Official Policies and Procedures
Acceptable Use Policy
The information systems (including computers, computer accounts, microcomputers, printers, networks, software, electronic mail, video, telephones, and telephone long distance and voice mail 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, in support of the programs of the University. 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 will routinely exercise its right to examine the contents of its information systems and/or monitor its usage from time to time. Their contents may be accessed only by authorized university personnel. The following policies relate to their use and the University reserves the right to modify this policy at any time.
- 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). All access to school, institute, college or departmental information systems must be approved by authorized personnel.
- 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.
- Computer programs, electronic mail, voice mail and electronic files are presumed to be private and confidential unless there is suspected misuse or they have explicitly been made available to other authorized individuals. Authorized OITR personnel may access others' files when necessary for the maintenance and 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 employee accounts or the Dean of Student Affairs for student accounts.
- 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.
- A computer account, electronic mail account or voice mail account assigned to an individual must not be used by others without explicit permission from the instructor or administrator requesting the account. The individual is responsible for the proper use of the account, including proper password protection.
- Information system accounts which expire, along with the files in the expired accounts, will be deleted. Accounts expire in accordance with the terms of the account. E-mail and voice mail 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, the account will not be closed and files will not be deleted without every effort being made to contact the account holder. The Office of Information Technology and Resources will assist in whatever way possible its best ability and practices to help account holders archive their files.
- 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. 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.
- Special support software may be installed by Computer Center personnel 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.
- No one should 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.
- Loopholes in information systems security systems or knowledge of a special password should 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.
- 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.
- Current account holders will be sent an e-mail of the acceptable use policy and new account holders will be sent a copy of this policy upon creation of the new account. The current acceptable use policy will also be available on Adelphi’s Office of Human Resources and Information Technology & Resources websites.
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.
