POLICY

Western Oregon University requires professional behavior and acceptable use of 
computing resources.

    PURPOSE

The intent of this document is to promote the responsible use of University 
Computing Resources, not to discourage their use.

1.      Appropriate Use of Computing Resources

1.1     When you are provided access to University Computing Resources, your
        use of them may be explicitly or implicitly limited.  For example, if
        you have access to administrative systems, you should use them solely
        for the purpose for which the access was provided.

1.2     The situation with academic timesharing computers and microcomputer
        labs is less narrowly defined.  As with the University Library, access
        to academic computing resources is provided in part so you can learn, 
        explore, grow, or discharge your responsibilities as part of your 
        education or employment at the university.  However, activities related 
        to the university's scholarly mission take precedence over computing 
        pursuits of a more personal or recreational nature.  For example, those 
        completing class assignments or conducting research have priority over 
        those using computing resources to process personal email, explore 
        network, resources, etc.

1.3     Some applications (such as Muds/Moos/Mucks/Mushes, IRC, Talk, Chat, 
        and on-line computer games) are generally unsupported and actively 
        discouraged, due to the demands they place on our limited modem pool, 
        central processing capacity, and computer lab resources.  Please 
        cooperate with university staff if you are asked to refrain from 
        running applications like these when resource use is heavy.

1.4     Unauthorized use or misuse of University Computing Resources may 
        constitute theft of services, and may be criminally punishable.  
        Violators may also be civilly liable for the value of the stolen 
        resource.

2.      Prohibited Conduct

2.1     The Code of Student Responsibility prohibits, among other things, lewd 
        or indecent conduct, threat of imminent physical harm, sexual or other 
        harassment, stalking, forgery, intentional disruption of university 
        services, and damaging or destroying university property.  Similarly, 
        the code's prohibitions against illegal discrimination, including 
        discriminatory harassment and sexual harassment also apply to 
        electronic forums.

3.      Violations of Electronic Privacy

3.1     Access to electronic files, network communications, and related data 
        are protected by various federal statutes, including the Electronic 
        Communications Privacy Act.  Like an unauthorized telephone wiretap, 
        unauthorized access to a person's electronic data is prohibited, and 
        may subject the perpetrator to serious penalties.  Examples of 
        specifically prohibited behaviors include:

	? unauthorized interception or diversion of network transmissions,
	? accessing clearly confidential files that may be inadvertently 
	  publicly readable, and
	? accessing confidential information about a person (such as their 
	  educational records) without their consent or other authorization.

3.2     Keep in mind that shared systems are inherently insecure.  Authorized 
        computing staff may access accounts and transmissions for trouble-
        shooting and maintenance--and, if there is reasonable suspicion of 
        misuse, they may access them for investigative purposes.  Security 
        systems whose purpose is to identify unauthorized users of a system
        may also be used to monitor authorized users.

3.3     In general, material whose privacy must be guaranteed should not be 
        stored on shared computers.  Good quality encryption tools (such as 
        PGP, Pretty Good Privacy) are now widely available, and should be used 
        whenever working with information of a sensitive nature.

4.      Interference with Computer Use or Operations

4.1     Efforts to interfere with the use or operation of University Computing 
        Resources are prohibited.  These include:

	? distribution of computer viruses, worms, trojan horse programs, 
	  email "bombs," etc.;
	? actions that result in the denial of service to other users by 
	  triggering system security features, or intentionally 
           disconfiguring equipment to render it unusable;
	? forged or counterfeited email messages;
	? posting USENET news articles to inappropriate news groups, posting 
	  to moderated news groups without the approval of the moderator, or 
	  cross-posting articles to many news groups simultaneously 
           "spamming"); and
	? interference with the use of microcomputers, X terminals, or other 
	  workstations by the unauthorized display of output on such devices 
	  without the assent of the individual currently using the device.

4.2     We ask that you cooperate with system administrators if you are advised 
        of potential security problems with your account or system.

5.1     We all enjoy our constitutionally protected right to free speech and 
        the tradition of academic freedom here at the university.  However, 
        with these freedoms comes responsibility for what you say and write.  
        If you defame someone on-line or invade his or her privacy, you may be 
        sued.  Exercise your freedom to speak out, but please do so responsibly 
        and in a way that reflects creditably to the university.

6       Wise Use of Limited Resources

6.1     Given the university's limited resources, as well as the direct costs 
        associated with wasteful behavior (such as printing output that isn't 
        needed), we ask that you be careful how you use computing resources, 
        especially:

	? tangible resources (such as printing) where excessive use translates 
	  into additional real costs; and
	? shared finite resources (e.g., dial-in modem time, disk space, or 
	  Internet bandwidth), where selfish behavior on the part of a few can 
	  prevent many others from doing their work.

        Please cooperate in making the most of the limited resources we have 
        available.

7.      Commercial Use of Resources Prohibited

7.1     The university does not want to unwittingly underwrite some activities 
        by providing access to computing resources which could then be 
        commercially exploited.  Moreover, in many instances the university 
        negotiates special academic pricing agreements for obtaining the 
        computing resources it needs.  Most such agreements are contingent upon 
        the university prohibiting commercial use of the resources.  Breaching 
        educational licensing agreements could have serious financial 
        consequences for Western Oregon University.

7.2     Using University Computing Resources to transmit or propagate chain 
        letters is explicitly prohibited.

    PROCEDURES

    AUTHORITY

The Code of Student Responsibility, OAR 574-30-046, applies as well as:

8.      Recognition of Copyrights and Intellectual Property Rights

8.1     Western Oregon University respects copyright laws and insists that its 
        faculty, students, and staff do likewise.  Copying proprietary software 
        is theft, and will not be tolerated on campus.  Illegally copying 
        software subjects the university to the risk of litigation and denies 
        software authors the compensation they deserve.  Moreover, use of such 
        software could result in suspension or dismissal from the university, 
        and either criminal prosecution or a civil suit for copyright 
        infringement, or both.

8.2     Similarly, if you make materials available for others to retrieve or 
        use (via a World Wide Web server, postings to a USENET news group, 
        etc.), be sure to respect their copyrights and intellectual property 
        rights.  In general, every document, image, or sound is protected by 
        the U.S. copyright laws upon creation and may only be used or 
        redistributed with the permission of the copyright holder.

    APPROVAL

Individuals are personally responsibility for on-line statements.

9.      Disciplinary Action

9.1     Violations of computing acceptable-use policies that constitute a 
        breach of the Code of Student Responsibility, Faculty Handbook, or 
        other appropriate and pertinent OUS and Western Oregon University rules 
        and regulations will be referred to appropriate authorities.  
        University personnel may take immediate action as needed to abate 
        ongoing interference with network and system operations or to ensure 
        system integrity.