IT @ NWU

Rules and Guidelines for the use of Computer Facilities @ NWU

The University makes computer and network facilities available to students, researchers, lecturers, operational staff and other parties concerned (hereafter called the user) for the execution and promotion of their work in a productive and cost-effective manner. This can only be achieved if the facilities are not abused, disrupted or damaged.

Conditions for use

The University makes information on a large variety of topics available to users freely. This is also evident in the University’s computer and network facilities, which provides access to information on local, national and international databases and networks.

When the University accepts a person as user, the University and the user enter into a mutual contractual relationship of trust in terms of which the University obtains power of control over the activities of the user. In terms of this contractual relationship, the user further authorises the University to perform monitoring in certain circumstances. Such monitoring power justifies an infraction of the privacy of the user. However, there are strict internal prescriptions for the purpose of the control of this monitoring power to which it is subject. Therefore, users are granted access to the University’s computer and network facilities subject to this condition.

Rules of use

In view of the above, the University requires the facilities to be used in a responsible manner, and to this end, the following rules have been determined for the use of the University’s computer and network facilities. Transgression of any of these rules are prohibited in accordance with the University’s disciplinary regulations, and disciplinary action can result from the transgression of these rules and/or action for damages the University may suffer as a result thereof.

The use of the computer and network facilities for activities that are not related to the official work, duties and activities of the University, and which does not adhere to the ethics that may be derived from the foundation and character of the University, is prohibited. Among other things, this implies that:

	users may not use the University’s facilities for personal financial gain or the personal financial gain of others;
	no computer games may be played on any official computer of the University, except when this is assigned to students for purposes of training by a lecturer;
	no anti-Christian, immoral, pornographic and other morally corrupting information may be collected or made available on computer;
	no undesirable e-mail, for example non-approved general e-mail, may be sent. Email is an official communication medium and you may only use it for work and study-related purposes.

Intentional or negligent actions that hamper the availability or function of the computer or network facilities are prohibited. This implies the following, among others:

	The intentional and negligent distribution of computer viruses or the development of computer viruses is prohibited. Care must be taken to prevent the distribution thereof;
	Services such as file servers, anonymous ftp, Gopher-server, bulletin board, WWW server, and so forth, may only be made available on the network with the written approval of the Director IT Central;
	Connecting and/or linking any equipment (also including PC network cards and radio networking equipment) not provided or explicitly approved by the department of IT Central to the networks of the University is prohibited;
	The moving of computer hardware to another room, building, house or hostel may only be done after asset-control rules have been complied with;
	Computers that are linked to the network may only be moved after the necessary authorisation has been obtained from the department of IT Central;
	The removal or exchange of computer components without the authorisation of the management head concerned is prohibited;
	Network equipment or cabling may only be changed and/or extended by the department of IT Central;
	The use of network protocols (e.g. Netbios) other than IPX (Netware) and IP (TCP/IP) on the University’s data network is prohibited;
	Peer to Peer network facilities such as those available under Windows 2000 and Windows XP may not be used;
	As general rule the computer laboratories must always be kept neat and smoking, eating and drinking are prohibited in the laboratories;
	The operation and/or use of any radio network, within license-exempt frequency bands, on the premises of the University without the permission of the Director IT Central, irrespective of whether said network is connected to the data networks of the University.

It is prohibited to breach the security of any network or information systems intentionally, or to attempt to breach it. This implies that the following, among other things are prohibited:

Access or attempts to gain unauthorised access to the following:

	servers on which a user is not registered, except in the case of servers containing generally accessible information services (such as bulletin boards, campus-wide information systems, anonymous ftp, etc.);
	writing areas, except on his/her own computer, not assigned to the user or to which IT Central did not authorise access;
	the username of another user. (Personnel members and postgraduate students must obtain written authorisation from the management head concerned to make use of another person’s username. Undergraduate students may under no circumstances sign on by making use of another person’s username.)

Attempts to obtain the passwords of other users, as well as the development or possession of software with which passwords can be obtained or estimated;

Attempts to change passwords by using another person’s identity card;

Possession of software by means of which encrypted documents can be decoded without a password;

Interception or unauthorised monitoring of traffic on any network (including telephone and radio networks), and the unauthorised possession of software or apparatus designed to intercept or monitor network traffic.

The intentional or negligent provision of information that compromises the security of the computer and network facilities is prohibited. This implies that the following, among other things, are prohibited:

	Provision of usernames to colleagues, friends or family without the written authorisation of the management head concerned;
	Provision or documenting of passwords without the written authorisation of the management head concerned

Intentional or negligent provision of confidential information by means of the computer and network facilities is prohibited. This implies, among other things, that:

	Users who have access to sensitive information, such as salary, financial or marks information, must take care that unauthorised access to such information is prevented;
	Sensitive information should be treated confidentially and should not be made known to third parties without the authorisation of the management head concerned;
	Copying sensitive information from any system of the University without the authorisation of the management head concerned is prohibited.

Violation of copyright or plagiarism by means of or with regard to the computer or network facilities is prohibited. This implies, among other things, that the following are prohibited:

	The use or possession of unlicensed software;
	The provision of software without the authorisation of the copyright holder.

The user also undertakes to reimburse the University for any damage that may be sustained and costs or fines the University may have to pay as a result of the user’s violation of any of the rules.

Deviation from any of the stated rules may only occur with the written authorisation of the Director of the department of IT Central. These rules are subject to change with the approval of the Management Committee and with proper notice to users.