Department Policies
IMPORTANT: All Users of CIS Systems Must Follow These Policies
Background
As a Catholic, Benedictine liberal arts college we look to the moral teachings
of the Catholic church, to our Benedictine tradition, and to professional
codes of ethics in formulating our policies. Scripture tells us to "do
onto others as you would have them do onto you." We recall the Decalogue
(ten commandments) of the Old Testament and Jesus's command in the New
Testament that we are to "love one another as I have loved you." St.
Benedict teaches in his rule that monks are to receive guests as Christ
himself. In a way we are all guests of each other in this world of the
Internet. St. Benedict's emphasis on hospitality to others can be a guide
for us in this modern world of computers. Several professional societies
also assist with their codes of ethics. In particular, students are
advised to read the code of ethics and similar materials promoted by the
Association for Computing Machinery.
General
The Computing & Information Science Department provides various computer
facilities, including a lab of PCs and a few servers,
for the purpose of supporting its classes. These facilities
are not to be used in a way contrary to this primary purpose. The policies
below give many specifics on what is and is not acceptable, though the list
is not intended to be exhaustive. There are also other
areas where sensible policies are needed for the proper functioning of the
department. These policies, too, are given below. These policies may
be revised from time to time. It is the responsibility of all CIS
students to keep abreast of current policies, both departmental and
colllege-wide, and to follow them. This includes following the policies
of the Information Services department about proper network use as well
as the policies in the Student Handbook concerning use of computer
facilities. It is expected that students will comply with all
relevant local, state, and federal laws. In general,
attempts to carry out activities that are violations of
the policies on this page are also considered to be violations. (Just as it is wrong
for someone to attempt to harm another physically, even if the attempt fails,
it is also wrong to attempt to cause harm to computer systems or to the
users of those systems, even if the attempt fails.)
Use of Department Computer Facilities
- It is the responsibility of each user of these facilities to do so
in a manner that promotes the good of all of the users.
- Attempts to do any of the following: to bypass computer security measures,
to change software configurations, to delete needed files, to add software without
permission, to disrupt normal computer operations,
to run a packet sniffer on the campus network, and other
similar activities or attempted activities are prohibited.
- Never allow someone else to see or use your password.
- Do not make a change to a computer that would interfere with
the work of another class or student.
- Using computer systems to harass others (e.g. via email or instant messaging) is
unacceptable behavior.
- Departmental computer systems are not intended for recreational
use. If the lab is not busy, no one will care if you play one of
the games that comes with the computer or browse the Internet.
However, do not bring in other games, MUDs,
etc. These items can use significant system resources and interfere
with the proper work environment of the lab. Also be careful not
to needlessly download or email huge files,
as this can place a significant burden on the network.
- Also beware of the possible presence of worms, viruses, and other malicious software in
files that you download. Be especially careful with files downloaded via instant messaging
as the current antivirus does not check these files as they are downloaded. You can, however,
manually run McAfee VirusScan to scan the drive containing the downloaded files.
- The system administrator(s) may remove student files should the
need arise (e.g. due to lack of space). Normally the student will
be consulted first, but in some cases this may not be possible
or sensible (e.g. because of a need to quickly free up disk space).
- Students are normally expected to use the CIS lab during the
regular posted hours. Exceptions will be made for good reasons, but
usually require that you ask permission. (Your professor may allow you
to stay in the lab after class, even if the lab is not open, as long
as you take the responsibility to see that the lab door is locked
when you leave. Sometimes requests cannot be handled because
other plans have already been made for the requested time. See the
web page CIS Lab Use Outside of Normal Hours
for further details and for a form to request to use
the lab outside of normal hours. The main reason to normally require
a request is that other groups, activities, or lab maintenance may
have already been scheduled for the time when you want to use the lab.
- Using department facilities to view or download pornography is
prohibited and clearly interferes with a positive work environment.
It also opens up the possibility of harassment lawsuits.
- In general, attempts to carry out actions prohibited by these
policies are also violations of these policies. Attempted violations
may also result in disciplinary action.
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Web Pages
- Student web pages on our servers are currently only allowed for
CIS majors and students in CS classes.
- These web pages are intended to teach students how to create web pages,
interactive scripts, etc., and not primarily to allow students to
express personal views. Some self-expression is to be expected, but
this is not the place for inaccurate, extreme, illegal, or offensive material.
- In particular, material that is offensive to others is
not permitted. What is offensive is governed particularly
by the Catholic, Benedictine nature of the college, with individual
cases decided by the department chairperson.
Offensive material includes (but is not limited to) pornography,
hate material, and other material that is harasssing to others.
- All statements on student web pages are expected to be accurate.
- Each student web page must contain the first and last name of the
student, clearly identified as the person responsible for the page.
In addition, the date of the last update should be included, along
with a link to the department's standard
disclaimer at the bottom of the student's main web page.
This information only needs to be on the main web page,
as long as the main web page is easily reachable from the other pages.
Student web pages that lack the disclaimer link will be disabled.
- Commercial activities are not permitted on web pages and our Microsoft
compilers and software cannot be used for commercial activity.
- It is the responsibility of each student who has a web page to
insure that all proper permissions for use of others' work
have been obtained from the authors of graphics, sound clips,
and other files that are incorporated into the
student web page. Note that photos and graphics files are typically
covered by copyright law. Photos and personal information about
others are not to be included without the written consent of the
individuals. If a student cannot produce written consent for such
an item when asked, then that item must be removed or the web page will be disabled.
Each student web page must include credits information
for each non-public domain image, sound clip, etc. that is used.
This credit information can be on the main page or on a
separate page accessible via a well-marked link and should include
the author of the file (perhaps as the web address of the person or
company that supplied it) and any statement that the author requests
(such as "used with the permission of...").
- Students are not allowed to host web pages for other people, though
some brief material on one's own page about friends is fine.
- Web pages for CS101 students will be removed at the end of the semester.
- Web pages for non-CS 101 students will be allowed to remain
as long as the individual student continues to comply with these policies
and disk space permits.
- CGI scripts or similar that contain security problems will
be disabled until the student corrects those problems.
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Software
- Students are not permitted to have (or use) malware (malicious software)
on CIS department computers or servers. This includes, but is not limited to,
viruses, virus-writing tools, port mappers, vulnerability scanners, keystoke
loggers, packet sniffers, backdoors, etc. Although there is a place for the legitimate study
of malware, it should be done in a controlled setting (such as on an
isolated PC or a network segment that has been set up for such testing and is
not attached to any other network). Any use of such software on computer systems
and networks run by the CIS department, Information Services, companies, etc.
requires the express permission of those who run the servers and networks involved.
To use such software without permission is to risk the termination of your computer
accounts and (for serious cases) disciplinary action by the college or law enforcement.
(If you are interested in computer security, take our course on the topic!)
- Software needed for coursework is provided in the CIS lab. The department
normally expects students to use the CIS lab to do their coursework and to
see the CIS tutors when assistance is needed. Using your own computer is fine at times
as long as you make sure to test that what you produce works on the CIS computers and
that you go to the lab and see the tutors when you need some help.
- In general, the department does not provide software for students' own computers,
but may be able to recommend sources if such software is needed. Also, the
MSDNAA program now allows the department to provide certain Microsoft development
tools such as Visual Studio. Microsoft requires
students to agree to their policies governing this. Refer to the
MSDN Academic Alliance Software web page for details
on obtaining software under this program.
- It is illegal and unethical to make unauthorized copies
of the lab software. (Only shareware and freeware can be freely copied,
and shareware requires a license fee for continued use.)
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Department-Wide Course Policies
- To be excused from class a student must normally provide the instructor
with a written excuse. Acceptable written excuses include those
provided by the college health center, a doctor's office, a sports coach,
and the dean of students office. Those on a sports team are expected
to provide the instructor in advance with a schedule showing what classes may have to be missed.
- No quizzes, homework, or other non-exam type of work can normally be completed or turned in
after the last day of classes for the semester. Also, no quizzes, homework,
or other non-exam type of work can be completed or turned in
more than 3 weeks after the due date. Exceptions are only
given for serious reasons and require the approval of both the instructor
and the department chairperson. This policy is to ensure that work is
turned in in time to be graded and that students have time to prepare for final exams.
- No exams (other than the final exam) can be given after the last
day of classes. No makeup exams can be given more than 3 weeks after the
date of the original exam. Exceptions are only given for serious
reasons and require the approval of both the instructor and
the department chairperson. (This policy does not apply to incomplete
or in progress grades. In these cases work is expected to be completed
after the semester is over.)
- Individual instructors are free to add additional requirements
for their course policies. The above is simply the minimum that is expected.
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Classroom Behavior
- In keeping with the ideal of treating one another as guests, all
should behave in a courteous and professional manner in class.
- When the instructor is teaching a class in the CIS lab, no one in the
class should be using the computers for activities that are not
class-related. For example, no one should be doing web browsing or
Internet chat while the instructor is lecturing, while a demo is being
shown, while other students are asking questions or presenting a report, etc.
- When in a class that is using the CIS lab for purely hands-on computer
work, students should not use the computers for activities that are not
class-related until they have finished their lab work. (Even when
you are finished be sensitive as to whether your non-class activities
might distract other students who are not yet finished.)
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Privacy
- Accessing files (email, homework, etc.) belonging to others is not acceptable.
- Any computer activity on department facilities may be monitored
(and with no prior notice beyond that given here). Although you are not being
constantly watched, do not do anything that you would not want a system administrator to see!
Suspicious activity is logged and checked.
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Academic Honesty
- On individual student assignments it is expected that only this one
individual contributed to the results, unless permission to do
otherwise is given by the instructor. (A small amount of assistance
from the departmental tutors, for example, is normally fine.)
- Similarly, on group assignments it is expected that only those in
the group contributed to the results, unless permission to do
otherwise is given by the instructor.
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Consequences of Policy Violations
- The consequences of violating these policies will depend on the
nature and seriousness of the offense. In general, attempts to
harm or disrupt computer systems (such as trying to delete essential
files, trying to remove user accounts, trying to shut down or crash
a server, trying to gain unauthorized access) are viewed as the
more serious of the problem areas listed in this document.
- Consequences could include a simple warning, loss of one's computer account(s), removal
of one's web pages, inability to obtain good job or graduate
school recommendations, disciplinary action by the college
administration, and even legal action (for serious cases).
In particular, the department may remove or disable
any web pages that the chairperson finds to be in violation
of the above policies, the system administrator(s) of the server
may terminate any user processes that are causing problems, and
the accounts of any users causing problems can be disabled
at the decision of the chairperson.
- The department will handle smaller violations, with the chairperson
deciding these cases. Although the student will normally be informed
of the problem, there are cases where this is not possible or sensible,
or perhaps can only be done after corrective action is taken in order
to prevent a larger problem.
- Serious violations will be referred to the college administration and/or law enforcement.
- Refer to the Student Handbook for college-wide policy regarding
the abuse of computer systems.
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