Definitions
The USCL administration refers to the Dean of the Campus and Administrative Council appointed by the Dean. The Computer Coordinator is the individual designated by the USCL administration as having primary responsibility for maintaining the integrity of the campus network and the maintenance of individual faculty and staff workstations.
The Laboratory Supervisor is the responsible party who has been designated by the USCL administration as having primary responsibility for the maintenance of hardware and software on individual workstations.
- Users are not permitted to alter the configuration of any campus network or individual computer software or hardware without prior approval from the laboratory supervisor for student computer lab stations, or the library staff for library stations. Faculty and staff are advised to consult with the computer coordinator concerning the alteration of the workstation configuration.
- No software may be loaded onto student laboratory computers without the knowledge and prior approval of the laboratory supervisors, or at library stations without the knowledge and prior approval of the library staff. Only with the permission of a laboratory supervisor, library staff, or computer coordinator, may programs downloaded from the Internet be run on student laboratory computers, library stations or clinic stations.
- Academic work takes precedence over all other uses of the computer. No computer use for recreation or other personal interest will be permitted in USCL student computer labs, or library workstations, when students are waiting to work on course assignments or course related research. Recreational use includes but is not limited to, personal Email, chat lines, computer games, and web surfing not related to academic or research activities.
- All computer users are reminded that their activities are subject to the civil and criminal laws of the state of South Carolina and of the federal government. Possible illegal activities include but are not limited to: sexual or other harassment, threats, obscenity, child pornography, libel, unauthorized access to or attempting to access computers, networks, or student records, and copyright violation. Copyright violations include the use of unlicensed software.
- Only currently enrolled students of USCL with proper ID (and on a space available basis students currently enrolled in the USC system with proper ID) may use computer laboratory facilities on the USCL campus. Student computer laboratory use is limited to classes meetings in the laboratories or when designated faculty or staff monitors are present in the laboratories. Other use of the computer laboratories must be arranged by the permission of the USCL Administration.
- No conduct in student laboratories, or at library stations, will be permitted which in any way interferes with the ability of others to make use of the computer resources or which could cause damage to the facilities. All student computer lab users, library station users, and clinic station users are expected to show sensitivity to others when viewing or downloading material which others working there could find offensive. Conduct which is not permitted includes but is not limited to, shouting, loud conversation, playing recreational music over computer or other speaker systems without headphones, and consumption of food and drink.
- No computer use for commercial purposes is permitted. These activities include but are not limited to, typing services, bookkeeping, commercial Internet activity and commercial database production. Faculty research and document preparation for publication and university approved consulting agreements are not included in this category.
- No student files should be saved on campus computer lab computers. All students are expected to bring or use their own personal storage media when using the campus computer labs.
Examples of Policy Violations
The following actions will be considered violations of USC Lancaster's computer use policy. This list is not inclusive and users are urged to consult the full policy. Modifying the computer's operating system files.
- Installing, copying, distributing or using software in violation of copyright and/or software agreements.
- Failing to surrender a terminal used for game playing when requested for academic use.
- Using computer resources for illegal activities. Examples: sexual or other harassment, threats, obscenity, child pornography, and libel.
- Accessing or attempting to access information that is private or protected without permission.
- Sending anonymous or repeated messages designed to annoy, abuse or torment.
- Copying a file from another computer user's account or personal storage device without permission.
- Using computing resources for commercial or profit-making purposes without written authorization from the University.
- Failing to present current USCL or USC system identification.
- Modifying existing passwords or setting additional passwords which prevent others from making use of the system.
- Unplugging and moving devices.
- Talking loudly and playing recreational music without headphones.
- Eating or drinking.
Disciplinary Action
Use of USC Lancaster's computing facilities constitutes your acceptance of the above policies. Violations of computing policies will be referred to the Office of Academic and Student Affairs or to the appropriate department head for disciplinary action. Such disciplinary action will be governed by the Student Conduct Code as stated in the USC Student Handbook or the University Policies and Procedures Manual. Normally a first violation of these policies will result in an appropriate warning; subsequent violations may result in a loss of computing privileges or other disciplinary action. All violators of local, state, and federal laws may be subject to arrest.