Computing Policies

The Suffolk University community is encouraged to make innovative and creative use of information and technology in support of the University’s mission of education, research, and public service. E-mail, computing facilities, printers, or any other technology resources must be used efficiently, lawfully, and in accordance with University policies. Acceptable use of technology and information includes uses related to research, learning, teaching, enrichment, and dissemination of scholarly information.

Guidelines for Use

  1. The computer facilities and information resources are for the use of authorized persons only. Faculty, employees, and students are responsible for maintaining password security and the security of the computer system they use. Faculty and employees must not allow anyone to use their passwords to gain access to the computer facilities, including e-mail.

  2. Computer and information resources are meant solely for legitimate purposes relating to education, coursework, teaching, research and administration of the University. Among the uses that are inappropriate are:

    1. Causing intentional damage to any component of the computing and information resource facilities. 
    2. Tampering with or adversely affecting University technology resources, such as bandwidth, security, or performance.
    3. Unauthorized access, alteration, copying or deletion of system accounts, passwords, directories, files or programs belonging to any other user.
    4. Unauthorized dissemination of confidential records obtained through computer and information resources.
    5. Sending foul, inappropriate or threatening messages such as those including offensive racial or sexual content.
    6. Using the facilities to harass or intimidate individuals or interfere with their normal use of the system.
    7. Playing practical jokes, sending chain letters or “fake” e-mail, “spamming” (sending hundreds of copies of the same message), introducing computer viruses or otherwise deliberately breaching system security.
    8. Soliciting for unauthorized outside business ventures or political or religious causes.
    9. Creating personal copies of licensed, proprietary software or running illegally copied software. (See University Policy on Copyright)
  1. Any faculty member, employee, or student worker who has access to confidential information must access only the information that they have a legitimate administrative or academic need to use, modify or otherwise view. The confidentiality of all such information must be maintained.

  2. The University ITS Department has more specific guidelines for use of specialized resources provided by the University. Faculty, employees, and students must familiarize themselves with those guidelines and abide by them.

Confidentiality of Computer Files

The University cannot guarantee the privacy or security of users’ computer files, including email messages or the anonymity of any user. To help safeguard security users are required to change passwords every 120 days. While the University does not monitor email, staff of Information Technology Services may be required to enter users’ files, if necessary, to correct system problems or to address other improper system use.

Supervisory Responsibility

Supervisors are responsible for assuring that all faculty, staff, and student employees in their area of authority have the appropriate training for and orientation to responsible computer use.

Guidelines for Creating Suffolk University Websites, Web Pages, and Web Facilities

Suffolk University websites, web pages, and web facilities are global representations of the University’s image and will maintain graphic standards developed by Suffolk University to establish and maintain a consistent public image and to reinforce the mission and identity of Suffolk University. A Suffolk University website is defined as a set of websites, web pages, and web facilities, both internal and external, that represents any school, department, administrative or organizational unit, faculty member, institute, alumni office, or student organization of Suffolk University.

Commercial advertising is prohibited on University websites, web pages, and web facilities. This includes ads for businesses or services owned and/or operated by a University employee. Only community advertising may appear on University websites, web pages, and web facilities. A discounted product or service offered to University students or employees through student services or human resources is an example of community advertising. Alumni relations and fundraising activity including gifts, grants, and corporate sponsorships on any Suffolk University websites, web pages, and web facilities must comply with existing University policies. Any such pages must be reviewed and approved by the Division of Advancement.

Suffolk University is committed to providing access to web-based information in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, amended.

Suffolk University’s Websites, Web Pages, and Web Facilities Will Not Be Used for the

  • creation or transmission (other than for research or teaching purposes) of any offensive, obscene, or indecent images or material;
  • creation or transmission of any material likely to cause annoyance, inconvenience, or needless anxiety;
  • creation or transmission of defamatory material;
  • storage or transmission of material that infringes on copyright/intellectual property rights, laws, and policies; and
  • purposes unrelated to the staff member’s employment or to the research, educational, community service, or administrative purposes of the University.

All written policies, including the University web policy, must be observed in authoring any University affiliated website, web page or web facility.

Violations of This Policy

ITS will notify the faculty member, employee, or student, or if deemed necessary, the appropriate Dean or the Director of Human Resources, of any inappropriate activity. It is expected that the inappropriate activity will cease at this warning. If inappropriate use persists, ITS will suspend the user’s computing privileges. Privileges will remain suspended until a thorough review of the incident has been completed and a decision has been made about the imposition of sanctions, if any. Note: If ITS determines that the inappropriate activity is a serious harm to the system, user computing privileges will be suspended immediately without warning.

Depending upon the severity of the incident sanctions might include warning, temporary or permanent suspension of computer privileges, suspension or termination. Persons who engage in activities that violate state and federal law will be referred to the proper law enforcement authorities.

Network Connection Policy for Students

The University provide both wireless and wired network connectivity to Students across campus in the classrooms, libraries, cafeterias and lobbies which allow access to University resources such as email, classwork and internet access. The Symantec Antivirus program is available free of charge to all registered students and can be downloaded from the University Student portal. Students must keep their systems up-to-date with the latest security updates and current anti-virus definitions.

If your computing device causes suspicious traffic over the network, it will be suspended from the network until it is checked by ITS Technical Support.

Computer Lab Policy

Equipment in the lab consists of both Windows Desktop and Apple iMAC Computers. Students must log in using their Suffolk email username and password. All work must be saved externally to a USB key drive or disk. In the event the computer reboots or becomes unresponsive, any unsaved work will be lost. ITS is not responsible for any damage or loss of data resulting from the use of the lab computers.

PaperCut

To reduce Suffolk's carbon footprint and paper consumption, Suffolk University uses PaperCut. This provides students a print allotment through their Suffolk RAM card.