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Policy Number: 6.10.1
Contact Officer: Director Information Technology Services
Date Approved by Senate: 2/12/1999
Date for Next Review: 9/10/2006
Overview
1.1 Use of the University of Queensland network (UQNet) to access the Internet and Internet services, including electronic mail and the World Wide Web, is governed by the following Code of Practice. This Code of Practice is intended to encourage responsible action and to reflect a respect for the ability of its adherents to exercise good judgement. Nevertheless, users can expect sanctions if they act irresponsibly and disregard their obligations to other users and the University as the provider of their Internet access. Failure to abide by the Internet Code of Practice may result in suspension of an Internet account or loss of account, disciplinary action and, if necessary, a report to the relevant law enforcement authority.
Description
2 The Policy:
2.1 The Internet Code of Practice is intended to operate within and be consistent with existing University policies and statutes in areas such as:
2.2 The use of the University's network services is subject to the AARNET policy on access and HUPP 1.50.5 Use of University Facilities. Briefly this means that the University's network can be used only by University staff, students and associated individuals (eg visiting fellows honorary research associates) and only for or in connection with the research, educational or administrative functions of the University.
2.3 Heads of Schools or senior officials of the University who have given approval for Internet accounts are responsible in the first instance for handling breaches of the Code in respect of students and staff of the University unless another specific person is designated by University policy. The Director Information Technology Services (ITS) is responsible in the first instance for handling breaches by other than students and staff of the University.
3 Authorised access
3.1 Access to the Internet through the University network is a cost to the University and is not provided unconditionally. The University recognises that the Internet has the ability to enhance research and teaching and learning.
3.2 Academic and general staff may be provided with Internet access for University purposes. Students may be provided with Internet access for academic purposes relating to their course of study and other University purposes.
3.3 Subject to any relevant legislation, policy and guidelines persons other than University staff and students may be provided with Internet access by the University if approved by the Director, Information Technology Services.
3.4 Students and staff of the University are not permitted to gain access to the Internet other than through an authorised account registered in their name and all use of the Internet must be linked to such authorised account. Internet accounts must not be transferred or in any other way made available for the use of a person other than the account holder.
3.5 Responsibility and accountability for network security is the shared responsibility of all network users. It is the responsibility of the network account holder to protect his/her password and not divulge it to another person. If an account holder knows or suspects his/her account has been used by another person, the account holder must notify the Information Technology Services Help Desk immediately.
4 Access to other systems or services
4.1 Internet users must not endeavour to obtain access to any service through the Internet without the explicit permission of the service owners unless there are no restrictions on access or they could not reasonably be expected to know that they do not have appropriate authorisation. Users must not knowingly obtain unauthorised access to information or damage, delete, insert or otherwise alter data without permission. To do so may be a criminal offence.
5 Official representation of the University
5.1 Where the user is representing the views of the University, the communication must identify the individual and his/her position within the University. Where the view expressed is the "official" University view, the authorised source and author of that view should be identified.
6 Expression of Personal views
6.1 The University supports the responsible exchange of intellectual opinion and debate that is fostered by use of the Internet. Users must be aware that their contributions to correspondence and discussion when using the University network and the Internet may, in certain circumstances, be construed to be representative of the University's position.
6.2 A user must not purport to express views on behalf of the University without official authorisation to do so, or give another person reasonable grounds to believe that a personal view represents the official position of the University. In circumstances where readers might reasonably conclude a personal view is representative of the University, the user must clearly state that the opinion expressed is that of the writer, and not necessarily that of the University, or words to that effect. There is no requirement to use a disclaimer in other circumstances.
7 Compliance with law
7.1 Users must not use the University network in breach of a law or to commit an offence. While the Internet may be largely a self-regulated environment, the general principles of law and community standards still apply to communication and publishing via the Internet. In addition to University penalties, there are legal sanctions for improper use of the Internet.
8 Discrimination,Harrassment, Vilification,Bullying and Defamation
8.1 The Internet is a workplace for many of its users and the conventions of workplace behaviour should be observed. Users must not use the University network to discriminate,harass, vilify, bully, abuse or otherwise seek to offend other users.
8.2 Users must not slander or defame any individual or organisation.
9 Illicit material
9.1 Users must not use the University network to access, store or transfer illegal material. In addition, users must not transfer material that is likely to cause offence to potential recipients.
10 Copyright
10.1 Users of the University network must respect the rights of copyright owners whose material is published or otherwise made available through the Internet. Users must not copy material on the Internet or make material available through the Internet in breach of copyright. It should be recognised that it is very difficult to protect copyright on Internet published material. If it is essential that copyright is protected (beyond a reasonable risk) then users should not publish their own or the University's material on the Internet.
11 Publishing
11.1 The normal University standards of attribution apply to scholarly publishing on the Internet. Editorial changes to documents should only be made with express permission.
11.2 Staff/students who publish information relating to and on behalf of the University must obtain permission to do so from the appropriate authority. The authorised source and author of official University information should be identified in published material of that nature. The University logo and livery are the property of the University and may only be used for official University documents.
11.3 The quality standards applied in traditional publishing should also be applied to on-line publishing. Care should be taken to eliminate spelling, grammatical and typographical errors.
11.4 UQ corporate Web pages are defined as information maintained by a UQ organisational unit at departmental level and above. These pages must meet the requirements of Corporate Guidelines for Web Site Development .
11.5 A feature of Internet publishing is the ability to maintain the currency of information. Information published on the Internet should be regularly reviewed for currency and amended as necessary. Users are encouraged to record a currency date for each source document to identify the latest date the source document was amended.
11.6 Users are encouraged to use hypertext links and other Internet features to maximise the value of publishing through this medium. To avoid duplication, every effort should be made to link to the original source of information rather than reproduce information already available on the Internet.
12 Network Sharing
12.1 Users must be mindful that the University network and the Internet are shared limited resources and that they have responsibilities to other users. Very large documents such as video and high resolution images should not be accessed or otherwise transferred over the network unless there is a need to do so. Likewise, creators of home pages and linked documents should seek to avoid placing unnecessarily high demands on network carrying capacity.
13 Electronic mail
13.1 Electronic mail, as one of the Internet services provided through University facilities, is made available to staff and student account holders for University purposes. The same privacy principles applying to physical mail handled through the University's mail system will be applied to electronic mail transferred over the University's network.
13.2 Staff should be aware that electronic mail messages are documents of the University for the purpose of the Freedom of Information Act 1992.
13.3 The broadcast of electronic mail messages to large numbers of University account holders should normally occur only where:
- the message is an official notification of the University relevant to the addressees;
- the recipients are members of a discussion group or other form of voluntary association; or
- the message is for the purposes of maintaining the effective operations of the electronic mail service.
14 Personal home pages
14.1 Students and staff operating personal home pages using University accounts have a special responsibility to ensure they comply with this Code of Practice. Home pages of undergraduate students will be visible only to holders of UQNet accounts. Home pages of staff and postgraduate students must be linked to their related UQ organisational unit and can be accessed by external internet users. An authorised disclaimer will appear before access is given to such pages The administrators of official University home pages have a responsibility to ensure personal home pages linked to the home pages they administer do not lower the image of the University as an institution dedicated to the achievement of excellence within liberal traditions of scholarship and independent thought.
15 Commercial use
15.1 The use of University provided Internet access for commercial purposes, including the carrying of advertising, or commercial logos, is expressly forbidden unless it is for the authorised commercial activities of the University.
16 Further information
16.1 For clarification on any matter in relation to this Code of Practice, please contact your Information Technology Liaison Officer or the Director (ITS), , ph 336 53521, email help@its.uq.edu.au.
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