Computer and Network Usage Policies

General access computers located in part of the library, certain classrooms and other isolated locations are for currently registered students doing campus-related work only. This implies the right of the lab supervisor or staff person to check ID's, maintain a written or computerized log, and prohibit using the system for personal or commercial activities or entertainment (chat rooms, instant messengers, games, etc.). County residents may use the computers in the Library for educational activities with the provision that our current students can request that a computer be released for their use (politely 'bump' a non-student). Computers in the Cyber Café are for non-academic, entertainment use by registered UWS students only.

All students are issued a campus email account and are required to log in to the computers with a username and password. Among the benefits of student logins is secure access to campus e-mail and the ability to save files to a backed up location on our servers. Having you log on also allows us to track computer usage helping us to plan for the future, and allows us to know who may be using our computers in an inappropriate manner. What is inappropriate?

You are NOT allowed to install software on any UWS lab computers. This includes (but is not limited to) copyrighted music (MP3, RM, WAV, etc.), movies (MOV, MPEG, AVI, etc.), file sharing programs and chat programs such as AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, and Yahoo Messenger (chat software is installed in the Cyber Cafe and is allowed in that location only). If you need software installed for a course or other academic purpose, please notify the IT staff. If you install unauthorized programs it can destroy or slow down that computer for other students.

In addition, you are NOT allowed to DOWNLOAD ANYTHING FROM THE INTERNET unless it is for coursework.

It is understood that students will have a need to use the Internet for course work (whether it is e-mail or research) and that it will be used to look for other information as well. HOWEVER, looking at information that could be considered offensive (i.e. pornography, hate material, etc.) to other students is NOT allowed. You are responsible for whatever is showing on your computer screen and could be found liable if someone finds your materials offensive. Internet/email usage will not be monitored, but files stored on the computers will be checked regularly for questionable files.

Violation of the computer access policy could result in a variety of actions, the least of which would be the loss of computing privileges at UWS. Listed below are links to the UW System and UW Colleges policies governing student computer and network use to which you are also bound.

UW POLICIES GOVERNING STUDENT COMPUTER AND NETWORK USE:

University of Wisconsin Colleges Computing and Networking Usage Guidelines
http://cits.uwex.uwc.edu/policies (Click on PDF for Appropriate Use Policy)

UWS 97-2 Policy on use of University Information Technology Resources
http://www.uwsa.edu/bor/policies/rpd/rpd25-3.htm

UWS-18 Conduct on University Lands
http://students.wisc.edu/saja/pdf/NewUWS%2018.pdf

UWS-17 Student Non-Academic Disciplinary Procedures
http://students.wisc.edu/saja/pdf/NewUWS%2017.pdf