5/06/05 UPDATED DRAFT
Network Policy
The University’s computer systems and networks are shared resources used by many individuals to carry out the University’s mission of teaching, research, and service. Use of these resources must be ethical, reflect academic honesty, respect the rights of other users, demonstrate respect for intellectual property and ownership of data, respect system security mechanisms, and promote an environment free from intimidation and harassment.
By using University computer systems and networks, users agree to abide by and comply with all applicable policies, procedures, and laws. This policy outlines services and responsibilities of individual users, academic and administrative units, and Information Technology (IT). Because of the ever-changing nature of technology and fiscal constraints, this policy does not define such concepts as "standard network services" and "satisfactory performance." These terms will need to be continuously discussed and refined by the campus community.
I. CONTROL: IT has responsibility for the University's network and connections to it. The network should be accessible to all authorized users for the utilization of standard services.
II. RELIABILITY AND PERFORMANCE: Network performance should be reliable enough to support the work of the University, subject to administrative, physical and fiscal constraints. IT will work with the internet service provider to maintain network performance up to professional standards.
III. SECURITY: IT has the responsibility to protect the network from access by unauthorized persons or groups.
IV. ACCESSIBILITY: All members of the University community must have appropriate access to the University network and services, without regard to disability, physical location, or platform within administrative, physical, and fiscal constraints. The content of materials accessed via the network by legitimate users shall not be abridged or censored, except as required by law.
V. RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY: IT has responsibility for maintaining the reliability, accessibility, and security of the network. IT will work with Local Area Network (LAN) administrators to accomplish this goal. Users have the responsibility to observe University policy and are accountable for their actions.
a) IT will maintain a support structure for resolving user concerns.
b) No user shall willfully violate any university, state or federal rules governing the operation of the network or the dissemination of information through it.
VI. WIRELESS: IT has responsibility to approve the design,
deployment, and management of campus wireless networks. A network-wide approach must be taken to
minimize interference, secure the wireless networks, and ensure the integrity
of the campus computing systems connected to these networks.