Computer Lab | IT Help Desk | Tech Center

This is the SUNY Sullivan policy for the acceptable use of computers and networks made available to faculty, staff, students, contractors, consultants, vendors and other eligible community members. The act of accessing your computer account represents your acceptance of this policy. You are expected to abide by its contents.

Computer networks have been established for the enrichment of learning at SUNY Sullivan. In this resource, there exists material which may be considered pornographic, racist, or in other ways offensive. This policy addresses acceptable use of SUNY Sullivan computer resources and the responsibilities of the College to prevent their misuse. The use of SUNY Sullivan computers and networks is a privilege rather than a right. Users of SUNY Sullivan computer resources who violate the following guidelines may lose this privilege.

User Responsibilities

• Computers are to be used only for educational purposes, administrative and other support activities considered consistent with the mission of the College.
• Language in email must conform to acceptable SUNY Sullivan academic standards. The use of language that could reasonably be considered profane, racist, harassing, or otherwise inappropriate is forbidden. Harassment of other users in any way is forbidden.
• Each email account is limited to one megabyte of server space for undelivered email and attached files. Accounts exceeding this limit may lose undelivered email. SUNY Sullivan takes no responsibility for lost email due to violations of this rule.
• Disguising the source of electronic messages or sending anonymous, threatening or harassing email is prohibited.
• Accessing, downloading, or storage of copyrighted software or information for which the college is not licensed is forbidden. Specifically prohibited is the use of programs to download multimedia files such as music recordings and videos. Student recreational viewing of multimedia material not assigned for class work is prohibited.
• Transmission of any material in violation of any United States or New York State regulation is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, copyrighted material, threatening or obscene material or material protected by trade secret.
• Distributing, viewing, storing, or editing any kind of profane images or documents is forbidden.
• Use of SUNY Sullivan computing resources for commercial or profit-making activities is not acceptable, except as specifically approved by the College.
• Computers are expensive and fragile pieces of equipment, and as such extreme care should be taken so as not to damage them. No food or beverages are permitted in the computer labs at anytime.
• System security relies upon the secrecy of users’ passwords. Accounts should not be “shared” for any reason and users should ensure they are logged off before leaving a computer.
• Accessing or attempting to access any computer, network or resource for which the user does not have authorization is strictly prohibited and may lead to immediate and permanent revocation of computer privileges. SUNY Sullivan will not be responsible for any liability of any kind arising from the violation of this rule.
• Deliberate disruption of another user’s work or system is prohibited. This includes unauthorized access to another user’s work and activities that result in the loss of another’s work.
• “Chain letters,” broadcasting messages to lists or individuals, and other types of use that would cause congestion of the networks or otherwise interfere with the work of others are not allowed.
• Users shall not play games, engage in Internet chatting, or use the computer resources for other non-academic activities in the academic computer labs. Individuals utilizing email services and Internet surfing not related to academic activities might be asked to give up their seats in the computer labs when seats are needed.
• Users must exercise good citizenship with regard to realistic consumption of resources by avoiding activities that interfere with the ability of others to use SUNY Sullivan’s computing resources.
• Users employ information from the Internet at their own risk. SUNY Sullivan specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through the Internet services. Any user who violates the terms of this policy will be subject to temporary or permanent revocation of any or all computer privileges at the College’s discretion. The user agrees to hold SUNY Sullivan harmless from any claims and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, relating to violations of this policy. Contractors, consultants and vendors are expected to supervise their employees and take appropriate action for violations. Failure to do so may result in termination of SUNY Sullivan provided computer and network access.

The Network Administrators’ Prerogatives And Responsibilities

• Investigate charges pertaining to violations of this policy and report such charges to the appropriate disciplinary body.
• Grant or revoke user accounts (which allow access to computer network)
• Provide supervision of users using the network.
• Allow use of specific computer applications.
• Monitor which Internet sites are being accessed.
• Inspect user work areas to insure compliance with the Acceptable Use Policy.
• Modify the Acceptable Use Policy, at any time, in conjunction with the Administration and Faculty, publishing any modifications over the Campus Wide Network.

In support of its educational mission, SUNY Sullivan owns and maintains a number of information technology resources. These resources include wired and wireless local area network, access to shared network software and storage space, public computing facilities, support services, on-line Library databases and access to the Internet. Access to these resources is granted to all Sullivan faculty, staff and currently-enrolled students, as well as affiliates, guests and visitors. By sharing and using these resources, users accept full responsibility for their actions and agree that they will use these resources in an ethical manner. Individuals are also subject to federal, state, and local laws governing many interactions that occur on the Internet.

Because we are an academic community, the faculty, students and staff of SUNY Sullivan honor intellectual property, respect the privacy of data, and respect the rights of others. As a carrier of information, SUNY Sullivan does not subject users’ files to constant review. However, the College does make its best effort to educate the community in responsible use and respond when violations are pointed out.

College resources are provided solely for the education and research mission of Sullivan and may not be used for commercial or for-profit purposes. Users who express opinions and positions through the College’s IT resources must make clear that these opinions and positions are those of the individual who posts them, not of the College. College resources should not be used for personal activities not related to appropriate College functions, except in a purely incidental manner. Employees should consult their supervisor or manager to determine reasonableness of personal use. Because the College is the owner of all IT resources granted to users, the College reserves the right to deny use to those who have used them in an irresponsible manner. Offenders may also be subject to disciplinary action through existing structures for faculty, students and staff of the College, as laid out in the relevant College Handbooks.

People who use both on-campus and external network media (including any communication performed on the network for any purpose) must do so responsibly, in a manner that constitutes respectful behavior as laid out in the Faculty, Student and Staff Handbooks. It is unethical not to adhere to this type of behavior, even when communicating with people outside the Sullivan community. For example, no form of harassment, as defined in the Student, Faculty and Staff Handbooks, will be tolerated within any media. In addition, all communications must include the sender’s complete network address, unless the service explicitly invites anonymous communication. If someone requests you stop communicating electronically with him/her, you are required to do so immediately.

Students accessing “social networking services” such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others should carefully read the terms and conditions set forth by such services. Students are solely responsible for the content of their accounts. Neither IT nor SUNY Sullivan assume any responsibility for what students place there. Inappropriate material placed on social networking sites is subject to SUNY Sullivan’s Responsible Use policy, the Student Conduct Process and the College’s Harassment and Grievance Procedures.

People who use personally owned computers and mobile devices on the college network or wifi are responsible for ensuring that their devices are fully updated and protected against viruses, malware and other threats.

Each information technology resource – those existing on campus as well as external ones to which we are connected – has an owner. Attempts, even unsuccessful ones, to use or access any resource without the permission of the owner is a violation of this policy. All accessors must respect conditions of access and use stipulated by the owner. Although individuals are not the owners of accounts assigned to them (the College is the owner), they are the owners of the files they create, and have rights to privacy and responsibilities to control access by others – you must respect others’ rights when you communicate with them over networks.

Accounts and passwords must not be shared with anyone including family members, friends, and other members of the SUNY Sullivan community. You will never be asked for your password by SUNY Sullivan Information Technology staff and you should be suspicious of anyone that requests it.

Anything less than adherence to the letter and spirit of copyright laws and regulations is unethical and possibly illegal. Users must abide by license agreements controlling copying and use of software and data.

Violations of this policy should be reported to the Director of Institutional Computing. Individuals found to be in violation of any portion of this Responsible Use Policy will face disciplinary action including, but not limited to, the restriction and possible loss of network and other information technology resource privileges.

This policy was adopted by the SUNY Sullivan Board of Trustees on October 20, 2016.