Northern Illinois University Acceptable Use Policy

Northern Illinois University information technology resources, including the electronic communications network (NIUnet) on the NIU campus and off-campus education and research centers and the computers attached to this network, are for the use of persons affiliated with Northern Illinois University, including faculty, staff, emeritus personnel and students in good standing. Information technology resources are provided by the university to further the university's mission of research, instruction and public service. Use of these resources should be consistent with this mission and this policy.

Acceptable use of NIU information technology resources is based on common sense, common decency, and civility applied to the networked computing environment. All authorized users have the right to expect reasonable privacy with regard to all computer files and e-mail. The University may access university-owned or networked computers for maintenance and upgrades or when based upon established procedures for reasonably suspected abuse of this policy. Users are entitled to notification of such access and, whenever possible, notification should precede access. If users believe their reasonable rights to computer privacy have been violated, they may follow usual grievance procedures.

Unacceptable uses include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Using the resources for any purpose which violates federal or state laws.
• Using the resources for commercial, sales and advertising purposes without university approval.
• Using excessive data storage or network bandwidth in such activities as propagating of "chain letters" or "broadcasting" inappropriate messages to lists or individuals or generally transferring unusually large or numerous files or messages.
• Sending or storing for retrieval patently harassing, intimidating, or abusive material.
• Misrepresenting your identity or affiliation in the use of information technology resources.
• Use of the employment title or GroupWise signature in private communications. The public may potentially be misled by any individual's unauthorized use of an NIU employment title representing their status or position in private communications.
• Using someone else's identity and password for access to information technology resources or using the network to make unauthorized entry to other computational, information or communications devices or resources.
• Attempting to evade, disable or "crack" password or other security provisions of systems on the network.
• Reproducing and/or distributing copyrighted materials without appropriate authorization.
• Copying or modifying files belonging to others or to the university without authorization including altering data, introducing or propagating viruses or worms, or simply damaging files.
• Interfering with or disrupting another information technology user's work as well as the proper function of information processing and network services or equipment.
• Intercepting or altering network packets.

These principles and guidelines are extended to networks and information technology resources outside the university accessed through NIUnet via the Internet. Networks or information technology resource providers outside the university may, in turn, impose additional conditions of appropriate use which the user is responsible to observe when using those resources.

Access to the information technology environment at Northern Illinois University is a privilege and must be treated as such by all users of these systems. Like any other campus facility, abuse of these privileges can be a matter of legal action or official campus disciplinary procedures. Depending on the seriousness of an offense, violation of the policy can result in penalties ranging from reprimand (i.e., don't do this any more), to loss of access, to referral to university authorities for disciplinary or legal action. In a case where unacceptable use severely impacts performance or security, in order to sustain reasonable performance and secure services for the rest of the user community, Information Technology Services will immediately suspend an individual's access privileges.

Policy reviewed: 11/15/2010