Purpose.

To define what use students may make of the departments computers to access the internet.

Scope.

All students using the departments computers or network.

Review.

By ITC on request from ISM or other staff.

Definitions.

ISM

Information Systems Manager.

 

Policy Summary.

The Department provides student access to the internet for their studies. Students may not use the internet for things which are not directly related to their studies at the department.

Policy Details.

Access.

The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering provides internet access to its undergraduate students for use for activities relating directly to their studies at the Department. Internet access is not provided for any other purpose and is not to be used for anything which does not directly relate to studies at the Department.

Any student using the internet for other purposes may:

• be charged by the Department for their usage;
• have their access to the Department's computer systems terminated;
• have disciplinary action taken against them under Statute 17 as per the University's "Computer and Software Use Regulations". This could result in the termination of the student's enrolment.

These conditions are in addition to the University's "Computer and Software Use Regulations", "The AARNET acceptable use policy" and the Department's "Conditions of Use for Computer Systems".

Conditions of Use.

1. Students must not use the Internet for any purpose that does not relate directly to their studies at the Department.
2. Internet usage must not exceed reasonable levels of usage. Students must be selective in what they download or access.
3. Students must not use the Internet in a way which interferes with other users or which is otherwise unacceptable.
4. Students must not send unnecessarily repetitive, long or unsolicited email messages.
5. Students shall not infringe any copyright or licence agreements.
6. Students shall not access, display, put on their WWW page or print any material which could reasonably cause offence to other users, is defamatory or which is prohibited by law.
7. When accessing computer systems outside the Department users must abide by the policies of those systems.

The Department reserves the right to:

• modify these conditions at any time;
• collect payment for the cost of use of the Internet from students;
• deny access to the Internet if any of these conditions are breached;
• restrict access to certain sites and or material;
• provide differing levels of access for users of the Internet;
• log all usage of the Internet using video cameras or other means;
• ask students to justify the relevance of their Internet access;
• check the content of any file on the Department's computer systems;
• deny responsibility for the contents of any off site files accessed via the Internet;
• deny responsibility for any damage which may result from the use of information accessed through the use of the Internet;
• disclaim all warranties included in any material accessed through the use of the Internet;
• decide what is acceptable and unacceptable use of the Internet;
• control or restrict the display or posting of information on the Internet.

Examples acceptable and unacceptable Internet usage.

The following are some examples of possible acceptable and unacceptable internet access. They are provided as guidance only.

Acceptable Usage

• Reading a network news group such as "sci.engr.semiconductors" whilst studying a unit on semiconductors.
• Searching for, reading articles and downloading material which is related to an assignment or project as indicated by the unit co-ordinator.
• Subscribing to an authorised email list on robot design whilst studying robotics.

Unacceptable Usage.

• Downloading music for recreational purposes. Whilst this might be relevant to a unit in Music it is not likely to be of direct relevance to a unit in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
• Reading a network news group on batman comics. It is a purely personal interest and not relevant to any studies at the Department
• Searching for articles on BMW motor cycles.
• Emailing all users in the department about a problem with an assignment. This is an unnecessarily repetitive and unsolicited email.
• Reading your private hotmail or yahoo email account. The Dept provides email accounts for your studies. Other accounts (especially international WWW accounts) are not required for your studies.
• Placing advertisements on your WWW page or posting them to network news groups or via email. Again this is unlikely to be relevant to studies at the Department. The email messages may also be unnecessarily repetitive and interfere with other users of the system.