Standards Guide > Policies > The EMU Acceptable Use Policy

Back to Web-Related Policies page

Back to Web Standards Guide Home Page

The EMU Acceptable Use Policy

Statement of Policy

Information technology resources are provided by Eastern Michigan University to its students, faculty and administration in support of the University's mission. These resources include, but are not limited to, personal computers, workstations, mini- and mainframe computers, and voice, data, and video communication networks. These guidelines apply to any user of any device, workstation, desktop computer, local area network, or mainframe system provided by the University and attached to the University network or Michnet network. This document outlines the acceptable use of these resources, and will be reviewed on an annual basis.

Access to Information Technology Resources

University faculty, administrators, and staff are provided access to University information technology resources by virtue of their employment, and to institutional data by an appropriate steward. Students are provided access to University resources by virtue of their enrollment. Access to specific resources may be provided by appropriate academic departments. Other individuals may be provided access to University information technology resources through sponsorship by an appropriate University administrator.

Software Copyright Laws

Eastern Michigan University is licensed to use numerous microcomputer and mainframe software programs. The University enters into a license agreement with the owner of each computer program pursuant to which the University and its employees assume certain legally binding obligations. Licensed computer software is intended for the use specifically authorized in such agreements, remains the intellectual property of the owner, and is protected by copyright laws. The University endorses the EDUCOM code of responsible software use as described in the publication, Using Software: a Guide to Ethical and Legal Use of Software for Members of the Academic Community.
All University employees and students who use licensed software shall use that software only in accordance with the license agreement. There is no authority for an employee or student to violate the terms of a license agreement. To transfer the possession of any copy, modification or merged portion of any licensed program, whether gratuitously or for gain, shall be in violation of this procedure and is prohibited by the University. Such conduct may also violate state and federal law. Employees or students who make, acquire, or use unauthorized copies of computer software or otherwise violate this procedure shall be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the University policy. They may also be subject to personal liability under copyright law. Employees or students using personal software on University devices must demonstrate evidence of ownership.

Acceptable Use

Eastern Michigan University is a member of Merit Network, Inc., and is connected to Michnet, the statewide higher education network, and to other networks provided by Michnet. As a member of Merit Network, Inc., the University complies with the Michnet Acceptable Use Policy. In addition to these policies, the University maintains and enforces this acceptable use procedure.

Users of University information technology resources agree to abide by applicable Federal and State information technology laws, all applicable acceptable use policies, and all University policies and standards of conduct.

The University's acceptable use procedure is based on the following principles:

Respect for the privacy of other users. For example, users shall not obtain copies of files belonging to other users without permission, modify files or passwords belonging to other users, or represent themselves as other users.
Respect for the legal protection by copyright and license to programs and/or data. For example, users shall not install or use illegal copies of licensed software.
Respect for the security and integrity of information technology resources. For example, users shall not develop programs that harass other users, infiltrate or modify computer systems or networks, or damage or alter software or data components of a computer system.
Open acknowledgment of use. For example, administrators of University resources are required to identify users of those resources. Account owners are responsible for any use of University resources made with their accounts.
Departmental compliance. For example, administrators of open access computing labs may request that labs be attached to the University network if acceptable procedures are established to identify users. Departments may define additional "conditions of use" for resources under their control if these conditions are consistent with this procedure.

Specific features of the University's acceptable use procedure are:

No person shall intentionally and without proper authorization gain access to, alter, damage, or destroy a computer system or computer network or the software program or data contained in a computer, computer system, or computer network.
No person is authorized to utilize in any manner University computer equipment and software and other University equipment, whether owned or leased by the University, when such use would be for personal financial gain and unrelated to any legitimate academic pursuit, unless the use is pursuant to a contractual arrangement in advance of use providing for appropriate compensation to the University, or when such use would be inviolation of any University contractual arrangement with equipment or software vendors or lessors, or computer network organizations.
No person without proper authorization may utilize computer equipment or programs to gain access to, copy, or obtain for personal use or information, records or information owned or possessed by the University.
No person may copy or distribute software, or its documentation, without the permission of the copyright holder.

Guidelines for Determining Acceptable Use

The intent of this procedure is to identify general uses which are consistent with the provision of information technology resources and the University's affiliation with Merit Network, Inc. It is not intended to enumerate all possible uses.

This procedure is jointly administered by the Director of Academic Technology & Computing Services, a division of Information and Communications Technology, and the Chief Information Officer for Eastern Michigan University. The University may determine if specific use of information technology resources are consistent with the provisions of this procedure. If a use is consistent with this procedure, then activities in a direct support of that use will be considered consistent. General guidelines for determining acceptable use include:

Use for exchange of data or information for personal development, to maintain currency, or debate issues in a field is acceptable.
Use for disciplinary, professional, association, or advisory activities related to the user's research and instructional activities is acceptable.
Use in applying for or administering grants or contracts for research or instruction is acceptable.
Use for general administrative activities and communication in support of research and instruction is acceptable.
Use originating from a network of another authorized organization of an affiliated network which meets the acceptable use guidelines of that organization is acceptable.
Use which is incidental to otherwise acceptable uses, except those which are illegal or specifically unacceptable, is acceptable.
Development of computer systems which violate the guidelines outlined in this document are not acceptable.
Establishing network connections which create routing patterns inconsistent with the effective and shared use of the University network is not acceptable. All planned network connections must be approved by Academic & Technology Computing Services or Information and Communications Technology.
Malicious use of any kind is not acceptable. Malicious use includes, but is not limited to, harassment of other users, attempts to develop or introduce virus programs to systems, attempts to cause system outages, or attempts to discover passwords. All uses must be consistent with guiding ethical statements, applicable acceptable use policies, and community standards. University resources must not be used in any way which violates applicable laws, regulations, or University policies. Use of University resources or affiliated networks which precludes or hampers the use of those resources by others is not acceptable.
Unsolicited advertising is not acceptable. Advertising is permitted on some mailing lists if the sponsored group explicitly sanctions advertising. Announcements of new products or services are acceptable providing they do not include solicitation for sale.
Use of University resources for profit-making activities is not acceptable.
Use of University resources for recreational games is not acceptable when such use restricts access of those resources by other users.

Violations

Violations of these procedures should be reported to the CIO of EMU or the Director of ATCS. Information and Communications Technology or Academic Technology & Computing Services staff will notify the responsible user, will take appropriate remedial actions, and will inform appropriate University departments and/or affiliated networks of their actions.

Departmental administrators responsible for managing University information technology resources may temporarily disable user accounts or workstations connected to the network if violations of this policy are suspected. Information and Communications Technology or Academic & Technology Computing Services should be informed of all such actions. Every effort will be made to inform affected users prior to disconnection, and every effort will be made to reestablish the connection as soon as it is deemed mutually acceptable.

Any employee or student found to violate University standards of conduct will be subject to disciplinary action under University policy. Any suspected violation of State and Federal information technology laws will be reported to the appropriate legal authority for investigation.

Questions about this site should be referred to the director of Web Communications.

Standards Guide Home Page