USE OF COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

GSBS students are encouraged to take every advantage of the computer resources available to them in the Graduate School, the Health Science Center, the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, the Texas Medical Center, and the UT System. These resources are, for the most part, provided by the State of Texas or Federal agencies and are intended for academic, as opposed to personal, uses by students and faculty.

Appropriate kinds of academic computing activities include:

• processing text for exams, reports and theses
• preparation of graphical displays
• performing statistical analyses
• accessing scientific databases and downloading information
• interacting with scientific information sources on the Internet
• corresponding with colleagues about scientific matters via E-mail

Inappropriate personal computing activities include, but are not limited to:

• corresponding via E-mail with relatives, friends, or acquaintances about personal matters
• accessing non-scientific data bases or information sources
• downloading and/or printing articles or publications that do not relate specifically to the student's program of study or research; joining and participating in the activities of non-academic users groups on the Internet
• indulging in unauthorized game-playing

Furthermore, students are cautioned to respect copyright laws when using computer software and behave responsibly when interacting with the available computers and networks.

Specifically, students are warned against:

• making and using a copy of any computer program and/or associated documentation that would result in the violation of a copyright, trade secret or license agreement
• sharing user I.D.'s and revealing passwords
• accessing or attempting to access computer systems without proper authorization
• altering, damaging, destroying or interrupting the operation of any computer system or causing such system to malfunction
• engaging in malicious mischief or otherwise misusing computer resources
• making unauthorized use of network resources

Violation of these and other standards of good conduct may result in disciplinary action taken against the student and/or the filing of criminal charges, when applicable.

Students who use common pieces of equipment should also follow the rules of computer etiquette. Basically, this means avoiding any practice or procedure that makes it difficult or impossible for others to use the equipment. So, for example, unless specific authorization is given:

• do not change the basic configuration of a common (public) computer
• do not load and leave specialized software on a computer (especially programs requiring a great deal of memory)
• on central computers, do not run large simulations or other programs that use a disproportionate amount of CPU time

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