Policies & Procedures

Computer Lab Use Policy

Computer Lab Use Policy

• Your account is for your use only. You are responsible for all actions associated with this account. You must take care to keep your password from others.
  
• Attempting to violate the security of the system, e.g. guessing passwords, attempting to defeat file protections, or accessing the system in a way that is obviously not intended, will result in appropriate disciplinary action.
  
• A student copying another student's work into his or her directory without permission will be considered evidence of plagiarism.
  
• Normally, we respect the privacy of individual user files. However, in the event of an investigation into a security problem the systems staff may look at your files.
  
• Use appropriate etiquette and consideration with electronic mail and Usenet News. Illegal or any other irresponsible activity such as hate mail or terroristic threats will result in loss of account privileges.
  
• If you post messages to Usenet News, you must be familiar with the document "Rules for Usenet News", which is posted periodically to news.announce.newusers.
  
• Any attempt to use campus networks or the Internet in an unauthorized manner, for example, to attempt to connect to a computer you are not authorized to access or to listen to network traffic, will result in loss of privileges and/or disciplinary action.
  
• Participation in the sending of chain letters via e-mail will result in loss of account privileges.
  
• The use of campus laser printers is restricted to no more than 10 pages unless approved by a lab monitor (academic work only). There is a 2 copy maximum for any document (no exceptions).
  
• No food or beverages are permitted.
  
• Cell phones are to be turned off or set to “vibrate” mode. Cell phones should be used outside the open lab area.
  
• Open labs are reserved for academic use only. Use of lab computers for personal email, non-academic printing, instant messaging, playing games, listening to music, etc. is not permitted. Students are to use the Internet in accordance with (to be determined-tm).
  
• Printing is limited to academic use only. Students abusing printing privileges will be notified. Persistent violations will result in enforced printing limits.
  
• Technical support requests are to be emailed to itsupport@rowan.edu. Requests will be reviewed and addressed by Instructional Technology according to priority.
  
• Students are prohibited from moving, modifying, or tampering with lab hardware. Students are not permitted to install or remove peripherals (power cords, monitors, mice, keyboards, hardware devices) without expressed written consent from Instructional Technology.
  
• Students are not permitted to install or remove software without expressed written consent from Instructional Technology.
  
• Personal headphones and flash media drives are permitted. Rowan University open computer labs do not support floppy or Zip disks.
  
• Moving or tampering with any cameras or security devices in computer labs will lead to immediate disciplinary action.
  
• Computers in open labs are not to be left “locked” or unattended for more than 10 minutes. Students waiting to use a computer in an open lab have the right to reboot a computer that has been left locked or unattended for more than 10 minutes.
  
• Instructional Technology reserves the right to remove or delete any unapproved software or hardware from open lab computers. Students requiring special software should contact Instructional Technology before installation
• Instructional Technology reserves the right to remove or delete any unapproved software or hardware from open lab computers. Students requiring special software should contact Instructional Technology before installation.
  
• Instructional Technology reserves the right to remove or delete any data stored locally on any computer in open labs. Computers may be reformatted or reimaged without prior notice.
  
• It is recommended that students use networking storage or cdrw media or flash drive to store and transport files and data.

Guest Accounts

Rowan's Instructional Technology facilities are for the use of Rowan students, faculty, and staff. Consequently, others are not permitted to use the computers, modems, or other equipment, with the following exceptions:

Individuals enrolled in Rowan sponsored workshops or courses, such as those offered by an on-campus institute, may be offered temporary accounts for the duration of the course. Such accounts will be closed when the course ends.

Grant-funded projects that include a computer or network related component may arrange accounts for individuals directly involved in the project, subject to the availability of appropriate equipment. The Principal Investigator must coordinate the terms of the arrangement for the accounts, preferably before writing the grant; an appropriate transfer of funds from the grant to Instructional Technology, to support the costs of the access, will be negotiated with the Director of Instructional Technology. Any access arranged in this way will terminate when the funded project terminates.

Other types of access or "guest" accounts will normally not be possible. In certain exceptional circumstances, the Director of Instructional Technology may choose to grant guest access. Guest access will be granted only when a clear case can be made that no reasonable alternatives exist. The terms of access must be stated in a written agreement that will be kept in the Office of Instructional Technology.