Information Technology
Computer Ethics
I. A Declaration of Computing Rights, Ethics and Responsibilities
The Catholic University of America provides an extensive array of computer and information resources. Members of the CUA community have access to many computer languages, applications, software packages, library and information resource databases and extensive Internet and networking resources.
Members of the community are encouraged to explore and utilize computer and information resources, share their computer knowledge and expertise with others, facilitate others’ access to computer and information resources, create and freely distribute original software and documentation designed to enable other members of the community to use the resources in all ways related to the university mission, and undertake these activities in a manner consistent with applicable university policies.
To help members of the university community enjoy the greatest possible benefits of the electronic resources available to them, the university establishes the following Declaration of Computing Rights, Ethics and Responsibilities, applicable to all students, faculty and staff. This declaration incorporates all other policies of the Center for Planning and Information Technology (CPIT).
II. Individual Rights
1. You have the right to an account, subject to proper exercise of corresponding responsibilities. The use of electronic resources has become so ubiquitous that it is difficult to imagine most members of the community fulfilling their daily roles without being able to use the system. Thus, computer accounts are available to all CUA students, and to faculty and staff as determined by the cognizant dean or supervisor.
2. You have a right to free and open legitimate access. You should be able to access all local and Internet resources consistent with the mission of the university. You should have the expectation that an adequate computer will be reasonably available for you, so that you may enjoy the benefits of accessing the network. Once again, access to the system is dependent on proper exercise of corresponding responsibilities. You should expect that any special requirements you have will be reasonably accommodated and that you will receive the education you need to freely enjoy this access on a timely basis.
3. You have a right to your own intellectual property, consistent with university intellectual property policies. The words in your e-mail message belong to you. The academic work you do for a course or for your research belongs to you. This right is not affected by the location of the materials. You have a right to expect that others will respect your intellectual property. Faculty, staff and student employees are bound by the intellectual property policies in the applicable personnel handbook.
4. You have a right to privacy. The Center for Planning and Information Technology will not read your e-mail, follow your bookmarks, etc., except in those rare cases in which it is necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the university community and others, as determined by senior university officials.
III. Individual Responsibilities and Ethics
The notion of rights implies the corresponding notion of respecting the rights of others. Each member of the community must behave as if his or her actions are the basis of a community-wide code of ethics. Just as you would not want to receive abusive or harassing mail, you also must not send it. There are shared standards that define abusive, harassing and other terms. We must ask ourselves: “Would a reasonable, ethical person see this message as abusive?” If so, the message should not be sent. It is also important to remember that the recipient of your messages is a real, live person, and not a computer. The following are examples of conduct prohibited by this policy:
1. Attempting to hack, crack or crash the network or the system.
2. Performing activities that inappropriately consume large amounts of CUA computing resources. Excessive uses of computer resources include sending, inappropriate or frivolous messages; running massive, inefficient programs; or printing multiple copies of documents or data.
3. Accessing the accounts of others, or allowing others to use your account.
4. Failing to respect intellectual property. Downloading or making available digitized copies of copyright protected material, failing to properly attribute the author when copying materials and failing to seek copyright permission when necessary.
5. Failing to respect the privacy of others, or using the computer system to access files to which you have no legitimate right of access.
6. Viewing, sending or making available offensive explicit materials, unless such activity is appropriate for academic or work purposes. This includes materials which would tend to create a hostile environment.
7. Using university computer resources for commercial purposes.
Other actions tend to enrich the community, and we are all responsible for performing these actions. If you see someone struggling with a problem, and you know how to solve it, you should help that person. It is also your responsibility to know what resources are available and to share that knowledge, to respect the rights of others in the application of free speech and freedom of information, and to behave ethically in your own applications of free speech and freedom of information. Student use of computing resources is also subject to the Standard of Student Conduct. Faculty and staff use of computing resources is subject to applicable handbooks.
IV. Process for Handling Complaints about Copyright Infringement by Students in the Use of the University's Computer Resources
If the university receives a complaint from a copyright owner or his/her agent that a student is unlawfully making available digitized copies of copyright protected material through use of the university's computer networks the complaint will be forwarded to the student and the student will be asked to remove the copyrighted material. The student will also be asked to read the CUA Computer Ethics Policy, complete an online tutorial on copyright law, and certify to the Center for Planning and Information Technology that these actions have been taken. Failure to honor this request and complete these steps within 72 hours will result in a temporary block being placed on Internet access to the student's Personal Computer. In addition, first time offenders may be referred for disciplinary action under the Code of Student Conduct if the infringement is egregious, and the student's Internet access will be blocked immediately. If the university receives notification of copyright infringement with regard to a student who has already committed an infringement, the student will be referred for disciplinary action under the Code.
V. Process for Handling Complaints about Copyright Infringement by Employees in Use of the University's Computer Resources
Any complaints received about copyright infringement by university employees in the use of university computer resources will be referred to the Office of General Counsel who will work with the cognizant university official to respond to the complaint. Where appropriate, the complaint will be handled in accord with the notice and takedown procedures specified in the Digital Millenium Copyright Act.
VI. Process for Handling Other Complaints about Misuse of Computer Resources by Students
The complaint will be referred to the Director of Academic Technology Services, who may attempt to informally resolve the complaint with the student. If the complaint cannot be resolved informally or is determined to be egregious, the matter may be referred for disciplinary action under the Code.
VII. Process for Handling Other Complaints about Misuse of Computer Resources by Employees
The complaint will be referred to the Director of Academic Technology Services, who will work with the employee to informally resolve the complaint. If the complaint cannot be resolved informally, either the Director of Academic Technology Services or the complainant may refer the matter to the Provost for faculty and instructional staff, or to the Director of Human Resources for all other employees.
VIII. University Guidelines
The university is committed to offering reasonable resources to the community and strives to make these resources adequately available. The university strives to maintain a network secure enough to ensure the integrity of individual and institutional computer files. It treats stored information as confidential, examining the contents only on those occasions where it is necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the university community and society at large, as determined by senior university officials. The university promotes the ethical use of available computer resources and facilitates the education of members of the community in computer usage.
CUA reserves the right to suspend computing rights and remove inappropriate materials from its networks.
Last Revised 26-Jun-09 11:43 AM.
