PERSONAL COMPUTERS	No. 2-13	Rev.
		Date 4-5-88

OLD POLICY NUMBER - SEE PPM 10-3

I. POLICY

Because personal computers (PCs) are used within the University for a wide variety of applications, users have the freedom to select machines to meet their individual requirements.  The campus Bookstore may assist with the purchase of equipment.  Installation and repair of personal computers and associated peripheral equipment should be performed by Campus Electronic Services or other approved services.  The University, however, supports only a limited range of equipment.  Since there is no central staff for administrative or academic support for personal computers, users are responsible for their own systems.

Installation and modification of applications software are normally done by individual users and others acquainted with the particular software.  Users of academic systems existing on mainframe computers normally need terminal emulation or network software in order to interface with mainframe applications.

II. INTEGRITY OF DATA

A. Institutional Data

Persons and departments creating data critical to the daily operation of the institution must insure the integrity and recoverability of such data.  Data originating from the department is loaded to the mainframe database only according to normal data entry procedures for the appropriate application.  Data loaded into a personal computer from the institutional database must be authorized by the department controlling the data.  Such data may be used in its original form or altered to meet the user's departmental requirements.  Integrity of the PC data is the user's responsibility.

B. Individual Data

Backup of personal computing data on a regular basis is highly recommended.  A second copy of such data should be stored at another campus location.

III. COPYRIGHTED SOFTWARE LICENSES

The University complies with copyright laws relating to legal use of copyrighted software products.  Departments and individuals are responsible to be familiar with the requirements of the licensing agreement covering use and duplication of any copyrighted software and to insure compliance by end users.  This policy does not pertain to public domain software, nor does it extend to copyrighted software that the authors have permitted to be exchanged according to freeware userware marketing plans.

A. Computing Services and Purchasing personnel provide advice concerning licensing of copyrighted software.

B. The department making the purchase must acquire the applicable license prior to using the product.

C. The department or individual user of the product adheres to all copyright restrictions imposed by the vendor including, when necessary, the inventorying of the software product with the computing device on which it will reside.

D. University employees and students do not make unauthorized copies of the software product or documentation materials.

E. Violation of this policy may result in appropriate disciplinary action by the University.

IV. EQUIPMENT SECURITY

To insure security of personal computing hardware, it should be locked within an individual office or secured by installation of an appropriate cable locking device.  To protect against power fluctuations, surge suppression gear should be purchased and installed on all personal computers.

V. ETHICAL USE

The principles of ethical use of computers enumerated in PPM 2-11, Section IV apply similarly to use of personal computers.

VI. EXTERNAL USE

The provisions of PPM 2-11, Section VI, regarding usage of computing resources by external agencies and persons, apply equally to use of personal computer laboratories.