Computing Ethics Statement

School of Information Systems
University of Tasmania

[Last modified : 2003.07.02]

Ethics Guidelines

Ethical behavior in the use of computers in accordance with this statement is required from all students who use computers in their coursework.

Unethical practices committed by a student are considered to contravene the Statute of Discipline and will render the student liable to fines, suspension from study, cancellation of enrolment, or cancellation of marks. Disciplinary action will be taken against anyone found violating these guidelines.

  1. You may only use those facilities which have been authorised for your use. If there is password access, you must maintain secure passwords and take precautions against unauthorised access.
  2. You may only use authorised facilities for authorised purposes. Specifically, teaching facilities may not be used for the playing of games, or for private consulting or made available to other persons. Use of any facilities for direct personal gain (except when a contract has been authorised by the University) is not allowed. Computers and terminals made available by School of Information Systems may be used only for coursework associated with units offered by the School of Information Systems; they may not be used for work associated with other units.
  3. Any attempt to copy software is prohibited, unless explicit permission has been granted by an authorised University staff member. In most cases the University holds a license from the copyright holder to use the software, and if you copy such copyrighted material you render yourself liable to prosecution.
  4. Any attempt to copy information belonging to other students, staff, the University, or commercial suppliers is prohibited. (NB The attempt to copy is a disciplinary offence, whether or not the attempt succeeds.)
  5. You are responsible for the security of your own work. You must ensure that paper and electronic copies of your work cannot be stolen. Providing a paper or electronic copy of your work to another student is prohibited as unethical, as it is an attempt to gain or confer an unfair academic advantage through unattributed plagiarism. (NB Giving a copy of your work to another student intended to help them may therefore result in you losing marks for your assignment.)
  6. Any attempt to interfere with the normal operation of computing facilities is prohibited.
  7. Any attempt to subvert the security of any of the University's computing facilities is prohibited.
  8. Any use of computing facilities to send obscene, vulgar or harassing messages or images is prohibited.

Responsibilities

You are responsible for reporting any action by another person which you consider may contravene the ethics of computer use to University staff. Not to report such an action is to be a passive accomplice.

You are also responsible for reporting any malfunctions in equipment, furniture or buildings, so that repairs may be effected. Workplaces should be kept neat and tidy, with rubbish properly disposed of. Eating or drinking in laboratories is forbidden; smoking is prohibited throughout University buildings.

See Also

webmaster@infosys.utas.edu.au