2. General Principles

Appropriate use reflects academic honesty and ethical behavior, and demonstrates consideration in the consumption of shared resources. It shows respect for intellectual property, ownership of data, system security mechanisms, and the rights of others to privacy and to freedom from intimidation, harassment, and unwarranted annoyance.

3. Authorized Use

Individuals may use UM centralized and departmental computing facilities only with the express authority of the system manager
responsible for the facility. Using an account that belongs to another individual or giving an individual other than the owner access to a UM account is prohibited. Each user is responsible for all activity originating from his or her account.

System managers authorize system accounts and the use of lab facilities. In certain cases, such as with remote visualization
facilities, UM system managers may designate an appropriate agent to authorize accounts. Authorized users of UM computing facilities include these groups:

- The faculty, students, and staff of the state-supported universities governed by the Mississippi Board of Trustees of
Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL).

4. Appropriate Use

Appropriate use of UM computing facilities includes these functions:

• the support of instructional activities (e.g., to complete class projects or conduct activities relevant to classwork).
• the support of institutionally sponsored research, including thesis and dissertation work and research sponsored by external agencies.
• the support of independent study and research by authorized users.
• the facilitation of official work of state and university offices, departments, agencies, and sanctioned campus organizations.
• the publication of University, departmental, and individual World Wide Web (WWW) pages.
• the exchange and pursuit of information via the Internet on computers designated for that purpose.
• UM computing facilities are not to be used for commercial purposes or financial gain. UM computing facilities are not to be used for partisan political purposes.

Because UM computing facilities serve diverse purposes and diverse constituencies, rules for use may vary some what across systems and labs. Activities having valid educational benefits, but which are not specifically tied to classwork or research, are generally allowed; however, they may be limited or banned on certain systems at the discretion of UM system managers, according to system load and system function. For example, due to the limited number of stations, recreational game playing in UM labs is strictly prohibited. System and lab dependent policies are communicated to users through on-line messages, news items, and lab postings. Compliance with the UM Appropriate Use Policy requires compliance with all system and lab dependent policies.

5. Computer Software Usage

UM computing facilities utilize many software applications, with a wide range of license and copyright provisions. Users are responsible for availing themselves of appropriate information and complying with the license and copyright provisions of the software that they use. Moreover, UM computing facilities are subject to The University of Mississippi Policy Statement on Software Usage:

The University of Mississippi prohibits the unauthorized copying or electronic transmission of copyrighted computer software, computer data, and software manuals at the University of Mississippi unless appropriate written consent is obtained from the software vendor or licensor.

Such unauthorized duplication is grounds for disciplinary action by the University and is subject to criminal prosecution under Mississippi Computer Statutes (Sections 97-45-1 through 97-45-13 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 [1994]), as well as under the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986.

According to the U.S. Copyright Statutes, illegal reproduction of software can be subject to civil damages of $50,000 or more, and criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment. Under the Mississippi Computer Crimes Law, the maximum fine is $10,000 and the maximum imprisonment sentence is 5 years.

6. User Responsibilities

Respect the integrity of UM computing environments and computing environments reachable by UM network connections.

    No individual shall, without authorization, access, use, destroy, alter, dismantle or disfigure UM technologies, properties or facilities. If an individual encounters or  observes a vulnerability in system or network security, then that individual must report the vulnerability to the UM system manager.. Individuals must refrain from exploiting any vulnerabilities in security.

    No individual shall use UM computing facilities to gain illegal access or entry into other computers. UM users must follow any policies (which may be more restrictive than this policy) governing the use of any remote hosts accessed.

    Publishing information which enables or encourages unauthorized access to any computer systems is specifically prohibited.

Respect the privacy of other individuals.

    Any use of UM computing and network resources which violates the privacy of any other individual is prohibited.

    Files belonging to individuals are to be considered private property unless explicit authorization is given by the owner of
    the files. That a user can read a file does not mean that a user may read a file. The ability to alter a file does not
    give a user the right to alter a file.

Respect the finite capacity of systems.

    No individual shall monopolize or hoard resources, including lab stations (PC, workstation, terminal), network bandwidth,
    printing facilities, dial-in connections, limited-use software licenses, and system resources such as CPU, disk, memory, and      
    Cray Solid-state Storage Device  (SSD).

    No individual may request an account with the intent of making it available to another user.

Use computing facilities in a manner that promotes a productive and professional working environment - locally, nationally, and
internationally.

    Computer communications systems and networks promote the free exchange of ideas and information, thus enhancing teaching
    and research. Individuals should not use electronic communications systems such as E-mail, list servers, news groups, interactive
    talk or chat messages ,or individual home pages to harass or offend others or to interfere with their work. Other examples
    of misuse include: (1) sending unsolicited messages, mail or communications of any kind to persons who have
    not requested it or who cannot be reasonably expected to welcome such communications; (2) printing or displaying
    materials (images, sound, messages) that are unsuitable for public display or that could create an atmosphere of discomfort
    or harassment for others; (3) representing personal opinions as official University statements.

    UM computing facilities are not to be used in a wasteful or frivolous manner (e.g., tying up system or network resources
    with computer-based game playing, sending trivial or excessive messages, publishing WWW pages which require excessive
    systems resources, printing excess copies of documents, files, data, or programs, running grossly inefficient programs when
    efficient alternatives are available, etc.).

    Individuals must comply with all applicable law concerning copyright, patent, trademark, and licensing agreements in
    their use of UM computing resources. They must not infringe on the intellectual property of others.

Protect your account.

    Even the best computer systems cannot protect the individual
    who fails to conceal his or her password. To prevent abuse of
    your account, (1) physically protect your session, (2) never
    record a password where it could be found, and (3) never reveal
    your password. Follow UM guidelines for password selection and
    change your password often. Inform UM system managers when
    you leave your institution so that your account may be properly
    closed.


8. UM Rights and Responsibilities

Acknowledgment of this policy statement authorizes appropriate UM system managers to examine user files, individual home pages and monitor computer activities, if necessary. However, no such monitoring or inspection will take place without the approval of the system manager's unit head and the University attorney. While individual privacy will be respected to the extent possible, no guarantee of complete privacy is made. UM reserves the right to stop any process, restrict any individual's use, inspect, copy, remove or otherwise alter any data, file, WWW page, or system resource that may undermine or adversely affect the overall performance or integrity of the computing facilities or is otherwise in violation of this policy.

UM system and network administrators have taken reasonable precautions to ensure that potentially offensive materials do not reside on local facilities; however, UM cannot be held responsible for materials residing on remote sites or individual home pages. Individuals are cautioned to exercise judgement in accessing such materials and should be aware that such access can be traced back to the individual.

9. Consequences

Violation of the UM Appropriate Use Policy may result in the following penalties:

- Limiting or prohibiting public access to files or directories on WWW, gopher, or FTP servers.

- Suspension for varying amounts of time or the permanent revoking of computing privileges. UM systems managers reserve
the right to restrict immediately the computing privileges of individuals who have violated this policy until suitable, comprehensive disciplinary action is determined.

- Reporting of the violation to the associated institution's Disciplinary Advisory Committee for users not directly associated
with UM.

- Referral to the appropriate law enforcement agency in cases of violations of state or federal law.

Action may be taken immediately by the UM systems manager in any case of suspected violation of this policy. The affected user will be notified when such action is taken and may file any resulting grievance according to the grievance procedures outlined in the M Book (for students) and the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual (for faculty and staff).