Acceptable use of information technology facilities by students
Objectives.
The Information Technology facilities of Monash University are provided to students, staff and authorised external users for legitimate University purposes. This will normally mean academic coursework, academic research activities and administration.
The objective of the Acceptable Use of Information Technology Facilities policy is to protect the essential interests of the University without inhibiting the use of the information technology environment, which is intended for the greater benefit of students, staff and the University generally.
The objective of the Acceptable Use of Information Technology Facilities policy is to protect the essential interests of the University without inhibiting the use of the information technology environment, which is intended for the greater benefit of students, staff and the University generally.
What are the Information Technology Facilities?
The Acceptable Use of Information Technology Facilities by Students governs all computers, computing laboratories, lecture theatres and video conferencing rooms across the University together with use of all associated networks, internet access, email, hardware, dial-in access, data storage, computer accounts, software (both proprietary and those developed by the University), telephony services and voicemail (the IT facilities').
Access to the IT facilities
Users of the IT facilities must be aware of the conditions on which access is provided.
Access to the IT facilities is restricted to authorised users, i.e. enrolled students of Monash University, and other authorised users, eg, enrolled students of the Pearcey Centre, Monash University English Language Centre. Access is normally based on correct enrolment status in the University student database Callista.
Login access to the IT facilities is granted by Information Technology Services. Access to some faculty-owned facilities is granted by authorised faculty staff. The Administrator of an IT facility may restrict access to an individual user on the grounds that the user is in breach of this Acceptable Use policy. Disciplinary action may be taken against users of the IT facilities under Monash University Statute 4.1.
Unlawful use will breach this Policy and will be dealt with as a discipline offence. Unlawful use of IT Facilities may also lead to criminal or civil legal action being taken against individual students. This could result in serious consequences such as a fine, damages and/or costs being awarded against the individual or even imprisonment. The University will not defend or support any student who uses IT facilities for an unlawful purpose.
Access to the IT facilities is restricted to authorised users, i.e. enrolled students of Monash University, and other authorised users, eg, enrolled students of the Pearcey Centre, Monash University English Language Centre. Access is normally based on correct enrolment status in the University student database Callista.
Login access to the IT facilities is granted by Information Technology Services. Access to some faculty-owned facilities is granted by authorised faculty staff. The Administrator of an IT facility may restrict access to an individual user on the grounds that the user is in breach of this Acceptable Use policy. Disciplinary action may be taken against users of the IT facilities under Monash University Statute 4.1.
Unlawful use will breach this Policy and will be dealt with as a discipline offence. Unlawful use of IT Facilities may also lead to criminal or civil legal action being taken against individual students. This could result in serious consequences such as a fine, damages and/or costs being awarded against the individual or even imprisonment. The University will not defend or support any student who uses IT facilities for an unlawful purpose.
Responsibilities of Users
Each user is responsible for
- The unique computer accounts which the University has authorised for the user's benefit;
- Selecting and keeping a secure password for each of these accounts, including not sharing passwords and logging off after using a computer. Users must not compromise or attempt to compromise the security of any IT facility belonging to Monash or other organisations or individuals, nor exploit or attempt to exploit any security deficiency
- Using the IT facilities in an ethical and lawful way, in accordance with Australian laws/ relevant local laws where a student is based in another country (see section on Relevant Laws).
- Co-operating with other users of the IT facilities to ensure fair and equitable access to the facilities.
- loss or damage or consequential loss or damage, arising from the use of its IT facilities for academic or personal purposes;
- loss of data or interference with files arising from its efforts to maintain the IT facilities.
Misuse of IT Facilities
- Unauthorised access to accounts-Users are expressly forbidden unauthorised access to accounts, data or files on Monash IT facilities, or on IT facilities belonging to other organisations.
- Student Computing Laboratories-Users of student computing facilities are required to abide by all Rules and guidelines set by the Facility Administrator. These shall normally be displayed on adjacent noticeboards.
- Peer to peer filesharing programs -installation or use of peer to peer filesharing programs such as Kazaa, BitTorrent, etc is not permitted on computers connected to the Monash network.
- Game Playing - Game playing is not allowed on Monash IT facilities, except as a formal component of a University academic subject or through a Faculty sponsored event
- Assignment services-Users are not permitted to use IT facilities to sell or purchase assignments, or to offer to write assignments or to request help with assignments
- No Business Activities-Users are not permitted to run a business or to publish a journal or magazine (unless authorised by the University) on Monash IT facilities.
- Monash Logo-Users are not permitted to use the University's name, crest or logo on their personal web pages, e-mail, or other messaging facilities.
- Pornography-Users are not permitted to utilize the University's IT facilities to access pornographic material or to create, store or distribute pornographic material. It will not be a defence to claim that the recipient was a consenting adult.
Electronic mail and other messaging
Users are entitled to use the University's e-mail and messaging facilities for private purposes, provided such use is lawful. Messaging facilities may include chat sessions, IRC, newsgroups and electronic conferences. Monash University reserves the right to withdraw this permission in the event that such use places the IT facilities at risk or poses a security or other threat. Users must respect the privacy and personal rights of others.
Users must not
Users must not
- publish their Monash e-mail address on a private business card
- use their Monash e-mail to conduct a private business
- Peer to peer filesharing programs -installation or use of peer to peer filesharing programs such as Kazaa, BitTorrent, etc is not permitted on computers connected to the Monash network.
- send defamatory messages
- send aggressive or rude email messages to staff or other students
- threaten or harass another person
- send sexually explicit material
- send bulk unsolicited e-mails
- send spam (defined as unsolicited commercial electronic messaging - refer SPAM Act 2003 (Cth). A single message can be spam. The message does not need to be sent nor received in bulk to be spam.)
- propagate chain mail (email sent to a number of people asking the recipient to send copies of the email with the same request to a number of recipients)
- impersonate another person by sending a message which appears to have come from another person's computer or represent themselves as being of a different gender, race etc (e.g., in a chat session or electronic conference)
- plagiarise or infringe copyright or trade marks, or breach trade practices legislation.
- send, without permission of the copyright owner, an audio or video file, music charts/lyrics, or commercial photographs to another person using email.
Internet Use
During their studies, students will be expected to make reasonable use of the Internet for research and communications with academic staff and other students.
Students receive a free allocation of Internet quota sufficient to meet the requirements of their course. The Faculty pays for the free internet quota allocation as part of student educational programs as is done for other resources such as student computing labs. Should students use all of their free quota, they are liable for any additional costs.
Each Faculty may prescribe additional rules about Internet usage.
All Internet transactions are recorded and can be traced to a particular username. For this reason students must keep their username and password secure. If a user has reason to believe that others may have obtained and could be using their username, then the user must report it immediately to IT Services.
Authorised users (i.e. students) are expressly forbidden to make digital files of commercially available recordings, music albums, album covers, and videos, without permission of the copyright owner. Infringing activities can be detected by investigative bodies and a student will be personally liable for damages and costs if a copyright owner takes action for infringement of copyright.
NOTE: Distribution of music/film files for the purpose of trade or any other purpose which affects the copyright owner prejudicially eg, making music files available for downloading free of charge on an internet website, is a criminal offence punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment for up to 5 years.
Students receive a free allocation of Internet quota sufficient to meet the requirements of their course. The Faculty pays for the free internet quota allocation as part of student educational programs as is done for other resources such as student computing labs. Should students use all of their free quota, they are liable for any additional costs.
Each Faculty may prescribe additional rules about Internet usage.
All Internet transactions are recorded and can be traced to a particular username. For this reason students must keep their username and password secure. If a user has reason to believe that others may have obtained and could be using their username, then the user must report it immediately to IT Services.
Authorised users (i.e. students) are expressly forbidden to make digital files of commercially available recordings, music albums, album covers, and videos, without permission of the copyright owner. Infringing activities can be detected by investigative bodies and a student will be personally liable for damages and costs if a copyright owner takes action for infringement of copyright.
NOTE: Distribution of music/film files for the purpose of trade or any other purpose which affects the copyright owner prejudicially eg, making music files available for downloading free of charge on an internet website, is a criminal offence punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment for up to 5 years.
Privacy and Surveillance
The University does not generally monitor e-mail, personal web sites, files and data stored on University computers or traversing the University network. However, the University reserves the right to access and monitor e-mail, web sites, server logs and electronic files and any computer or electronic device connected to the Monash University network including personally owned equipment, should it determine that there is reason to do so. Such reason would include, but not be limited to, suspected or reported breaches of this Acceptable Use policy, or breach of any Statutes, Regulations or policies of the University, or suspected breaches of the law.
Relevant Australian Laws
Users need to be aware of conduct which may breach laws outside of the University and lead to criminal or civil proceedings and/or penalties for which they will be held personally accountable. These laws include:
Copyright Act (1968) (Commonwealth)
Text (including song lyrics), computer programs, illustrations (including maps and diagrams) photographs, music recordings, videos, films and television broadcasts are all protected by Copyright. The duration of copyright protection is generally 50 years following the death of the author. A user must not copy, send or place materials on the web without permission from the copyright owner. Infringement of another person's copyright could result in personal liability for damages.
Users should assume that all materials published on the web are in copyright, unless explicitly stated otherwise. If a user wishes to include material from another webpage in one of their own pages, they should create a hypertext link pointing to the material rather than copy it. It is suggested that the permission of other webpage owners be sought prior to creating links to their pages.
Conduct which will infringe copyright
Examples of conduct which will infringe copyright if undertaken without the permission of the copyright owner (eg. the relevant recording company), includes but is not limited to:
Trade Marks Act (1955) (Commonwealth)
A user must not copy a trademark or logo belonging to another party. Trade mark infringement will expose the user to liability for damages.
Trade Practices Act (1974) (Commonwealth)
The Trade Practices Act contains provisions which prohibit passing off and misleading and deceptive conduct. If a user were to copy material from an external site onto a Monash website (including features such as logos and trademarks) so that persons accessing the website would believe that Monash had been authorised to carry the material, this would constitute passing off or deceptive or misleading conduct.
Spam Act (2003) (Commonwealth)
Under the Act, users must not send unsolicited commercial electronic messages. Any commercial messages that are sent electronically (including email, instant messaging or telephone accounts) must include information about the individual or organisation who authorised the sending of the message and a functional unsubscribe facility.
Anti-discrimination legislation
Commonwealth and State laws and the University Equal Opportunity policy prohibit sexual harassment and discrimination, vilification or victimisation on certain grounds such as race, gender, sexual preference, disability, or status as a parent or carer. University IT facilities must not be used to humiliate, intimidate or offend others on the basis of their race, gender, or any other attribute prescribed under anti-discrimination legislation.
Defamation
A user should not publish a statement about another person which could harm that other person's reputation. There is no need for the person to have been named specifically if he/she can reasonably be identified. Photographs and cartoons can also be defamatory if they hold someone up to ridicule or contempt. In a defamation case, truth is not always a defence.
Censorship legislation
Commonwealth and state laws prohibit publication of hard core pornography (in particular where it involves children, bestiality, violence, cruelty and/or exploitation). A breach of these laws would constitute a criminal offence.
Incitement to commit an offence
Users must not publish material which is an incitement to commit or instruction in crime eg, material on how to prepare explosive devices, or how to steal or provide a link to a site that offers file-sharing software, use of which is likely to result in infringement of copyright.
Copyright Act (1968) (Commonwealth)
Text (including song lyrics), computer programs, illustrations (including maps and diagrams) photographs, music recordings, videos, films and television broadcasts are all protected by Copyright. The duration of copyright protection is generally 50 years following the death of the author. A user must not copy, send or place materials on the web without permission from the copyright owner. Infringement of another person's copyright could result in personal liability for damages.
Users should assume that all materials published on the web are in copyright, unless explicitly stated otherwise. If a user wishes to include material from another webpage in one of their own pages, they should create a hypertext link pointing to the material rather than copy it. It is suggested that the permission of other webpage owners be sought prior to creating links to their pages.
Conduct which will infringe copyright
Examples of conduct which will infringe copyright if undertaken without the permission of the copyright owner (eg. the relevant recording company), includes but is not limited to:
- converting a CD to an audio format, such as MP3, and using it on a PC;
- downloading a film, MP3 recordings, or software from the internet using University internet access or computers;
- uploading audio files, video files, software or commercial photographs, to a University website and making these available to the public;
- providing on a University website, links to other websites that directly offer copyright infringing material or direct users to copyright infringing material, including audio files such as MP3 recordings, video files, software or commercial photographs;
- sending copyright material, including audio files, such as MP3 recordings, video files, commercial photographs or software, to another person using University e-mail;
- storing copyright material, including audio files, such as MP3 recordings, video files, commercial photographs or software, on University computers or servers.
Trade Marks Act (1955) (Commonwealth)
A user must not copy a trademark or logo belonging to another party. Trade mark infringement will expose the user to liability for damages.
Trade Practices Act (1974) (Commonwealth)
The Trade Practices Act contains provisions which prohibit passing off and misleading and deceptive conduct. If a user were to copy material from an external site onto a Monash website (including features such as logos and trademarks) so that persons accessing the website would believe that Monash had been authorised to carry the material, this would constitute passing off or deceptive or misleading conduct.
Spam Act (2003) (Commonwealth)
Under the Act, users must not send unsolicited commercial electronic messages. Any commercial messages that are sent electronically (including email, instant messaging or telephone accounts) must include information about the individual or organisation who authorised the sending of the message and a functional unsubscribe facility.
Anti-discrimination legislation
Commonwealth and State laws and the University Equal Opportunity policy prohibit sexual harassment and discrimination, vilification or victimisation on certain grounds such as race, gender, sexual preference, disability, or status as a parent or carer. University IT facilities must not be used to humiliate, intimidate or offend others on the basis of their race, gender, or any other attribute prescribed under anti-discrimination legislation.
Defamation
A user should not publish a statement about another person which could harm that other person's reputation. There is no need for the person to have been named specifically if he/she can reasonably be identified. Photographs and cartoons can also be defamatory if they hold someone up to ridicule or contempt. In a defamation case, truth is not always a defence.
Censorship legislation
Commonwealth and state laws prohibit publication of hard core pornography (in particular where it involves children, bestiality, violence, cruelty and/or exploitation). A breach of these laws would constitute a criminal offence.
Incitement to commit an offence
Users must not publish material which is an incitement to commit or instruction in crime eg, material on how to prepare explosive devices, or how to steal or provide a link to a site that offers file-sharing software, use of which is likely to result in infringement of copyright.
Need Help?.
Users requiring assistance with interpretation of the policy, or who wish to report an incident should contact the ITS Branch Manager on their campus. Locations can be found from the following web page: http://www.its.monash.edu.au/servicedesk/
Responsible Officer
Executive Director, Information Technology Services
Approved By
University Information Technology Advisory Committee - 8th September 2000
Amendment History
Responsible Officer
Executive Director, Information Technology Services
Approved By
University Information Technology Advisory Committee - 8th September 2000
Amendment History
| Date | Name | Description | |
| First Issued | 8 September, 2000 | Alan McMeekin Exec Dir, ITS | Approved by UNITAC |
| June 2001 | Director, Client Services, ITS | The Section on 'Internet Use" was requested by the Deans Committee, June 2001 | |
| June 2003 | Deputy University Solicitor | Updated with additional copyright material | |
| November 2004 | Director, Client Services, ITS | Director, Client Services, ITS |