Lab Schedule

For Spring 2006 Semester:

Policies

Academic Computing has a variety of policies that it enforces directly or works in cooperation with other departments to help them derive the policies linked to below. Following are the policies in effect.

Introduction

The University works in a large, complex information technology environment requiring communication related to both confidential and public data. New technologies offer the University methods to make this communication easier between students, staff, departments, colleges, and the world.

However, with this open communication network, vulnerabilities to the privacy of electronic messages possibly containing confidential or proprietary material arise. University electronic mail users need to be aware of the vulnerabilities in electronic mail communication and of the legal responsibilities that accompany the use of this medium.

Purpose

• Define who may use the electronic mail systems controlled and administered by Nicholls State University.
  
• Outline responsibilities related to electronic mail maintenance and use.
  
• Provide guidelines for the security and confidentiality of University electronic mail.
  
• Provide methods for monitoring, enforcing and dealing with exceptions to this policy.
  

Scope

• Electronic mail (e-mail) created, sent or maintained within, received, administered by or networked to the electronic mail systems of Nicholls State University.
  
• University electronic mail users.
  

Responsibilities

Computer Services and Academic Computing shall define what categories of individuals (e.g., full time, part-time, staff, students, economic partners, other educational institutions, general public, etc.) may access University electronic mail systems.

Administrator Responsibilities

• Determining what categories of individuals, within the guidelines, may access the mail system under the administrator’s control.
  
• Ensuring that a security plan for the electronic mail system, for which he/she is responsible, has been developed, has been implemented and is maintained. The security plan should include an analysis of whether message encryption is needed.
  
• Ensuring that a backup plan to allow for message/system recovery in the event of a disaster has been developed, tested and implemented.
  
• Ensuring that unread email is deleted after 14 days during the semester.
  
• Periodically assessing the level of risk within the mail system.
  
• Ensuring that appropriate steps are taken to prevent a system break-in or intrusion through the electronic mail application.
  
• Providing information regarding electronic mail vulnerabilities to electronic mail users so that they may make informed decisions regarding how to use the system.
  
• Ensuring that all electronic mail ids for individuals with email accounts on University systems have been deleted when an authorized user has terminated employment, graduated or withdrawn from the University and when a "courtesy account" is inactive or no longer needed.
  
• Ensuring that electronic mail message retention standards, within the guidelines of these and other University policies, have been developed and are implemented for the administrator’s electronic mail system.
  

Campus Electronic Mail Policies will ensure that employees responsible for maintaining, repairing and developing electronic mail resources will exercise special care and access electronic mail messages only as required to perform their job function. These employees will not discuss or divulge the contents of individual electronic mail messages viewed during maintenance and trouble-shooting.

User Responsibilities

• Use electronic mail in a responsible manner consistent with other business communications (e.g., phone, correspondence).
  
• Safeguard the integrity, accuracy and confidentiality of University electronic mail.
  
• Only use mail ids assigned to them.
  
• Remove mail from their mailbox consistent with University, departmental or electronic mail administrator message retention policies and standards.
  

Unacceptable User Behavior

• Sending any unsolicited mail or materials that are of a fraudulent, pornographic, defamatory, harassing or threatening nature.
  
• Posting materials that violate existing laws or University codes of conduct, are inconsistent with the University mission, or are commercial advertisements or announcements on any electronic bulletin boards.
  
• Forwarding any other form of unnecessary mass mailing (such as chain letters) to University or external electronic mail users.
  
• Using electronic mail access to unlawfully solicit or exchange copies of copyrighted software.
  

Security and Confidentiality Standards

• The University considers an electronic mail message as a personal or business correspondence; therefore, it should be dealt with in the same manner.
  
• The University considers electronic mail messages the property of the sender and/or receiver. Although the messages are considered the property of the sender and/or receiver, these messages are stored on University computer systems, and the University is therefore responsible for the administration of electronic mail.
  
• The right to privacy is not inherent on an electronic mail system, especially one connected to the Internet.
  
• The University will not monitor the content of electronic documents or messages; however, the privacy of documents and messages stored in electronic media cannot be guaranteed. Electronic documents and messages may be readable to maintenance, security and troubleshooting staff while performing their job functions. Such access occurs only when a problem in the software or network arises. Additionally, electronic mail may pass out of one computer environment, across a network, and into another totally different computer environment even within the University system. This transport becomes increasingly complicated as mail travels between departments, universities, states or nations. The level of security over your message is affected each time the computer hardware, software and environment change. Untraceable leaks may occur.
  
• If there is a University investigation for alleged misconduct, the President or their designee may authorize that electronic mail or files be locked or copied to prevent destruction and loss of information. Additionally, the University may monitor the content of electronic documents and messages, or access electronic mail backups or archives as a result of legal discovery, writ, warrant, subpoena, or when there is a threat to the computer systems integrity or security
  
• The confidentiality of the contents of electronic mail messages that include certain types of information (e.g., student related, medical, personal) may be protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (as amended) and/or the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986.
  
• The authenticity of an electronic mail message cannot be assured due to the state of present electronic mail technology. This means that the authorship or source of an electronic mail message may not be as indicated in the message.
  
• University electronic mail users unread electronic mail messages will be retained for a 2-week period during the semester and during the period between semesters.
  

Use Standards

• Individuals are prohibited from using an electronic mail account assigned to another individual to either send or receive messages. If it is necessary to read another individual's mail (e.g., while they are on vacation, on leave, etc.), message forwarding should be requested from the electronic mail administrator.
  
• University electronic mail users are encouraged to use these communications resources to share knowledge and information in furtherance of the University's missions of instruction, research and public service. Occasional and incidental social communications using electronic mail are not prohibited; however, such messages should be limited and not interfere with an employee’s job function.
  
• Individuals with email ids on University computer systems are prohibited from sending messages which violate existing laws or University codes of conduct or policies; are inconsistent with the University mission; or are advertisements or announcements for a commercial business.
  
• Authorized users should not "rebroadcast" information about significant issues obtained from another individual in respect to that individuals reasonable expectation of confidentiality.
  
• Bulletin Boards used for soliciting or exchanging copies of copyrighted software are not permitted on University electronic mail systems.
  
• Authorized users are prohibited from sending, posting or publicly displaying or printing unsolicited mail or materials that is of a fraudulent, defamatory, harassing, abusive, obscene or threatening nature on any University system. The sending of such messages/materials will be handled according to current University codes of conduct, policies and procedures.
  
• The University accepts no responsibility for the content of electronic mail received. If a student receives electronic mail that they consider harassing, threatening or offensive, they should contact Academic Computing and University Police for assistance.
  
• Users should remember federal and state laws and University policies against racism, sexism and sexual harassment exist. Additionally, the University has special concern for incidents in which individuals are subject to harassment or threat because of membership in a particular racial, religious, gender or sexual orientation group.
  

Compliance

Users breaching the confidentiality of electronic mail messages, disclosing confidential University data by using electronic mail, or otherwise violating this policy may be denied future access to the computer system and shall be subject to reprimand, suspension, dismissal or other disciplinary actions by the President or his/her designee consistent with University delegations of authority, codes of conduct and personnel policies.

Lab Environment: It is expected that all computer labs will maintain a quiet, library-like atmosphere so the patrons can use their time productively and with few distractions. Although students are sometimes required to work in groups for some class projects and need to talk among themselves, this must be done in a controlled manner. Students working on a group project maybe asked to move to 110 Powell when available so they can be less distractive to the other students. In addition, groups of students are not allowed to move chairs from operational workstations in order to gather around one computer.

Patron composition: No children shall be allowed in any of the academic computer labs, as these labs are considered an “extension of the classroom.”

Entrance Policy: A Nicholls Faculty/Staff/Student ID is required for entrance into all open labs (Cenac, WAC, and Gouaux). No exceptions will be made.

Food, Drinks, Tobacco Products: No food, drinks, or tobacco products are permitted in the labs at any time.

Lab Assist WorkStation: The lab assist workstation is to be used only by the lab assistant on duty. Only lab assistants are allowed behind the lab assist desk. Visitors or Computer Lab patrons are not allowed.

Print Queue/Receptionist WorkStation: The print queue/receptionist workstation is to be used only by the print queue/receptionist on duty. Only print queue/ receptionist are allowed behind the print queue/receptionist desk. Visitors or Computer Lab patrons are not allowed.

Computer Supplies: Under no circumstances will any Patron be allowed to leave with supplies. Supplies are to be handled only by ITS employees.

Telephones: The phones are not for the use of the general public or patrons except in emergencies or to call for a ride (especially after dark).

Cell phones: Cell phones should be turned off or silenced upon entering any academic lab. Anyone violating this rule will be required to discontinue the activity or vacate the lab. Further disciplinary action will be taken as deemed appropriate.

Student Accounts: All students are required to open a student account in order to use any academic computer lab.

Academic vs. Non-Academic: Patrons may use the computers to check e-mail and to browse the Internet for non-academic use as long as computers are available for academic use. If computers are needed for academic use, patrons doing non-academic work may be asked to leave. .

Monitoring: We reserved the right to monitor any connection to our campus network for compliance with campus acceptable use policies.

Excessive Network Usage: Playing real-time video or audio that is not directly assigned by a Faculty member is not an appropriate academic usage of university resources and is prohibited in the academic computer labs. Anyone playing real-time video or audio not directly assigned by a Faculty member in an academic lab will be required to discontinue the activity. Further disciplinary action will be taken as deemed appropriate.

Downloading and/or Installing: Only University licensed and approved software is allowed on academic lab computers. Students needing other software to complete their required course work must contact a lab worker for assistance. Downloading and/or installing anything off the Internet or installing personal software is strictly prohibited. Any student caught downloading and/or installing programs in the labs will be required to discontinue the activity or vacate the lab. Further disciplinary action will be taken as deemed appropriate.

Audio Distractions: Listening to the radio, cassettes, or audio from CDs, without headphones, in any lab is strictly prohibited. Students are allowed to listen to the radio, cassettes, or audio from CDs with headphones in specified areas, which are Ayo and Cenac Labs. Headphones are not allowed in the WAC lab. The exception is with regard to multimedia software on multimedia computers directly assigned by a Faculty member. While headphones are allowed in some labs, students must still adhere to the no download/install policy previously mentioned. Student may not download music or install software from which to listen to the music. Anyone violating these rules concerning audio distractions in the labs will be required to discontinue the activity or vacate the lab. Further disciplinary action will be taken as deemed appropriate.

Approved Chatting Programs: Approved chatting programs are allowed in specified locations, which are Ayo and Cenac labs. Chatting is prohibited in the WAC lab. While Internet Chatting is allowed in some labs, students must still adhere to the no downloading and/or installing policy previously mentioned. Students may not download and/or install chat software; they must use the software and web-based chatting links already provided in the labs. Anyone using chatting in the WAC lab will be required to discontinue the activity or vacate the lab. Further disciplinary action will be taken as deemed appropriate.

Game Playing: Game playing is not an appropriate academic usage of university resources and is strictly prohibited in all academic computer labs. Anyone playing computer games in an academic lab will be required to discontinue the activity or vacate the lab. Further disciplinary action will be taken as deemed appropriate.

Pornography: Pornography is not an appropriate academic usage of university resources and is strictly prohibited in all academic computer labs. Anyone viewing pornography in an academic lab will be required to discontinue the activity or vacate the lab. Further disciplinary action will be taken as deemed appropriate.

Lab Printing Policies

In general patrons are allowed to print 30 pages per day, but this limit is not applicable to any “self-generated” reports issued to a student as a class assignment. Printing notes or research from the Internet is not considered “self-generated” reports. For copies, patrons must go to a copy machine or to a local copy company. Enforcing the printing policies listed below ensures patrons will receive their print jobs in a timely and efficient manner and that the printers will remain in good working order for longer periods of time.

General Printing Policies

• All printing will go to a print queue system where the print queue operator will be responsible for releasing the queue for printing.
  
• The maximum pages that can be printed by any patron are 30 pages per day. Patrons wanting to print longer documents require permission of the print queue operator on duty.
  
• Labels cannot be printed on any lab printers.
  
• Manual feeding of special paper (legal size, high quality bond, or transparencies) is to be done only by the print queue operator or ITS Staff on duty.
  

Non-academic Use: Computer Labs may be used to print personal materials, but must be included in the 30 pages per day limit. Under no circumstances is commercial use permitted.

Computer Supplies: Under no circumstances will any Patron be allowed to leave with supplies. Supplies are to be handled only by ITS employees.

Safety Policies

General Policy: Patrons are to help maintain a safe environment in the computer labs by not placing their book bags in the aisles. Patrons should also reduce the area they work in to just be inclusive of their workstation.

Accidents: In the case of accidents that result in injury, regardless of how insignificant the injury may appear, patrons should contact the lab assistant immediately.

Unsafe Actions: Patrons shall not engage in any unsafe actions like horseplay or fighting. Patrons engaging in such unsafe activities will be asked to leave, or University Police will be called.

Alarms: Patrons should be able to recognize and evaluate the situation in relation to all alarms. If a fire alarm goes off or a bomb threat is reported, patrons will be asked to immediately stop working, to gather belongings, and to evacuate the lab immediately. Everyone must remain outside until told by someone in charge that it is safe to re-enter the building.

Nicholls State University has a specific policy that governs the use and abuse of the university’s resources. Students granted access to the university’s computing facilities are required to abide by the established policy for computer use.

The Computer Use Policy is a comprehensive policy dealing with aspects of computer abuse, whether physical or logical. It applies to all university computing facilities mainframes, minicomputers, microcomputers, and associated equipment and links, as well as software, whether developed by Nicholls or purchased. If abuse, actual or threatened, is suspected or detected, the matter will be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency or university or authority for disciplinary action. Confirmed abuse can result in criminal prosecution, dismissal, loss of computer use privilege and other such remedies as provided by established laws and policies of the university.

In general, abuse is defined as any improper use or treatment of computing facilities including, but not limited to, acts which, by mischief or gross negligence, result in physical damage, defacement, or destruction of computing equipment; theft; unauthorized access or use; unauthorized alteration, substitution, or deletion of programs, command files, data files, documentation, or other material; wiretapping or any form of unauthorized signal interception; divulgence of confidential information or computer access methods to unauthorized persons; copyright or patent infringement; transmitting statements which are obscene or libelous according to law through or with computer systems; failure to safeguard computer systems in both their physical and logical aspects; and failure to notify management or security personnel of instances of abuse, either actual or threatened, or conspiracy to commit any of the above.

Definitions

Terminology

• User: Any employee, student, or other individual to whom computer access is granted.
  
• Computer equipment: Computer processors, memory, peripheral devices, communication links, communication equipment, supply lines, storage media, or any terminals, printers, modems, or any other ancillary equipment or devices connected to or in any way used in conjunction with the mainframes, minicomputers, microcomputers and word processing units owned, leased and/or operated by Nicholls State University. This is extended to include analog as well as digital devices.
  
• Software: Computer source and binary programs or modules, including intermediate or universal code, whether for system or applications use, command files, menu formats, and on-line manuals used with “help” facilities. This is extended to include firmware.
  
• Computer Facilities: Computer equipment and software, as defined above, considered as an entity.
  

Physical Damage

Acts which, by mischief or negligence, result in damage to, defacement of, or destruction to computer equipment maintained by Nicholls State University.

Theft

The unauthorized use or taking for one’s own personal use of computer equipment or software.

Software Copyright Restrictions

• The use of computing equipment or communication facilities to make unauthorized or illegal copies of proprietary software or in any way to infringe upon copyrighted or patented material of any nature.
  
• NOTICE: WARNING OF COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS. The Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, US Code) governs the reproduction, distribution, adaptation, public performance, and public display of copyrighted material.
  
• Under certain conditions specified by the law, nonprofit libraries are authorized to lend, lease, or rent copies of computer programs to students on a nonprofit basis and for nonprofit purposes. Any person who makes an unauthorized copy or adaptation of the computer program, of redistributes the loan copy, or uses the loan copy for monetary gain, or publicly performs or displays the computer program, except as permitted by Title 17 of the US Code, may be liable for copyright infringement.
  

Software Tampering

Unauthorized alteration, substitution, or deletion of programs, command files, data files, documentation, or other material is illegal. This shall include the use of Trojan horses, spoofs, computer viruses (as defined in the common literature), or any other device, material, logical or physical, to obtain these ends. This also includes the use of computer facilities to gain unauthorized access to systems external to Nicholls and use of command files to add to, delete or modify any education record as defined by the FERPA.

Negligence

By design or neglect allowing computer logos, passwords, encryption keys, or any other access methods to be obtained by unauthorized entities is illegal. This includes failure to safeguard computer equipment in both their physical and logical aspects from abuse. Further, this includes the failure to notify management or security personnel of instances of abuse either actual or threatened.

Unauthorized Use of Data

Using sensitive or confidential information with which one is entrusted for personal gain or interest; dissemination of such information, or by design or neglect allowing unauthorized access to or use of such information.

Improper Use

Using the electronic mail or other communication facilities to transmit statements of an obscene, libelous, or threatening nature as defined under current judicial definitions.

General

Use, Rights, Privileges

The University’s computing facilities are provided for the use of students in pursuing the ends of academic endeavors. By keeping in good standing with the University, a student will be allowed computing privileges. These privileges entail certain rights to privacy and security.

Responsibilities

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that his/her account password is kept confidential. If abuse or threatening messages occur due to allowing other students to access the account, the student who owns the account will be held accountable. Students are charged with special responsibilities for safeguarding the facilities with which they are entrusted. Failure to adequately and conscientiously safeguard these facilities from misuse will subject a student to being denied access to and use of the facilities. Furthermore, any damage to or infringement of copyrighted material or confidential data resulting from negligence may additionally subject the student to disciplinary action commensurate with the loss including dismissal or legal prosecution in accordance with University policies and local, state and federal laws.

Physical Damage, Abuse, Theft, and Logical Abuse

Acts of physical damage, abuse, and threats of such abuse will be handled in accordance with previously established procedures including criminal or civil prosecution and discipline under the University Code of Student Conduct, where applicable. Logical abuse, such as copyright infringement, software piracy, alteration of accounting, academic, and other databases for personal gain or mischief, plagiarizing, gaining or permitting unauthorized access, and the like will be handled in accordance with applicable criminal, civil, or university procedures.

Acts of abuse which constitute a violation of local, state, or federal criminal or civil statutes will be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Nicholls State University, at its discretion, will pursue whatever legal and University avenues it deems necessary for achieving reparations.

Academic Dishonesty

Using the computer to gain unauthorized access to instructional material for personal gain or profit, or to gain unauthorized access to another student’s assignments, or for the purpose of sharing work in an unauthorized manner will be considered a violation of the University’s Code of Student Conduct. In addition to the sanctions provided under that policy, a student may also be denied access to computing facilities and be subject to other legal or academic discipline as appropriate..

Copyright Infringements

All students should recognize that information obtained through electronic methods may be protected by copyright laws of the United States (Title 17 U.S. Code), the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (H.R. 2281), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). As such, any student in violation may be prosecuted under the terms of the law. It is the student’s responsibility to understand the laws pertaining to copyright infringement. A guide of how the law affects a student will be made available in the Library and in the Office of Academic Affairs.