Ross University Computer and Networks Usage Policy
IntroductionAs a part of its educational mission, Ross University provides data communications and computing services to University students, faculty, administration, and staff. The following policies and guidelines are established to maximize the educational benefit realized from the considerable investment of resources necessary to operate and maintain these facilities. Non-compliance with these policies and guidelines may result in penalties of varying degree.
A. General Guidelines These guidelines apply to all users of computing resources owned or managed by Ross University School of Medicine, including but not limited to faculty and visiting faculty, staff, students, guests of the administration, external individuals or organizations and individuals accessing external network services, such as the Internet, via RUSM computing facilities. 1. Provided that computing and data communications services on
the Ross University campus is shared by different groups and individuals: a. Information Technology Services (ITS) provides and maintains the university-owned data network and building connections, administrative and academic computing servers, email and Web servers, and general computing laboratories. b. All students have access to computers and data communication through general Laboratories on campus. Help desk assistance
and general maintenance is provided for student-owned computers that have been properly configured by ITS for RUSM network connectivity.
2. Individual access passwords should be carefully guarded, changed frequently, and treated as a signature, that is, not shared with anyone else including fellow employees or family members. 3. Prohibited activities on campus computers and networks, some of which may constitute criminal activity either in the United States or in Dominica,
include but are not limited to the following: a. Unauthorized access to other users’ accounts, system software, university data, or other computer systems. b. Unauthorized decryption of coded information such as passwords. c. Attempts to disrupt computer or network services. d. The installation or deletion of any software on University owned computers. e. The installation of software on any University resource that violates corporate or individual license agreements. Software piracy, of any kind, will not be tolerated. f. Storage or transmission of copyrighted materials, including software, documents and digital music without the owner’s permission. g. IP telephony or Voice-over-IP applications or any transmittal of voice content over our data
lines is prohibited due to contract restrictions. h. Willful introduction of viruses or other disruptive/destructive programs. i. Attempts to evade or bypass resource quotas. j. Forgery or attempted forgery of documents or email. k. Excessive use of resources, such as network bandwidth or disk storage. l. The intentional removal or
disconnection of University owned networking hardware (including UTP/COAX/FIBER cabling) for the purpose of connecting personal resources. m. The intentional disconnection of any University owned computer component (mouse, keyboard, monitor, video disk player). n. Unsolicited "broadcasting" of email (spam or electronic junk mail). o. Generating or forwarding chain letters or participating
in any kind of multilevel or pyramid scheme. p. Harassment or intimidation of other users, including sexual harassment. q. Accessing, downloading or distributing any kind of pornographic material as defined by the United States and/or Dominican governments. r. Use of the Library or Lab computer resources for mass duplication of documents. The ITS department is not to be used as a “Note Service”.
s. Preventing others from using shared resources by running unattended processes, logging into multiple stations simultaneously, or placing signs on devices to reserve them without authorization. Your absence from a public computer or workstation should be very brief. A device unattended for more than fifteen minutes may be assumed to be available for use, and any process running on that device terminated. t. Intentionally locking a
University owned workstation or computer, which is in a public facility. u. Using any computer system as a staging ground to enter other systems without authorization. v. Attempting to circumvent data protection schemes or uncover security loopholes. This includes creating, using, or tuning programs that are designed to identify security loopholes and/or decrypt intentionally secure data. This also includes programs contained
within an account, or under the ownership of an account that are designed or associated with security cracking.
4. Information transmitted over the Ross University School of Medicine network or made available to others (e.g. through Ross University School of Medicine maintained Web pages or bulletin boards) should be representative of a professional institution. For example, materials -- text or graphics -- should not contain: materials characterized by profanity or obscene
language; defamation of any individual or group; materials promoting hatred of cultural, ethnic, religious groups or lifestyles; pornography and other sexually-oriented material. Materials considered illegal either in the United States or in Dominica, such as child pornography should not be accessed by or stored on any computer while connected with the University, whether private or University owned. 5. Ross University cannot guarantee the confidentiality or privacy of electronic mail
messages and all other documents stored on University computers. The University makes no promises regarding their security. Documents should be written with this in mind. The ease of saving, forwarding, and printing electronic mail messages and documents makes them more akin to formal letters and memoranda than to verbal communications. The following guidelines relate to confidentiality: a. Ross University reserves the right to conduct routine
maintenance, track problems, and maintain the integrity of its systems. As is the case with all data kept on Ross University’s computer systems, the content of electronic mail may be revealed by such activities. b. Ross University does not routinely monitor the contents of email. However, such monitoring may be conducted when required to protect the integrity of the systems, to collect information for an investigation or to comply with legal obligations. c. Ross University reserves the right to inspect the contents of electronic mail and all disk files in the course of an investigation into alleged impropriety or as necessary to locate substantive information not readily available by other means. d. Ross University conducts regular network backups. Files stored both on and off line may be backed up at any time. All on-line folders are subject to backup. There are no exclusions. e. Authorization to investigate the contents of user files must be given by the Director of Information Systems on the basis of instructions from the University Administration.
6. Every effort should be made to preserve the physical security of personal computers. For example, a physical locking device and locking access doors (where applicable) should be maintained. Portable computers should be under personal supervision, in a locked space, or secured
with a locking device at all times -- especially when traveling. 7. Users are responsible for the security of data on their personal computers. Where sensitive information is stored on a personal computer, access to internal storage should be limited by a password. Centralized backup may be implemented for some personal computers; for all other machines, the user should carry out regular backups onto removable disks or tapes. Storage media containing sensitive information (backup or
otherwise) should be kept in a locked space. A personal computer connected to sensitive information (local or through the network) should not be left unattended. 8. University-owned personal computers are to be used for University business. In computing laboratories, academic work of students and faculty takes precedence over personal uses. We reserve the right to disconnect any user if he/she refuses to abide by this policy. 9. Use of University computers for personal commercial
activities is prohibited (Note: the use of personal computers to access stock quotes and the like is sanctioned). 10. "University work" should generally be done on computer or communications equipment provided by the University. Where personally owned equipment is used for University business, the University assumes no obligation to maintain or replace this equipment unless arrangements are made in advance 11. Centralized virus scanning and virus cleaning is
conducted by ITS. Files stored on any system or device that becomes infected with a virus may be damaged during the cleaning process. Please ensure you have copies of your critical files stored off-line. Situations may warrant the remote and/or manual virus scanning of any device at any time. ITS will not be held responsible for any data stored locally on any networked system. 12. By using a University computer account, all users agree to be in compliance with all federal,
state, and international laws, and all University regulations, related to any copying of computer software.
B. Working Environment Users of ITS machines should conduct themselves in a manner that promotes a productive working environment. Conduct that creates a disturbance to other users is prohibited; this includes making noise, taking beverages or food into the computer labs, and printing or displaying materials that are unsuitable for public display. Conduct that
intentionally or negligently interferes with the proper operation of the system or its use by others is prohibited. C. Use of Resources Users of ITS computers shall not consume unreasonable amounts of limited resources. Resources that are in limited supply include laser printing, disk space, Network bandwidth, and, in some cases, the machine access itself (see A-8). Laser printing should be used judiciously; it should not be used for multiple copies. Picture files or
other large files should not be stored on disk unless they are academically relevant. The Department may impose restrictions or limits on use of resources. Currently printing is limited to 140 pages per week (This is not cumulative). Additionally, each print job is limited to 25MB and/or 40 pages. PLEASE NOTE: ANY ATTEMPTS TO PRINT A DOCUMENT THAT EXCEEDS EITHER OF THESE LIMITS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY DELETED! (Large documents should be broken into smaller, multiple print jobs.) We will
be periodically performing mailbox cleaning and maintenance and reserve the right to delete any e-mail messages which exceed 10MBs or are older the 120 days. We also reserve the right to shorten the retention period in the event of a shortage of messaging server resources. With regards to Home Directories please note that we will be limiting the size AND type of files stored in users Home Directories as resources become scarce. Initially, Students home directories will be limited to a
maximum size of 250 MB. Students will receive storage space warning notifications prior to reaching this limit. We reserve the right to delete unauthorized content from users home directories without notice. WE DO NOT AND CANNOT PROVIDE BACKUP AND RESTORATION SERVICES FOR STUDENT USERS HOME DIRECTORIES. Please request periodic CD burns of home directories for back up purposes. Currently, I.T.S does manage a roaming profile for every student. PLEASE NOTE: THIS AREA IS FOR
TEMPORARY STORAGE ONLY. DO NOT STORE USER DATA IN YOUR PROFILE. We provide each student with home directories for this purpose (your “H” drive). To increase performance and due to size limitations, we will periodically delete profiles without notice. You can and should save some of your personal settings such as browser favorites, and shortcuts to your home directories. DATA STORED IN YOUR PROFILE IS SUBJECT TO DELETION (Please see Help Desk staff for instructions or questions).
D. Blocking Software ("Filters") and Internet Monitoring 1. Ross University School of Medicine reserves the right to block some websites or e-mail addresses from access. Additionally, as we are located in the Caribbean some sites may be unreachable by Ross University School of Medicine’s computers. 2. Ross University School of Medicine currently does not actively filter web content. However, we do reserve the right to initiate web content filtering at any time
without notice. Members of the faculty, staff, administration or student body, who are parents and are concerned about their children's use of electronic resources, are encouraged to determine and monitor their use of the internet resources. The monitoring of children's access to the Internet is the sole responsibility of the parents and not that of ITS staff or University Administration. Children are not permitted in the Anne Ross Library and Learning Resource Center at any time.
3. Children enrolled in the Day School may only utilize computer resources under the direct supervision of Day School staff. 4. Ross University School of Medicine reserves the right to begin monitoring all Internet access including but not limited to HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, TELNET, PPTP and other TCP/IP or UDP related protocols including SMTP and POP3 (e-mail) at any time at the discretion of ITS management. This monitoring can be global or user specific and may begin with or without
user notification. Monitoring may include all traffic transmitted over Ross University’s network resources independent of the ownership of the source of the traffic.
E. Networking And Data Communications 1. The University provides a data network connection for most computers connected with the University. This connection gives access to other computers and services both within and outside the campus. Employees and students can request an account on at least
one central computer to permit access to email, the World Wide Web, and other local and national/international services. ITS takes steps to protect server-based user files from unauthorized access from on or off campus. It is the responsibility of the user to protect locally stored files. 2. In cooperation with various campus committees, ITS sets technical and operational standards for data networking and computing on campus. Anyone connecting a computer to the campus network – student
or employee – is required to abide by the standards set by ITS. 3. The University presents for your use many programs and data which have been obtained under contracts or licenses saying they may be used, but not copied, cross-assembled, or reverse-compiled. You are responsible for determining that programs or data are not restricted in this manner before copying them in any form, or before reverse-assembling or reverse-compiling them in whole or in any part. If it is unclear whether
you have permission to copy such software or not, assume that you may not do so. 4. No unauthorized name servers are permitted on the campus network. 5. Any service that is provided outside the University by a computer on the campus network requires the approval of the Director of Information Systems. Examples of services include web, mail, FTP, telnet, games, bulletin boards, discussion groups, interactive chat services, streaming media. 6. Any person wishing to configure a
“server” on the campus network must obtain written permission from ITS prior to setup. The server then must permit administrative access by University network administrators 7. You must not knowingly or carelessly run or install on any computer system or network, or give to another user, a program intended to damage or to place excessive load on a computer system or network. This includes, but is not limited to, programs known as computer viruses, trojan horses, and worms.
F. Email And Web 1. Widely accepted etiquette for the Internet and Web should always be observed. For example, email should not be sent to users, lists, or newsgroups where the subject is not appropriate, where the email is not welcome, or the document size or number of destinations is excessive. Messages, sentiments, and declarations sent as electronic mail or sent as electronic postings must meet the same standards for distribution or display as if they were tangible
documents or instruments. You are free to publish your opinions, but they must be clearly and accurately identified as coming from you. If you are acting as the authorized agent of a group recognized by the University, you must be clear and accurately identify your message as coming from the group you are authorized to represent. Attempts to alter the From line or other attribution of origin in electronic mail, messages, or postings, will be considered transgressions of University policy.
2. Student groups may set up a home page on the World Wide Web containing personal as well as University information. Such pages must follow guidelines established by the Technical Support Committee. The owner of a Web site is responsible for the content of all pages in the site that are on computers connected to the University network and for all first-level links from these pages. 3.
Ross University School of Medicine maintains a copyright on the contents of its Web sites. No graphic, text, or other resource may be distributed, copied or used without the express one-time written permission from the Chief Information Officer of Ross University School of Medicine.
G. Disciplinary Action Violators of University policies are subject to the normal disciplinary procedures of the University.
Violations of University policies with respect to computing and network usage may result in: 1. Temporary or permanent loss of 2. Actions considered illegal in The United States or in Dominica are subject to investigation and prosecution by local or foreign authorities as is warranted by their jurisdiction. Ross University School of Medicine will cooperate with all United States or Dominican legal requests with regard to Information Systems crimes.
| 
