Computer Usage Policies
Purpose
The computing resources of the Johns Hopkins University Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics exist to meet the computing needs of the Department's faculty and graduate students for the purposes of instruction and research, and to provide access to relevant information and services of the Internet computer network.
Administration
We distinguish between operation (otherwise known as system management or administration) and administrative oversight. Operation is considered to consist of those tasks related to the maintenance of software, hardware, user accounts, and any other tasks which directly affect the status and performance of the physical resources. Administrative oversight will consist of the establishment and maintenance of software licenses, procurement of equipment, establishment of policies, and all other tasks not related to operation.
The computing resources of the Department are to be operated by one or more designated graduate Computer Assistants, possibly in collaboration with members of the faculty. The administrative oversight of the computing resources is the responsibility of the Departmental Research and Facilities Committee.
Availability
The computing resources of the Department will be available to those who are eligible for accounts on the Departmental server(s), as described below, for tasks consistent with the conditions of usage described under Acceptable Usage below.
All faculty, staff, and graduate students of the Department are eligible for computer accounts on the Departmental server(s). Accounts for faculty and graduate student users will be maintained through the end of the first full semester after the user's departure. Accounts for staff members will be maintained at the discretion of the Research and Facilities Committee after the staff member’s departure
Undergraduate students, students from other departments, and former students from the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, or any other person not specifically eligible as per above may obtain accounts or extend accounts past the normal termination date, as follows. The requester must have the sponsorship of a member of the Departmental faculty. The sponsoring faculty member should present the request to the Research and Facilities Committee and Department Chair for approval, whereupon the operator(s) will be instructed to create or maintain the account as specified.
If resource quotas are enforced, those users with accounts under special dispensation as described above may be required to observe resource limits different from those of eligible Departmental users.
The Department Chair is ultimately responsible for all decisions to create or terminate accounts on the Department's server(s). The Research and Facilities Committee recommends actions on these matters to the Department Chair. Users will be notified by e‑mail two weeks prior to termination, in order to have time to properly clean out the account.
Acceptable Usage
The users of the Department's computing resources are responsible for adhering to all Johns Hopkins usage requirements, as well as all local, state, federal, and international laws.
Users are expected to observe the following:
1. General
- Accounts are issued on a person-by-person basis. Allowing anyone else to access an account is therefore prohibited, and repeated offenses may result in termination of the user's account.
- Accounts accessing, altering, duplicating, or deleting any data belonging to other users without that user's consent is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, so affecting system data files maintained by the Operator(s), such as system quota databases or password files.
- Any unauthorized and deliberate action which results in the damage or disruption of a computer system is a violation of Acceptable Usage, regardless of the location of the affected system.
2. Publication (mail and Web usage)
- Any attempt to forge the source or sender of any network traffic, including but not limited to electronic mail, Web documents, or USENET articles, is prohibited.
- Any attempt to read, write, alter, or delete another user's electronic mail, USENET articles, etc., is prohibited.
- Sending harassing, obscene, or threatening electronic mail, USENET articles, etc., is prohibited. This includes the sending of electronic “chain letters”.
- Using network or computer facilities for any commercial or for‑profit
purpose is prohibited. This
includes, but is not limited to, e‑mail advertisements, professional correspondence that is not
Department-related, and the inclusion of commercial advertising on Web pages.
3. Network security
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any computers or networks (Departmental or otherwise) is forbidden.
- Copying of copyrighted materials without permission is not allowed.
The reasons for these restrictions should be clear. Further information and suggestions are available online. Interested users may, for example, consult the Netiquette guide on the World Wide Web.