UIS IT Policies
Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources
The primary purpose of information technology resources at the University of Illinois in Springfield is to enhance and support the educational mission of the University. Access to the University's technology resources is a privilege granted to University students, faculty, staff, and approved guests. These resources include hardware, software, computer accounts, local area networks as well as connections to other computer networks via the Internet. Everyone using these resources is responsible for using them in an appropriate, ethical and lawful manner.
All users must refrain from the following activities:
- Using computing resources to violate any university policy or regulation, or federal, state or local law.
- Using university computing resources for personal gain or personal commercial purposes.
- Entering, without authorization, into any account to use, read, transfer or change the contents in any way.
- Using computing facilities to send obscene, abusive, threatening, defamatory, or harassing messages.
- Using the resources for activities not directly related to academic or research endeavors in such a way that it causes disruption to other users.
- Installing or using unauthorized copyrighted materials or licensed software.
- Using computing resources to interfere with the normal operation of university computing systems and connected networks including, but not limited to, introducing viruses, flooding the network with messages, sending chain letters, or unfairly monopolizing resources that results in the exclusion of others.
Sharing or downloading copyrighted material without permission is illegal and as such is against university policy. If you share copyrighted files without the permission of the copyright holder, you are breaking the law and may face civil and/or criminal prosecution, in addition to university discipline.
Intentional failure to comply with this policy may result in action that may include suspension of user privileges or other disciplinary action.
Guidelines for Using Computer Labs
The primary purpose of computer lab resources is for academic research, study, and doing class assignments. Lab users have a right to expect a quiet, clean, academic lab environment. These guidelines are intended to clarify the responsibilities of lab users towards this end.
- All activities must adhere to the guidelines for "Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources".
- Use of the lab is restricted to the current students, faculty, and staff. Lab Attendants have the right to request to see a University ID.
- No food, drinks, pets, or bicycles are permitted in the labs.
- Children are not permitted in the labs without the supervision of their parents.
- Loud conversations are not permitted in the labs, as it is a disturbance to other users. This also includes listening to music with the earphone volume turned too high. Students engaged in loud, disruptive conversations in the labs would be asked to leave.
- Users are responsible for saving their documents on their own removable media or network volume. Downloading or installing programs on the hard drives is strictly prohibited.
- When all workstations are in use and students are waiting to use a computer, the lab monitor will ask those using computers for recreation [games, web browsing not related to class/instruction, etc.] to relinquish their seats to those needing to do their academic work.
- While you have the freedom to view varying types of materials, please remember that others in the lab may, and can, see what you are looking at. We are not trying to dictate what material you may view, only asking that you have respect for other people’s feelings while doing so.
- Use of lab equipment to view or download materials may require the user to demonstrate his/her educational or research purpose for such use. Lab attendants are authorized to make this inquiry upon a complaint from another user in the lab. Lab attendants may ask a user viewing such materials to move to another workstation in an inconspicuous area of the lab.
Intentional failure to comply with these guidelines will result in action that may include suspension of user privileges.
Policy for Acceptable Use of Network Resources for Residential Students
Access to the UIS campus network is a privilege granted to residents and their guests who agree to comply with the provisions of this policy. Everyone using the campus network is responsible for using it in an appropriate, ethical and lawful manner.
All users must comply with the following:
- All residents and guests must comply with the UIS Policy for Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources.
- Each Windows compatible computer that is connected to the campus network must be a member of the UISAD computer domain. Computers with operating systems that are not Windows compatible must join the UISHousing workgroup.
- Each computer must be appropriately named with the Network ID (NetID) of the primary user. In the event a student has more than one computer, a single digit sequence number will be appended to the NetID to uniquely identify each computer.
- Each computer must have installed on it and use the latest version of McAfee anti-virus software supplied by UIS Information Technology Services.
- No user-supplied network equipment may be connected to the campus network. This includes network hubs, network switches, and other similar equipment. Wireless switches and routers of any kind are not permitted, even if not connected to the campus network.
- No attempt on the part of the user will be made to interfere or block anti-virus updates, operating system updates, or other activities deemed necessary by Campus Technology Services to maintain and ensure a safe networking and computing environment.
- Connecting game consoles (Xbox, etc.) to the campus network is permitted. If supported by the particular game console, it should be named following the rules for computers given above. The performance of interactive games across the Internet is not guaranteed. At the request of a resident, Information Technology Services will make a reasonable attempt to improve the performance of specific interactive games as long as doing so does not impair network security or integrity in any way.
- Residents are responsible for the actions of their guests and agree to ensure that guests comply with this policy.
Email Distribution Lists
Electronic announcements are distributed to the university community through email distribution lists. A distribution list is a list of email addresses. Emails sent to a distribution list are received by all members of the list. Distribution lists facilitate group communication by eliminating the need to enter individual email addresses when sending an email to a group.
Guidelines
All uses of distribution lists must adhere to the UIS Acceptable Use Policy, as well as other policies related to specific distribution lists (such as lists for departments, colleges, organizations, etc). Individuals who send messages through distribution lists are personally responsible for the message content. Distribution lists may only be used for university related purposes and may not be used for private or personal use. When sending an email to a distribution list, it is helpful to consider the following questions:
- Does this email pertain to all individuals on the list or just a few?
- Is there a more effective method of distributing this information?
- Does using the list conflict with any aspects of the UIS Acceptable Use Policy?
- Is this information directly related to the group receiving it?
Distribution Lists Administrated by ITS
Official Employee Announcements
Official university announcements are sent to the UIS Employee - Official Information DL list. Every UIS employee is a member of this list and receives these official announcements in their email inbox. A copy of each announcement sent to this list is placed in an Outlook Employee Announcements public folder. Only Deans, Directors, and Department Heads (UIS DDDH list), or designees, can mail to this list. Members of the DDDH list can request that an employee from their department be listed as a mailing designee by contacting the UIS Technology Support Center (techsupport@uis.edu).
Official Student Announcements
Official student announcements are sent to the UIS Student – Official Information DL. Every currently enrolled student is a member of this list and receives the official announcements in their email inbox. Only members of the UIS DDDH [Deans, Directors, and Department Heads] distribution list, or designees, can mail to the UIS Student – Official Information DL. Members of the DDDH list can request that an employee from their department be listed as a mailing designee by contacting the UIS Technology Support Center (techsupport@uis.edu).
General Campus Announcements
General announcements pertaining and of interest to all members of the campus community may be sent to the UIS Campus Announcements distribution list. All employees can email to this list and receive emails sent to the list. Copies of emails sent to this list are placed in the Outlook Campus Announcements Public Folder. If you do not wish to receive emails on this list, you may request that your name be removed from the list by contacting the UIS Technology Support Center (techsupport@uis.edu). As with all lists, users must adhere to the provisions of the Acceptable Use Policy.
Other Distribution Lists
In addition to the three main distribution lists discussed above there are a number of other important lists that serve large segments of the UIS community. The following is a list of other frequently used general distribution lists and the staff members that manage the list:
- UIS Academic Professionals - Kim Hayden
- UIS Business Managers DL - Mike Bohl
- UIS DDDH - Charlene Lambert
- UIS Emeritus Faculty - Patti Brown
- UIS Faculty - Patti Brown
- UIS Online - Carrie Levin
- UIS Part-Time Faculty - Patti Brown
- UIS Program Secretaries and Staff DL - Patti Brown
- UIS Student Organization Advisors DL - Cynthia Thompson
- UIS Student Organizations DL - Cynthia Thompson
Use of these and all other distribution lists must adhere to the UIS Acceptable Use Policy as well as other guidelines set by the list manager.
Campus departments and organizations can request new distribution lists by contacting the UIS Technology Support Center (techsupport@uis.edu).
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