paivi@vipunen.hut.fi (Paivi Helena Hyvarinen) (03/11/91)
I would much appreciate some information about what type of rules are used in different universities around the world regarding the use of the universities' computers and computer networks. I would especially appreciate the input from people who have been making the rules or opposing them for some reason (i.e. active partisipants). Please answer by email, I will summarize if there is enough interest. If you wish to remain anonymous, please state so clearly and pre-edit your answer to simplify my editing (no clues of your personality in the actual text of your answer). If no other requests, I will only summarize to comp.org.eff.talk. I am interested in the following (and I know these are no easy questions, especially all the whys, but these are important in trying to (maybe) revice some of our rules): 1) Is your university private or state funded/owned or something in between? 2) Does your university have a central organization (i.e. a computing centre) to take care of the computers, instruct the users etc. or do all labs mind their own computers (or is it something in between)? Why? 3) Who makes the rules about computer & network use? (Are the rules printed and distributed by some authority or are they more like an understanding or consensus among the users - or something in between) Why? 4) Who can get a computer account? (undergrads, grads, academic personel, any personel?) What type of network access is automatic, what type is optional (need extra accounts / priviledges)? Why? 5) For what purpose are computer accounts issued? Why? Is there a difference between theory and praxis here and if, what kind? Why? 6) Do computer accounts need to be renewed periodically or does one "check out" from the computers only when one graduates / takes another job? Why? 7) Does your university make a distinction between academic, non-academic and commercial use of the computing recourses? Why? If it does, how are these defined? Why? 8) If there is a reasonably defined "commercial use", how is it wieved? Encouraged? Tolerated? Prohibited? All of it? Part of it? Why? 9) Any additinal comments on the subject Sorry if these questions seem a bit vague - it is a complex subject. Thanks for all who care to answer! Paivi -- @ Paivi Hyvarinen, systems analyst (part time) @ Paivi.Hyvarinen@hut.fi @ @ User Services Section @ @ @ Computing Centre, Helsinki Univ. of Technology @ Voice: 358 + 0 - 451 4316 @ @ Otakaari 1 M, SF-02150 Espoo, Finland @ Reception: U133 Thu 10-12 @