure the privacy of a user's files. However, if violations of policies are discovered, they will be reported to the appropriate Vice President and either the Assistant Vice President for Human Resources and Labor Relations (for employees) or the Dean of Student Affairs (for students).

  4. Fraudulent, harassing, illegal, or obscene messages and/or materials are not to be sent, printed, requested, or stored. Chain letters and other forms of Internet mass mailings are also not allowed. University-wide broadcasts must be approved by the Director of IT.

  5. A computer network account, email account, or voicemail account assigned to an individual must not be used by others without explicit permission from the instructor or administrator requesting the account. The individual to whom the account is assigned is responsible and will be held responsible for the proper use of the account, including proper password protection.

  6. Information system accounts that expire will be deleted, along with any files within the expired accounts. Accounts expire in accordance with the terms of the account. Email and voicemail messages that are older than the limit set by the system administrator will be deleted. For active employees, and others who have an ongoing relationship with the University, such as emeritus professors, accounts will not be closed and files will not be deleted without every effort being made to contact the account holder. The OITR will assist in whatever way possible to help account holders to archive their files.

  7. Software systems that allow access through the network to the contents of microcomputer files will not be installed on a microcomputer without the approval of the faculty or staff member to whom the microcomputer is assigned, and if installed, will not allow access to the contents of files except under the direct control of that faculty or staff member.

  8. Special support software may be installed on University computing systems in order to support resource usage accounting, security, network management, hardware and software inventory, and updating functions and to provide better support to personnel.

  9. No one may deliberately attempt to degrade the performance of an information system and computer network or to deprive authorized personnel of resources or access to any University information system.

  10. Loopholes in information systems security systems or knowledge of a special password must be reported to the Office of Information Technology and Resources as soon as possible and are not to be used to damage information systems, obtain extra resources, take resources from another user, gain access to systems, or use systems for which proper authorization has not been given.

  11. Some computer software is licensed to Adelphi from outside companies. Adelphi does not own this software or related documentation; and it is usually protected by copyright. Copyrighted software is not to be copied from or into campus information systems, except as permitted by law and by the contract or license agreement with the owner of the copyright. Campus information systems are not to be used to replicate copyrighted software. The use of software on a local area network or on multiple computers must be in accordance with the license agreement.

  12. New account holders will be sent a copy of this policy upon creation of the new account. Current account holders will be sent an email of the Acceptable Use policy in the event that changes are made to the policy. The most updated Acceptable Use policy will be available on the website of the Office of Information Technology & Resources.
The Office of Information Technology and Resources staff is responsible for dealing with minor violations of this policy. Repeated or serious violations will be referred to the Dean of Student Affairs or Assistant Vice President for Human Resources & Labor Relations.

This page last modified on January 15, 2008.

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