Responsible Use Policy

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.