Additional ResNet Policies

In addition, students on ResNet must abide by the following regulations:

• Students are expected to safeguard the security of their own computers and the College network. For this reason, all students whose computers are connected to ResNet are required to install anti-virus software, and to ensure that this software is kept current. The College provides anti-virus software at no cost to students.
• Students are also expected to keep their personal computers up-to-date with security patches and operating system updates. Students are required to configure Windows Update (for Windows) or Software Update (for Macintosh) to notify them when updates are available for their computers, and students are expected to install those updates in a timely fashion. All critical updates must be downloaded and installed immediately to protect your computer and Saint Mary's network from security threats.
• Students are expected to maintain the confidentiality of their Saint Mary's login ID and password. Your password should be known to just one person-you. Logging any other individual into the system with your own login and password, or revealing your Saint Mary's password to any other individual is a serious breach of network security.
• Students are required to recognize that bandwidth is a limited resource. Saint Mary's College is privileged to have a T3/DS3 connection to the Internet, with 100mbps connections to the desktop across campus. Over 1500 computers share this T3/DS3 link to the Internet. Downloading and/or sharing large multimedia files (music, digital video, webcam streams) can place enormous strain on this limited resource and slows down the network for other users who are using the Internet connection for research and communication applications (e-mail, instant messaging, web browsing). Students are expected to refrain from bandwidth-intensive activities so that everyone can have equal access to our Internet connection. As part of this regulation, peer-to-peer (P2P) applications such as WinMX, Gnutella, iMesh, Limewire, BitTorrent, and others designed for downloading and sharing multimedia files are prohibited on the campus network, including ResNet. Webcams are also not permitted on ResNet.
• Students may not use wireless access points, routers, or other devices in the residence halls. Students that connect wireless devices to ResNet may lose their network connection until the wireless devices have been permanently disconnected. Saint Mary's College provides a wireless network (BelleAire) in most of the buildings on campus for students to use. Wireless cards in personal computers are perfectly acceptable, and cards using the 802.11b and/or 802.11g standards can connect to BelleAire.

Any student found to be in violation of these principles will face disciplinary action as specified in the Student Handbook. Questions regarding this Acceptable Use Policy or the College Policy on the Responsible Use of College Computers and the Internet may be addressed to the Director of Information Technology.

Last Modified January 6, 2006