Computer Use Policy

Washburn Law Email Accounts

Washburn University provides each student with an email account upon enrollment. Accessed through the campus portal, My Washburn, the email system is maintained and supported by the University's Information Systems and Services (ISS) staff. Washburn Law faculty and staff use the Washburn-provided email account as a primary means of communication with law students. Faculty and staff do not ordinarily send law school related communications to non-Washburn email accounts. Thus, it is critical that law students regularly check their Washburn account.

Also, please note:

"Your Washburn University e-mail address will be the official address used by the University for relaying important messages regarding academic and financial information and the University will consider this your official notification for important information. It may also be used by your instructors to provide specific course information. If you prefer to use an alternate e-mail address to receive official University notices, you can access your MyWashburn e-mail account, choose the "Options" tab, and select "Settings", scroll to the bottom of the screen, click enable forwarding and enter the e-mail address you would like your Washburn emails forwarded to in the "mail forwarding" area. Click add and the click on save changes. This will complete the process of forwarding your Washburn e-mail. It is your responsibility to ensure that your official e-mail box does not exceed your message quota resulting in the inability of e-mail messages to be accepted into your mailbox."

Account Deletion

As of April 26, 2007 the policy for MyWashburn and e-mail account deletions for students is:

MyWashburn and e-mail accounts remain active for ONE fall or spring semester after a student graduates and/or separates from the university.
- EXAMPLES: Students not enrolled in the preceding spring semester are candidates for account deletion on June 15. Students not enrolled in the preceding fall semester are candidates for deletion on February 15. If you have stayed out for a semester, and have not been admitted or registered for the summer or fall semester by June 15, your MyWashburn and e-mail account will be removed on June 15.
Before deletions are implemented, a check is made to determine if a student is admitted/enrolled for a future semester. If a student is enrolled, the account will remain active.
Students who miss a semester, and then return after their account is deleted, will have accounts re-created with the same username. However, old files and/or e-mail will not be accessible.

Law Library Public Workstations

Washburn Law Library provides as a service a number of public workstations throughout the law library. Law Library public workstations are intended to allow access to the libraries' information resources. Use of public workstations specifically prohibits sending and/or receiving personal e-mail, playing computer games (either local or via the internet), accessing/participating in chat rooms and other non-research activity. In accordance with the ISS General Policies, the following are additional examples of unacceptable uses of computing resources: harassing others, violating the privacy of others, viewing and/or printing obscene and pornographic material in a public setting, and distribution of unsolicited mass advertising.

Policies Governing Computer Use and Information Technology Services Resources

In addition to the many computer and technology resources available at Washburn University School of Law, faculty, staff, students and the public utilize the general computing resources provided by Washburn University. All individuals are expected to abide by ISS General Policies set forth below.

Information Systems and Services General Policies

Please see the ISS website for updates to the following policy.

Acceptable Use of Computing Resources Policy Statement

Washburn University computing resources include host computer systems, university-sponsored computers and workstations, software and files residing on university computers, the campus network and communications through the campus network. The following outlines acceptable use of Washburn computing resources:

Use only those computing resources for which you have authorization.
Protect your account information from access by others.
Use computing resources for university-related work.
Comply with all applicable local, state and federal laws, including copyright and licensing laws.
Comply with Washburn University's World Wide Web Policy and all referenced Washburn University policies.
Respect the privacy of others.
Respect the use of computing resources by others.
Comply with security measures employed by the university.
Report violations of this policy to the appropriate authorities.

Reason for Policy

Information Systems and Services (ISS) computing and networking systems are shared systems. Respect, courtesy and cooperation among users are necessary for the systems to function properly for everyone. Our goal is an environment that protects the rights of individual users to pursue scholarly inquiry while providing for equitable and secure access by all users. Responsible use of computing resources is a necessary complement to the security measures taken by ISS staff.

Entities Affected by This Policy

Washburn employees and students; others granted access to our computing resources by the Director of Information Systems and Services.

Consequences of Noncompliance With This Policy

Noncompliance with these policies may result in one or more of the following, depending on the severity of the violation:

Warning that a use is prohibited
Computer ethics counseling by ISS staff
Temporary disabling of computer/network access
Permanent disabling of computer/network access
Disciplinary actions as outlined in student, faculty and employee handbooks
Expulsion from school or termination of employment
A subpoena of data files
Legal prosecution under applicable local, state and federal laws
Possible penalties under the law, including fines and imprisonment

Examples of Unacceptable Uses of Washburn Computing Resources

Sharing your password with someone else
Any activity that violates applicable local, state and federal laws, including copyright and licensing laws
Using your account or the network for commercial or for-profit purposes
Propagation of computer worms or viruses
Distribution of unsolicited mass advertising
Harassing others
Violating the privacy of others
Disrupting the work and/or use of the network by others
Any use that violates the standard of ethics outlined in student, faculty and employee handbooks
Gaining or attempting to gain unauthorized entry to other computational, information, or communications devices or resources on Washburn's network or on the Internet
Writing programs which use an inordinate amount of system resources
Accessing directories on a computer system other than your personal or public directories (even if the system allows you to do so)
Viewing and/or printing obscene and pornographic material in a public setting
Connecting unauthorized equipment to the network
Providing computer services (Web servers, newsgroups, ftp, etc.) to local or remote network users without written permission from ISS

Questions

Questions about ISS General Policies should be referred to the Director of Information Systems and Services at support [at] washburn.edu or (785) 670-2066.

See the ISS Policies website for further information.

See also the Washburn University Cyberspace Citizenship Code.