The Institute for the Psychological Sciencies

The Institute provides wireless and remote access to its network and email for use by students, faculty and staff.  In addition, computer workstations are available in the Mary S. Thelen Library.

The Institute recognizes that the vast majority of students, faculty, staff and guests exercise responsible judgment with all Information Technology resources. To ensure the continued integrity of this environment, reasonable policies, procedures and security guidelines have been published and implemented.

All students are encouraged to learn more about the Institute's Computer Accounts and E-mail System, as well as general guidelines and ethical behavior while using Information Technology resources in the Institute's Computing Ethics Guidelines and the Acceptable Use of Electronic Systems Policy.

In order to ensure the reliability and performance of the Institute's network, IPSNet, members of the Institute community should read and follow the Institute's Network Standard. With the advent of wireless networking at the Institute, the Wireless Standard contains important information about the use of Institute wireless network installations.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CODE OF CONDUCT

Retain Sanction Definition:

Information Technology Resource Suspension/Termination - A suspension or termination of part or all of a student's access to Information Technology resources. No refund of any fees charged and applied to Information Technology resources will be made.

Offenses Related to the Utilization of the Institute Information Technology Resources Users

“Information Technology Resources” includes, but is not limited to: campus computing facilities (labs and individual machines), Institute time-sharing services, network ports, wireless networks, World Wide Web pages and related resources, internal or external network connectivity and access to other services and machines.

The information technology resources of the Institute are available to faculty, staff, and students of this institution for the purpose of instruction, research, and other activities defined by the President or the Academic Dean.

This policy addresses offenses related to the properties and operation of the Institute and therefore applies to information and technology use and resources as it applies to all other Institute resources. Specifically, an offense related to utilization of the Institute Information Technology Resources is committed when a student:

1. Uses Information Technology Resources for purposes other than research or instructional purposes. (Information technology resources may not be used for commercial purposes or personal gain).
2. Intentionally or recklessly abuses or misuses the Information Technology Resources so as to cause damage, program disturbances, or harassment to other persons.
3. Repeatedly or purposefully engages in activities which can be reasonably expected to, or do, unreasonably tax Information Technology Resources or go beyond the intended or acceptable use.
4. Borrows, lends, falsifies or misuses a computer account or information technology resource, or allows, or facilitates the unauthorized access to use of Institute Information Technology Resources by a third party.
5. Obtains passwords(s) of other persons in order to use Institute or Institute-related Information Technology Resources without proper authorization or impersonates another person or an Information Technology Resource.
6. Uses electronic media to harass or threaten other persons, or to display, design, copy, draw, print, or publish obscene language or graphics. Submits or causes to be submitted to the Institute false, misleading, harassing or deceptive help requests or complaints. Uses institute Information Technology Resources to gain or attempt to gain unauthorized access to Information Technology Resources either inside or outside of the Institute.
7. Intercepts, attempts to intercept or otherwise monitors any communications not explicitly intended for him or her.
8. Copies, reads, accesses, uses, misappropriates, alters, publishes or destroys the files, output data, documents or other files of another individual or attempts to do so, without the permission of that individual, project leader, or Information Technology Resource administrator.
9. Makes, distributes and/or uses unauthorized duplicates of copyrighted material, including software applications, proprietary data, and information technology resources. This includes peer to peer sharing of entertainment (e.g., music, movies, video games) files in violation of copyright law. (Unauthorized copying of copyrighted software or proprietary files may also lead to proceedings in the civil court.) Violates the terms and conditions of software license agreements for software distributed by the Instiitute for the Psychological Sciences to students by giving, lending, selling, or leasing such media or software to others for their own use.
10. Interferes with the operation of the Institute’s Information Technology Resources by deliberately attempting to degrade or disrupt resource performance, security, or administrative operation including, but not limited to, intentionally introducing any computer virus or similar disruptive force into any information technology resource.

The following options are available to the Institute in responding to alleged violations of the above offenses and the Offenses Related to the Utilization of the Institute Information Technology Resources Users portion of the Student Handbook:

When a violation of the Information Technology Policies is observed and the alleged violator is identified, one or a combination of the following actions may be taken by the Institute:

a. Collect evidence of the alleged violation, including copies of the files or any other information, for the ensuing investigation.

b. Issue a warning to the accused violator(s).

c. Request corrective action by the accused.

d. If the alleged Code represents a continuing threat of damage or harassment to the community, an interim suspension of the person’s access to IPS Information Technology Resources will be imposed.

In cases where an interim suspension has been imposed, the IT Services Committee may promptly file a complaint with the Dean of Students requesting an expedited hearing.


Copyright Violations

The increased use of file sharing (peer-to-peer) software programs such as KaZaA, Gnutella, LimeWire, and others has led to a significant increase in anti-piracy efforts and legislation. Peer-to-peer programs allow sharing of copyrighted music, movies, and software often without the knowledge or consent of the user. Recent legislation including the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in conjunction with automated scanning software employed by software publishers and music and movie production companies can lead to a significant increase in copyright infringement complaints received by the Institute. Please review the IPS Copyright Policies.