Computer Lab Policies

Boston University College of Fine Arts – Computer Lab Policies

Last Modified: April 29, 2005

1. Computer Lab Usage

• The College of Fine Arts Computer Lab is open to all Boston University students, faculty and staff only. However, students enrolled in College of Fine Arts courses that meet in the Lab have priority for the completion of specific course assignments. Students not enrolled in these classes may use the Lab for other purposes (Office applications, Internet access, application use, etc.), but must give up their computer if another student needs it to work on Lab coursework.

• All users who wish to use a computer in the Computer Lab must present their BU Terrier Card and sign a form indicating that they agree to abide by all policies on the “Boston University College of Fine Arts – Computer Lab Rules: April 29, 2005.” Users will then be assigned a personal account with a temporary generic password, welcome, that can be used on any computer in the Lab. There is no charge for the setup of an account. Failure to abide by any policy may result in the suspension or termination of access to resources in the Lab, University sanctions, and/or criminal charges.

• Smoking, eating and/or drinking in the Computer Lab are strictly prohibited. All opened food and drinks must be disposed of in the trashcan prior to entering the Lab. Users who maintain a history of failure to abide by this policy will have their account suspended indefinitely.

• The College of Fine Arts is not responsible for any personal belongings left behind or unattended in the Lab.

2. Hardware and Software Equipment

• The Computer Lab’s equipment is the property of Boston University and the College of Fine Arts, and is not to be removed from the Lab for any reason whatsoever.

• Use of Computer Lab equipment for commercial ventures or e-mail spamming of any kind is prohibited.

• Introducing viruses or malicious files of any kind on any computer is prohibited.

• The College of Fine Arts is the sole licensee for all software installed on the computers. The unauthorized duplication of any software from any computer is in violation of this license agreement, and is illegal.

• Tampering with / hacking into any computers’ System Folder or any other system configuration is prohibited.

• Viewing of information that may be considered indecent, including pornographic images, to other users is prohibited.

3. Personal Data

• Files are not to be left on any computers’ hard disk or the file server, unless otherwise instructed by a staff member, an instructor, or the Systems Administrator in specific class folders. Otherwise, files found on any computers’ hard disk or the file server may be deleted without any warning.

• The College of Fine Arts is not responsible for the security of user files temporarily stored on user accounts, and is not liable for any consequential damages. Users should always save and backup their data often on 100MB or 250MB Zip disks, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, DVD±Rs, DVD±RWs, USB flash storage devices, and/or floppy disks.

4. Printer Output

• Users are financially responsible for all of the printouts they generate. Current rates are posted in the Computer Lab. Payment must be made prior to submitting print jobs for the LaserJet printers. Payment must be made at the time print jobs requests are picked up for inkjet printouts.

• Users will not be held financially accountable for bad printouts due to mechanical printer errors, including ink running out or poor paper alignment, as long as the bad printout is returned to the Computer Lab Assistant. Improper page setup and/or colors “not coming out the way it appeared on the screen” are not considered mechanical printer errors. Please see an instructor for directions on the proper use of the software applications.

• All print credits will automatically transfer to following semesters. Print credits in an account will be purged upon date of graduation for all students and upon departure from the University for all faculty and staff.

5. Miscellaneous Computer Lab Equipment

• Users must provide their BU Terrier Card in exchange for any item borrowed from the Computer Lab. Any item borrowed from the Lab must be returned by the close of the Lab on that particular day; otherwise, the user’s account may be suspended until the item(s) is/are returned. All books, manuals, periodicals, headphones, stationery supplies, and/or any other material borrowed from the Lab may not be removed from the Lab at any time whatsoever.

• Users are financially responsible for the safe and complete return of any books, manuals, periodicals, headphones, stationery supplies, and/or any other material they may borrow during their use of the Computer Lab.

6. Computer Lab Assistants

• During open lab hours, Computer Lab Assistants are responsible for the basics of maintaining the integrity of the Lab’s computer network and providing end-user support for network access, printing, and basic application assistance. For more complex issues that cannot be resolved by Computer Lab Assistants, they are instructed to escalate the issue to a Computer Lab Technician, Computer Lab Student Manager, and/or the Systems Administrator for resolution, which may not be until the following business day. They are not an alternative for learning the necessary applications. For extensive assistance with specific applications, users should consult the appropriate documentation or see their instructor for training assistance.

7. Other

• All sales are final. No refunds are issued to any user for any items or print credits purchased in the College of Fine Arts Academic Computing Lab. No exceptions.

• All registered users must abide by policies, which may be in addition to those already outlined in the user policy agreement, as posted in and throughout the Computer Lab or as instructed by Computer Lab staff.