NAU Network Acceptable Use Policy for Students
The NAU network is neither a public forum, nor a limited public forum. Its use is
restricted to purposes consistent with the
mission of Northern Arizona University.
Access to the NAU computer and network systems is limited to current Northern Arizona
University students, faculty, and staff who access these resources for legitimate
research, teaching, professional service or other academic endeavors whose use complies
with these and other policies of the University. Misuse of computer or network privileges
will result in the loss of access, and could result in student discipline under
the Code of Conduct
and criminal or civil prosecution under federal and Arizona law.
NAU network resources are provided by the State of Arizona and the U.S. Government.
Misuse of these finite and critical resources poses an enormous threat to their
continued availability to the campus. Justification for the support of this system
suffers when misuse occurs.
University facilities or properties may not be used for personal profit.
Northern Arizona University has an established independent licensing program to
control the use of the name, abbreviations, symbols, emblems, logos, mascots, slogans,
and other terminology associated with the University. Unauthorized use of any of
the forestated representations may be trademark infringement. Any unauthorized production
or sale of registered marks or names is a violation of the federal
Lanham Trademark Act of 1946 and the federal
Trademark Counterfeiting Act of 1984.
Students using NAU computer and network systems are subject to the United States
Copyright Law of 1976, as amended (Title
17, United States Code, the "Copyright Act"), including ensuring that the
restrictions that apply to the reproduction of software are adhered to and that
the bounds of copying permissible under the fair use doctrine are not exceeded.
All publications disseminated on or broadcast from the campus shall conform to the
applicable regulations of the Federal Communications Commission and/or to applicable
local, state, and federal laws. Students will be legally responsible for the contents
of their communications.
Students are responsible for all use of their accounts and/or machines. Use of the
University's resources, including but not limited to its computer system or network,
is limited to the educational, academic, and research mission and purposes to which
such resources are lawfully dedicated by the Constitution and Laws of the State
of Arizona. Misuse of computing resources may result in loss of computer and network
privileges, or disciplinary action. Misuse of computing resources includes, but
is not limited to, the following:
- Unauthorized access to the resources of the NAU computer systems or network (e.g.,
trying to log or break into accounts or computers for which you are not authorized).
- Disruption or obstruction of authorized use of the network.
- Causing excessive and unneeded use of University resources such as staff time, network
bandwidth, or computer capacity.
- Destroying the integrity of computer-based information.
- Unauthorized use, or attempted unauthorized use, of the University computer systems,
computer networks, computer software, data files, or other computing facilities.
- Compromising the privacy of users, including but not limited to misrepresenting
or forging identities on, or through the use of, the NAU network.
- Using University computer and networking systems for personal or commercial purposes
unrelated to activities which support, and are consistent with, the educational
purpose and mission of the University.
- Using University computer networking systems and resources for obscene purposes
or in a pervasively profane manner, including but not limited to use which may bring
into public disrepute the University's identity and image as a tolerant and serious
institution of higher learning.
- Theft, distribution, or reproduction without lawful authority of copies or reproductions
of property or subject matter of any kind belonging to another, including but not
limited to that which is protected by federal, state or international law governing
patent, copyright, trademark, tradename, trade secrets, privacy, publicity, unfair
competition, or licensing agreements, together with tampering with computer software
or data files belonging to others, or using the resources in such a manner that
would cause the University reasonably to believe that it would be subject to the
risk of suit, regulatory action, or liability for vicarious or contributory infringement
of federal, state or international laws protecting intellectual property, including
but not limited to, laws which protect patents, copyright trademarks, tradenames,
trade secrets, privacy, publicity, unfair competition, or licensing agreements.
- Using these resources in a manner, or with the intention, to inflict mental harassment,
to intimidate, or to invade the privacy of any particular individual in a manner
that is extreme or outrageous in the sense of being intolerable to reasonable members
of a civilized society and which, in the case of other students, faculty, staff,
administrators or members of the University, interferes with their ability to exercise
their rights to participate fully in the purpose, mission, education, and life of
the University.
- Sharing University account passwords with others, or using networked machines to
provide NAU network access to people or organizations who do not already have such
access.
- Using these resources to post material on behalf of other parties, sharing personal
access to NAU resources with others, or using personal computers connected to the
NAU network to mirror another site (i.e., to make a copy of someone else's site).
- Using these resources to threaten any particular individual with violence, to engage
in that which naturally and directly tends to provoke acts of violence, or a breach
of the peace by the person to whom, individually, the conduct or remarks are addressed.
- Using these resources in a manner which violates the laws of the United States of
America and the State of Arizona, including but not limited to the policies of the
Arizona Board of Regents and Northern Arizona Univeristy. Such behaviour may also
constitute a violation of the
Safe Working and Learning Environment policy of the University, a violation
of which would also be deemed to be a violation of this Policy.
- Using these resources in a manner that would lead the University reasonably to believe
that continued use of its property and resources in such a manner may subject it
to the risk of suit, regulatory action, or liability of any kind under the laws
of the United States of America or the State of Arizona forbidding the creation
or maintenance of a hostile working or educational environment involving discrimination
based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, veterans' status or disability,
whether physical or mental, or which would cause the University reasonably to believe
that continued use of its property and resources in such a manner may result in
a determination that it is in breach of its legal duty to take reasonable steps
to eliminate such attributes, conditions, or vestiges of a hostile educational environment.
Any individual or group who participates in conduct which adversely affects the
University's pursuit of its educational objectives, violates or shows disregard
for the rights of individuals within the University community, or damages property
will be subject to institutional discipline. Officials charged with enforcement
of these regulations shall have the authority in execution of such duties to perform
such acts as required to maintain the security, well-being, and safety of the University
community or any of its members.
Northern Arizona University reserves the right to suspend and examine any account
or network access pending review by University officials. Any instance of academic
misconduct will be reported to the instructor, chair, or dean of the student's college
or school, as well as to the Office of Student Life. Other violations will be reported
to the appropriate University office.
The account holder agrees to be responsible for, and to indemnify and hold the Arizona
Board of Regents, Northern Arizona University, and their officers and employees
harmless from any claims, including attorney's fees, resulting from the account
holder's acts or omissions which cause direct or indirect damage to another party.
Technical Considerations
Personal computers connected to our network pose special network risks. The following
guidelines are an attempt to stop unsecured computers from compromising one of NAU's
most valuable resources: our network. Damage to the network comes at such a high
cost that these guidelines are considered a necessary addition to the acceptable
use policy.
- Any machine that disrupts the normal operation of the NAU campus network, and any
machine with inadequate security that leaves the NAU network vulnerable will be
disconnected.
- Viruses are not welcome on our network. Computers with viruses or computers that
are not protected against spreading viruses will be disconnected. Adequate protection
implies at least mechanisms to keep the machine up to date with operating system
patches and an approved anti-virus strategy.
- Personal computers must be properly registered and the network administrators may
require regular logins and security checks for the machine to stay on the network.
- The IP address used on the personal machine must be the one assigned to your machine.
Machines must use campus Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) services for
this address assignment.
- Running Domain Name Service (DNS), DHCP, mail services (SMTP), Windows domain services,
Windows Internet Name Service (WINS), routing, or other network services that would
conflict with those provided by NAU is strictly forbidden. If you have questions
about a specific service, please contact the Academic Computing Help Desk at 523-9294
or 1-888-520-7215.