Learning resources agreement

Section 1 - Acceptable Use of JANET (Joint Academic Network)

Section 2 - Use of the College's Local Area Network (LAN) and Learning Resource Centres

Section 3 - Use of IT facilities

Section 4 - Behaviour

Disclaimer

Acceptable Use of JANET (Joint Academic Network)

This network covers the external link between Newman University College and the rest of the world and is a service provided by UKERNA. "JANET" is the name given to the collection of networking services and facilities which support the communication requirements of the UK education and research community.

JANET may not be used for any of the following:

• the creation or transmission (other than for properly supervised and lawful research purposes) of any offensive, obscene or indecent images, data or other material, or any data capable of being resolved into obscene or indecent images or material
• the creation or transmission of material which is designed or likely to cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety
• the creation or transmission of defamatory material
• the transmission of material such that this infringes the copyright of another person
• the transmission of unsolicited commercial or advertising material either to other User Organisations, or to organisations connected to other networks
• deliberate unauthorised access to facilities or services accessible via JANET
• deliberate activities which waste staff effort or networked resources, including time on end systems accessible via JANET and the effort of staff involved in the support of those systems
• corrupting or destroying other users' data
• violating the privacy of other users
• disrupting the work of other users
• using JANET in a way that denies service to other user (for example, deliberate or reckless overloading of access links or of switching equipment)
• continuing to use an item of networking software or hardware after UKERNA has requested that use cease because it is causing disruption to the correct functioning of JANET
• other misuse of JANET or networked resources, such as the introduction of "viruses".

Where JANET is being used to access another network, any abuse of the acceptable use policy of that network will be regarded as unacceptable use of JANET.

Use of the Newman Local Area Network (LAN) and Learning Resource Centres

Use of Newman University College IT facilities is subject to the provisions of the following acts:

• Data Protection Act 1984 and subsequent regulations
• Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and subsequent regulations
• Computer Misuse Act 1990 and subsequent regulations

Users should note that if they are using Newman IT equipment to store any information on living individuals, it is their personal responsibility to comply with the provisions of the 1984 Data Protection Act.

Use of any IT facility is open only to those staff and enrolled students of the Institution and any other persons, authorised by the Head of IT Services. Each authorisation is made on the understanding that the IT facilities will be used for Newman University College work only, and that the authorisation is not transferable to another person.

IT facilities will have access times posted in a prominent position. Students may not be present at or within any IT facility outside of permitted hours of access.

Full membership of the Learning and Student Support Centre is available to all students and staff of Newman University College. External membership, with limited borrowing rights, is available for former students and staff of Newman, and for students and staff through recognised reciprocal borrowing schemes. Where applicable, an annual fee will be charged. LRC members are responsible for ensuring that their membership and registration details are correct and up to date. A fee will be charged for the replacement of lost cards.

The Learning and Student Support Centre loan policy is as follows:

• materials will only be issued to the card holder
• users must present their ID card at the Issue Desk in order for items to be issued
• users are responsible for returning and/or renewing all material issued to their card by the "due date"
• fines raised by any items which have not been returned by the due date must be paid
• outstanding fines must be cleared before continuing to borrow materials
• users must pay for the replacement of items which have been lost or damaged whilst issued to their card

Conditions of use for Hardware and Software are as follows:

• users must not cause any form of damage to the Institution's computing equipment, software or services, nor to any of the rooms and their facilities which contain that equipment. All costs associated with repairing or replacing damaged equipment or software and/or in providing temporary replacements will be charged to the person or persons causing the damage
• users must adhere to the terms and conditions of all licence agreements relating to any part of those facilities including software, equipment, services, documentation or other goods
• users must not modify any software, nor incorporate parts of any software into their own work, without permission from the Head of IT Services
• users must comply with any instructions or regulations displayed alongside computing facilities
• users must not deliberately introduce any virus, worm, Trojan horse or any other "nuisance" program or file onto any system or take deliberate action to circumvent any precautions taken by the Institution to prevent "infection" of its machines
• users must not delete other users files or interfere in any way with the contents of their directories
• users must not use another user's reference, nor permit or allow another user to use his/her own reference
• users must not allow any password associated with his/her reference to become known to another user
• users must not make use of any of the Institution's computing equipment to connect to any other computing facilities or commercial Services without prior permission and appropriate registration. Application for such permission must be made to the Head of IT Services
• users must not connect any device into the Institution's network without prior written agreement from the Head of IT Services
• users must ensure that they terminate each session in accordance with published instructions.

Use of IT facilities (including software/datasets licenced to the Institution)

Users agree that their usage of any software, Computer Readable Dataset or Courseware or other similar material, hereafter referred to as "the Product' , issued or otherwise made available to them by Newman University College is subject to the following conditions:

• they will ensure that all the requirements of the agreements, contracts and licences under which the Product is held by institution will be maintained. (Copies of the relevant agreements, contracts and licences may be seen by application to the School or Department which made Product available or via the Newman library eresource licences web page.)
• they will adhere to the regulations governing the use of any service involved in the provision of access to the product
• they will not remove or alter the Copyright Statement on any copies of the Product used by themselves
• they will ensure the Security and Confidentiality of any copy released to them, and will not make any further copies from it or knowingly permit others to do so, unless permitted to do so under the relevant licence
• they will use the Product only for purposes defined, and only on computer systerns covered, by the agreement contract or licence
  they will only incorporate the Product, or part thereof, in any work, program or article produced by themselves, where this is permitted by the licence or by "Fair Dealing"
• they will only incorporate some part or version of the Product in any work produced by themselves with the express permission of the Licensor or unless this is permitted under the Agreement
• they will not reverse engineer or decompile the software products or attempt to do so unless this is explicitly permitted within the terms of the Agreement for the use of the Product
• they will return or destroy all copies of the Product at the end of the course/year/period of employment or when requested to do so

The IT facilities may not be used for private gainful activity, including private consultancy, without first obtaining written permission of the Head of IT Services. Upon obtaining such permission the user shall be personally responsible for reimbursing Newman by a specified date, at a rate determined from time to time by the Head of IT Services. It is the responsibility of the user to notify the designated authority of any use of IT facilities for commercial or personal gain.

No equipment or software may be borrowed without designated authority. Any software or equipment borrowed as part of a formal loan scheme or for the duration of a particular project must be returned on the date agreed at the time the loan was made.

Behaviour and penalties for non-compliance

• the creation, display, production and circulation of offensive material in any form or on any medium constitutes a disciplinary offence
• any person who sends electronically a message that he or she knows to be false, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another, commits a disciplinary offence
• smoking, eating or drinking in the Learning and Student Support Centre, or any student workstation or terminal room is forbidden
• users must respect the rights of others and should conduct themselves in a quiet and orderly manner when using facilities
• Students must maintain silence in designated silent study areas of the Library and Student Support Centre
• no equipment should be moved from its designated place or be tampered with in any way. This includes changing workstation characteristics
• stationery should be used for the purpose for which it is supplied. It should be carefully conserved and unused stationery should not be removed. All scrap paper should be placed in the bins provided to minimise fire risk. The theft of stationery will be dealt with accordingly as a theft of the Institution's property
• users should not send large files across the network if, as a consequence, the performance of the network is degraded for other users
• users must switch off mobile 'phones when in the Learning and Student Support Centre
• respect must be given to the Copyright Licensing Agency Regulations relating to photocopying and electronic storage of material in copying
• students must ensure that children under the age of 12 are not left unsupervised

If any person who has been charged with the cost of using the facilities fails to make reimbursement to the Institution, authorisation to use the facilities will be withdrawn until reimbursement is made. Failure to observe this Code of Practice for the use of learning resources may result in the following procedures being invoked:

• interview by Head of IT Services or Learning Resources or their representative and/or interview by Head of the appropriate academic department
• withdrawal of access to facilities
• withdrawal of Library borrowing rights
• recommendation to pursue the infringement under the Institution's Rules on Student Discipline
• in cases where the law has been broken, prosecution may follow
• serious breaches may also lead to exclusion from the Institution

Disclaimer

The Institution accepts no responsibility for the malfunctioning of any equipment or software, nor failure in security or integrity of any stored program or data. No claim shall be made against the Institution, its employees or agents in respect of any loss alleged to have been caused whether by defect in the resources or by act or neglect of the Institution, its employees or agents.