Computer Labs
The College maintains computer labs which are available for use by all students.
Please contact the staff on duty for the times when assistance is available.
All students are required to maintain their data on personal data disks. Do not store information on the
computer hard drives. Security systems are in place to restrict access to software and protect the College's
software copyrights from destruction or the introduction of computer viruses. Hard drives are periodically
optimized and/or purged of non-essential files.
All persons using the computer resources are required to follow the guidelines set forth for priority of use.
Inappropriate use and/or behavior in the lab area, as well as violations of rules and regulations of the College
will result in disciplinary action and restriction from computer services use.
Guidelines for Use of College Computing Facilities
Piedmont College Computer Services Guidelines for the use of College computing facilities are defined by several policy statements, including the College's Statement of Computing Ethics, the EDUCOM Code on Software and Intellectual Rights as shown below. Questions concerning these guidelines or other ethical or legal considerations pertaining the use of computing facilities should be referred to the Director of Computer Services.
Statement of Computing Ethics
Piedmont College provides extensive computing facilities to assist its educational, research,
and administrative activities. Considerable resources have been invested in these facilities and it is expected that
they will be used appropriately and wisely. Observance of relevant legal and ethical considerations is required. The
following list, although not covering every situation, specifies some of the responsibilities that accompany usage of
College computing facilities. All users should abide by these guidelines:
1. Users may use ONLY those computer accounts or facilities that have been authorized for their use through Computer
Services. Specifically, a user is not to work from a computer account assigned to another person. Access gained to
computer resources through the negligence or naïveté of another user is not considered authorized use.
2. Each user may use a computer account only for the purposes for which it is intended. College-supported computing
includes instructional, research, and administrative activities. College computing equipment and facilities may not
be used for commercial purposes or monetary gain, with the exception that faculty may use such for properly authorized
consultation, provided payment is made to the College for such use.
3. Users are responsible for all use of their computer accounts and equipment. They should make appropriate use of
system-provided protection features and take precautions against others obtaining access to their computer resources.
4. Piedmont College is bound by Title 17 of the United States Code on copyright and supports the provisions contained
therein. Individual employees are likewise bound by copyright laws. The College endorses and supports the EDUCOM Code
on Software and Intellectual Rights.
Piedmont College and its employees have obtained the use of a variety of computer software products pursuant to license
agreements from software companies. Neither the College nor its employees own this software or related documentation.
The use of the software by the College and its employees and students is controlled by the license agreements with the
respective software companies. Unless specifically authorized by the software producer, neither the College nor any
individual has the right to reproduce software materials. Piedmont College does not condone the illegal or unauthorized
duplication or use of software. Every person who uses College computing equipment, or who uses any computer while on
College property or conducting College business, is individually responsible for complying with all copyright laws and
software licensing agreements. Piedmont College reserves the right to conduct a software audit on any computer equipment
owned by the College or used in the College's business, and to remove unauthorized copies of software from those computers.
The College does not, however assume responsibility for preventing misconduct regarding computer software by individuals
acting in violation of this policy.
5. Users may not search, access, or copy directories, programs, files, or data not belonging to them unless they have
specific authorization to do so. Programs, subroutines, and data provided by the College may not be taken to other computer
sites without permission of the owner.
6. Piedmont College recognizes and endorses the privilege of privacy for individuals in using its computing facilities.
However, it is conceivable that there will be an occasional need for authorized individuals to examine files. For example,
in the normal course of operations certain Computer Services personnel must have access to all files. In addition, when
circumstances would seem to make such an action appropriate, the Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services may
authorize special examination of specified files.
7. Users should not encroach on use of the computer by others. This includes such activities as tying up computer resources
for excessive game playing, sending messages or mail, or other trivial applications.
8. Users may not attempt to modify system facilities or attempt to "crash" any system, nor should they attempt to subvert
the restrictions associated with their computer accounts.
9. Through the Internet, Piedmont College provides a mechanism for sending and receiving electronic mail worldwide, much
as does the U.S. Postal Service with paper mail. Neither the College nor any office or department thereof is responsible
for the nature of mail messages. The content of a mail message is the sole responsibility of the sender.
The EDUCOM Code-Software and Intellectual Rights
EDUCOM, founded in 1964, is a nonprofit consortium of higher education institutions which facilitates the introduction, use, access to and management of information resources in teaching, learning, scholarship and research. It has developed a code for software and intellectual rights which is as follows: Respect for intellectual labor and creativity is vital to academic discourse and enterprise. This principle applies to works of all authors and publishers in all media. It encompasses respect for the right to acknowledgment, right to privacy, and right to determine the form, manner, and terms of publication and distribution. Because electronic information is volatile and easily reproduced, respect for the work and personal expression of others is especially critical in computer environments. Violations of authorial integrity, including plagiarism, invasion of privacy, unauthorized access, and trade secret and copyright violations, may be grounds for sanctions against members of the academic community.
Conclusion
Abuse of computing privileges and nonobservance of these policies are considered to be serious matters
and will subject violators to disciplinary action. Computing privileges may be revoked and violators will be subject to the
usual judicial procedures of the College. In addition, it should be understood that this policy does not preclude further action
resulting from the application of pertinent laws and regulations of the State of Georgia and/or the United States of America.
This information can be found on pages 15-17 of the Piedmont College Student Handbook.
The document can be viewed in its entirety at http://www.piedmont.edu/student_life/Student_Handbook_2005_2006.pdf