Rules of use of IT Equipment at Engineering Computer Resources

This facility is also governed by University Computer Rules.

Almost all the RULES for ECR

• Downloading, storing or viewing offensive images
• Food and Drink
• Account Sharing
• Cracking (hacking)
• Copyright
• Access to Labs
• Games and Chat Programs
• News, Mail, ftp, rlogin, telnet etc
• Viewing of images
• Audio devices
• Screen locking programs
• Abandoned machines
• Equipment
• Sexual Harassment or Discrimination
• Penalties

At ECR we impose a fundamental set of rules that encompasses the Rules of the University together with expected etiquette.

• The ECR facilities are not to be used to download, store, transfer or view any type of offensive images or movies.
• If you are found downloading, storing or viewing offensive images/movies you will instantly have your account suspended and it will not be reinstated until you have a signed letter from the Dean of the Faculty stating that it is OK to do so. No correspondence or discusion will be entered into.
• If you see an image that you consider offensive, then please inform a staff member. Don't just complain to your friends etc, the problem will not be fixed unless you actually complain about it!

• Eating and drinking in the labs is strictly forbidden.
• Students who eat or drink in the ECR areas will have several warnings. Upon continual breaches of this rule may result in account suspension and further disciplinary action.
• The placing of drinks or food in the vicinity of a workstation, or terminal, whether it is or is not being consummed is considered to be in breach of this rule.

• Your account is for your use only. It is not to be used by any other person.
• The penalties here are immediate loss of account pending investigation. Be aware that logs of all connections to ECR machines are kept.

• Under no circumstances are you to attempt to 'hack' into, nor use any University computer system to gain illegal access to any other computer system.

• The University of Melbourne is a strong advocate in the rights of ownership of original material whether in hardcopy or electronic form, or any other form of conveying information. This is covered under legislation known colloquially as The Copyright Act.
  
• You should make yourself aware of this University's Policies in regards to Copyright through http://www.unimelb.edu.au/copyright/students.html
  
• Although these pages explicitly direct University staff, it can rightly be expected that all members of the University community are subject to these conditions on Copyright material.
  

• Do NOT log on to more than one machine at a time. One machine per user. Logging onto multiple machines may also break your roaming profile.
• Academics or tutors that have scheduled classes in ECR laboratories may ask students not enrolled in their subject to vacate the lab to allow them to effectively communicate with the students that they are teaching.
• If there is class scheduled in the laboratory and there are spare computers you may ask the tutor/lecturer if you can use them. They may or may not allow you in. This is their privilege.
• The timetables posted indicates when there are scheduled classes.
• The 24 hours access laboratories are NOT to be used as sleeping accomodation, nor as an open Cafe with food or drink. Security staff have been given authority to confiscate swipe cards and eject users breaching the rules of ECR and the University.

• Games and chat programs are not to be accessed on any ECR computer system.

• You are not allowed to post news or email that is offensive, fraudulent insulting or harassing.
• This also applies to facilities such as 'talk', 'ytalk' or 'write'.

• You are not allowed to display images which may be considered offensive or sexist.

• You may access the audio devices on the machine you are currently sitting at. However,
  • Any annoyance caused to Any other users will be viewed as an abuse of the resource.
  • Please respect the other users around you. If there are any complaints from tutors in a class regarding audio usage, then you may well have your account suspended.

• Running of any form of screen locking program to reserve the console and keyboard for personal use is not permitted. Use of screen locking programs for any duration, short or long, if discovered, will result in your session being unconditionally terminated (that is, you will be logged out). If you must leave a machine un-attended, please logout

• Any machine left abandoned for longer than considered reasonable (another loose definition, approx 10-15mins) may be appropriated for use by anyone. For example those who are using a machine then leave to get lunch or perhaps "go outside for a bit of a walk" are considered to have abandoned the machine. This principle applies when leaving to feltch a tutor when the tutor is absent from the class, and also when visiting others in another laboratory. Short visits to see ECR staff or other users are obviously permissable. WARNING - do not leave you bag/valubles in the lab alone, there are theives. Before appropriating a machine see a ECR member of staff.

• You are NOT permitted to interfer with any equipment or hardware.
• You must not unplug or otherwise disturb cabling to equipment.
• You must not reposition monitors from the desks (eg, place them on top of machines).
• You must not use power outlets normally used for lab equipment for things such as laptops. If you are found to be using an outlet normally used for lab equipment you can be "unplugged" without notice to restore the lab equipment's connection. Moreover, if there is an available outlet, your power lead must not cross corridoors or create a tripping hazard.

• The display of offensive sexually explicit or pornographic material is strictly forbidden. If you see such material being viewed by anyone, report them to a member of ECR staff.
• If you are sent offensive material such as explicit inuendos, offensive jokes or unwanted personal comments, please report the sender's email address to ECR staff, obviously we can't stop spam, but can help you with filters.
• Notice boards throughout ECR have posters detailing whom to contact if you feel you are a victim of harassment or discrimination.