Recommended Guidelines for Responsible Computing at the University of Delaware
(Draft – September 21, 1991)

Prepared by staff in Computing and Network Services,
University of Delaware

• 1.Preface
• 2. Definition of Terms
• 3. Policy for Responsible Computing Use at The University of Delaware
• 4. User Responsibilities
• 5. System Administrator Responsibilities
• 6. Misuse of Computing and Information Resource Privileges
• 7. User Confidentiality and System Integrity
• 8. Penalties for Misuse of Computing and Information Resource Privileges
• 9. Academic Honesty
• 10. Works Consulted

4. User Responsibilities

If you use the University’s computing resources or facilities, you have the following responsibilities:

• Use the University’s computing facilities and information resources, including hardware, software, networks, and computer accounts, responsibly and appropriately, respecting the rights of other computing users and respecting all contractual and license agreements.
• Use only those computers and computer accounts for which you have authorization .
• Use mainframe accounts only for the purpose(s) for which they have been issued. Use University-owned microcomputers and advanced workstations for University-related projects only.
• Be responsible for all use of your accounts and for protecting each account’s password. In other words, do not share computer accounts. If someone else learns your password, you must change it.
• Report unauthorized use of your accounts to your project director, instructor, supervisor, system administrator, or other appropriate University authority.
• Cooperate with system administrator requests for information about computing activities. Under certain unusual circumstances, a system administrator is authorized to access your computer files.
• Take reasonable and appropriate steps to see that all hardware and software license agreements are faithfully executed on any system, network, or server that you operate.

Each user is ultimately responsible for his or her own computing and his or her own work using a computer. Take this responsibility seriously. For example, users should remember to make backup copies of their data, files, programs, diskettes, and tapes, particularly those created on microcomputers and those used on individually – or departmentally – operated systems. Furthermore, users with desktop computers or other computers that they operate themselves must remember that they may be acting as the system administrators for those computers and need to take that responsibility very seriously.

If you are a project director for a group of mainframe computing users, a supervisor whose staff use computers, or a faculty member whose students use computers, you must help your project members, staff, or students learn more about ethical computing practices. You should also help your project members, staff, or students learn about good computing practices and data management.

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