IT Policies

The Chemistry IT Group and The Chemistry IT Policy Oversight Committee participates with other areas of the University to develop, implement and maintain IT policies and standards. The IT Policy Oversight Committee (ITPOC) reviews draft policies, refines and finalizes their wording, and shepherds proposed policies through required approval processes leading to adoption as official departmental policy.  If there is contradiction between departmental policy, and university policies, ECoS policies, then ECoS, university are to be considered authoritative.

Desktop standards and guidelines are addressed by the Departmental IT Group, ECoS and the ITPOC.  Through close partnerships with the ECoS Director, the University, the Department IT Group and the ITPOC, recommendations are developed, refined and implemented.  Online published websites from the Department and the University IT Support Services informs the community of the standards and support levels.

Policies & Standards

• The Pennsylvania State University

•      Policies, Guidelines, Laws
  

• ECoS IT Policies

• Chemistry IT Policies

• User Responsibility Policy
  
• Responsible and Acceptable Use Policy
• Network Access Use Policy
• Email Policy
• Wireless Policy
• Security Incident Repsonse Policy
• Life cycle (IP, firewall rules, Accounts)
• Registration of Assets Policy
• Firewall Rule Request Policy (what services we allow and don't allow)
• Forms
• Webhosting Policies
  
• Chemistry IT Policy & Oversight Committee Members

User Responsibilty

It is important to ensure users make effective use of systems and technology, and that the department staff, researchers contain the costs associated with providing desktop support.  Knowing how to use technology appropriately should be regarded as part of the professional responsibilities of faculty, staff and students. The list of user responsibilities should include: 

• To use standard hardware and software wherever possible
• To communicate with other users in standard formats
• To acquire training in the use of their system (as necessary to do their jobs) by attending training classes, keeping available and reading instructions, manuals, etc.
• To follow standard operating procedures for backups, software installation, troubleshooting
• To perform routine backups of important data and files
• To be able to understand and perform basic computer tasks such as copying files, installing some software, etc.
• To use their systems responsibly and ethically as University assets to do their jobs.
• To comply with all ECOS IT policies and University IT policies listed on Guru.
  

Wireless Service Provided

The Department of Chemistry provides access to the following University wireless networks:

• PSU wireless 2.0 instructions
  
• pennstate wireless 1.0 instructions
  
• AT&T - Guest wireless instructions
  

Policies

• Personally owned and purchased network equipment is not authorized to use the wired network.
• Personally owned and purchased network equipment by non PSU affiliates, guests or visitors -not employed- by the University are allowed to use the ATT wireless network.  Daily use access cards can be purchased at the Penn State Computer Store using personal funds.
• Personally owned and/or purchased network equipment by University students, employees and staff are allowed to use the "pennstate" or "PSU wireless 2.0" wireless network.  
• Any user of Penn State Wireless resources must abide by all University computing and network policies and standards.
  

The Eberly College of Science provides IMAP email service for The Department of Chemistry Faculty and Staff upon request and authorization.  Student, grad students and post-docs will use the ITS/PSU email service.

Currently, user disk space and directory quotas are not set. However, upon evaluation, the College of Science reserves the right to set and maintain disk space quotas at a future date.

Appropriate use of email and professionalism.

University Policy on Email retention

University Policy on Email compliance

Reporting Email Problems:

• General Chemistry: help@chem.psu.edu
  
• Security: security@psu.edu
  
• Abuse: abuse@security.psu.edu
• virus: virus@security.psu.edu
• spam:  spam@chem.psu.edu
  

Other email or HR policies regarding email

ECoS Acceptable Use policies

As a part of the institutional infrastructure, The Department of Chemsitry acquires, develops, and maintains computers, computer systems, and networks. These computing resources are intended for University-related purposes, including direct and indirect support of the University's instruction, research, and service missions; of University administrative functions; of student and campus life activities; and of the exchange of ideas among members of the University community and between the University community and the wider local, national, and world communities.

The use of University computing resources, like the use of any other University-provided resource and like any other University-related activity, is subject to the normal requirements of legal and ethical behavior within the University community. Thus, permitted use of a computer, computer system, or network does not extend to whatever is technically possible. Although some limitations are built into computer operating systems and networks, those limitations are not the sole restrictions on what is permissible. Users must abide by all applicable restrictions, whether or not they are built into the operating system or network and whether or not they can be circumvented by technical means.

ECOS Acceptable Use Policy

Policy on the Use of Chemistry Department Computing Resources

• Users must comply with all federal, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and other applicable law; as well as all generally applicable ECOS and University rules and policies.
• Users are responsible for complying with the requirements of the contracts and licenses applicable to the software files and other data they install on University or personal systems.
• Users may utilize only those computing resources that they are authorized to use and use them only in the manner and to the extent authorized.
• Users must respect the finite capacity of resources and limit use so as not to consume an unreasonable amount of those resources or to interfere unreasonably with the activity of other users. The Department reserves the right to require users of those resources to limit or refrain from specific uses in accordance with this principle. The reasonableness of any particular use will be judged in the context of all the relevant circumstances.
• If you choose to Self manage or administer your own hosts, you must have an assigned administrator from your group and it is that administrator and owners responsibility to comply with University, ECOS and departmental computer, security & networking policies, including re-mediation in the event of a compromise in addition to the University required steps in the event of Privacy Information exposure.
• Self administered and managed systems must be kept current on all system patches, updates, and addressing all security incidents and is a requirement of network and internet access.
• Support for service request for Penn State purchased equipment only.  Personally purchased equipment including desktops, laptops and smart phones is not supported by policy.
• Computing and network resources and services may be used only by authorized persons for Department, University -related purposes, including those listed in the General Statement above.

 **We would also like to recognize and thank Steven J. McDonald and The Ohio State University, on whose work the Tufts material was based in part.

University Policy prohibits the use of email for the following:

• spam
• propagation or continuation of chain letters
• propagation of hate mail, illegal activities or harassment.
  

Inappropriate Use of Email:

• Sending very large files
  
• To use a University mail server as a file storage server.
• To use University mail servers for bullying or harassment
• To promote non Penn State organizations with out University approval or sales of For-Profit non-Penn State products and services.

2010-2011 Chemistry IT Policy Committe Members:

**We would also like to recognize and thank Steven J. McDonald and The Ohio State University, on whose work the Tufts material was based in part.