MSU P-A Computing Acceptable Use Policy
This is the Policy on Acceptable Use of MSU Department of Physics &
Astronomy Computing Facilities.
General Policy
Michigan State University and its Department of Physics and Astronomy
provide faculty, staff, and students with computer resources in order to
carry out research, instructional, public service, outreach, professional
development and administrative responsibilities. Activities which interfere
with or divert resources from these legitimate uses are improper.
The basic guidelines are set forth in the
MSU Acceptable Use Policy,
available from the MSU Computer Resource Center, 305 Computer Center.
(copies may be found in 1209 BPS Bldg.) Certain data on
students, personnel, procurements, grades, etc., may be governed by MSU
policies and procedures beyond the Acceptable Use Policy, and potentially
by state or Federal laws and regulations.
Access to Programs and Data
Possession of or access to data or programs without specific authorization
is improper. Various proprietary, licensed, programs are available on
systems for the use of authorized users. Such programs must be used in
accordance with their license provisions and may not be copied or
transferred to or run from other systems except with prior arrangements
for license transfer. Similarly, users are not to install in their own
work areas or the common storage areas programs for which they do not own
or possess a valid license or usage authorization.
User Accounts: Rights, Privileges, and Responsibilities
All user accounts are considered to be the user's own, and the contents of
a user's files are covered by University regulations concerning privacy and
intellectual property. User accounts will be deactivated and all files will
be archived and removed from the system after a user leaves the department,
allowing a suitable period of time for the user to be able to arrange for
the transfer of any material to another location. Forms will be made
available for users to specify terms for disposal of files after departure;
a student may grant access to certain files or directories to some professor
after the student's departure, for example, in order that the student's work
may be accessed or referenced in future research or publications.
Users are responsible for all activities and files associated with their
accounts and are strongly urged not to permit anyone else to access
their accounts.
In the course of managing computer resources, authorized departmental or
university personnel may find it necessary to read files (potentially
including electronic mail, in some cases) on various computing systems or
networks. Such instances would include attempts to diagnose filesystem
problems and to recover or track bounced or misdirected electronic mail,
as well as acts in compliance with legal obligations such as subpoenas and
Freedom of Information Act disclosure. In all such cases, every effort
will be made to avoid examining the contents of files except when the task
may not be done otherwise or unless permission has been sought from and
granted by the user.
Computing activities of a commercial nature or which support profit-making
ventures or enterprises are strictly forbidden on departmental systems.
Electronic mail messages and bulletin board or newsgroup postings of an
abusive nature are not an acceptable use of departmental computing
resources, nor are direct advertisements for commercial products or
services, chain letters, or the conduct of illegal activity.
Special-purpose Computing Facilities
In addition to the general prohibitions listed above, users should be aware
that certain facilities are provided for specific purposes, and that use of
those facilities for other purposes is improper. Examples of these include:
- Department-wide mailing lists
- Department-wide mailing lists are maintained for the purpose of
disseminating official announcements to members of the department;
messages of a private nature such as announcements of items for sale
or rent should not be sent via these mailing lists.
- There is a folder in PA_INFO called MSUPA.MISC, however, where
such messages are appropriate, and users are welcome to make use of
that facility for their informal and unofficial announcements.
- Departmental Web Server
- The Departmental Web Server has both official areas, where only
material provided by or screened by authorized personnel should be
presented, and user areas where the content of Web pages is not under
strict control.
- Users still must abide by the general prohibitions
stated above. For example, a user must not set up a page or set of
pages for profit-making purposes; providing pointers to such pages on
another Web Server, however, is not inappropriate.
- Departmental Electronic Bulletin Board (PA_Info)
- The Departmental Electronic Bulletin Board, PA_INFO, has numerous
folders, each with a separate stated purpose, generally stated briefly
in the description of the folder (accessed by DIR/FOLDER for users who
access it directly) and more fully in a long-term posting within the
folder (for those who access PA_Info via NNTP or the WorldWide Web).
Postings to a folder should have content appropriate to that folder.
- MSU P-A staff will answer questions regarding folders sent either by
E-mail or by postings to either of the folders MSUPA.COMP_QUESTIONS or
MSUPA.PA_INFO.
- New folders for new purposes may be created upon
request.
- The folder MSUPA.MISC's specific purpose is to provide a
forum for postings on any topic.
User Agreement to Comply with This Policy
Application for a computing account signifies that the applicant has read
and agrees to comply with the standards referred to above for all accounts
on departmental computing facilities the user may have at the present time
or may acquire at a later date.
Contact George J Perkins or
Margaret Wilke for further
information on this policy.