Policy statement on the use of information technology

A detailed policy on the personal use of email and internet using School facilities which takes account of recent legislation is being constructed at the present time.

Introduction

The LSE recognises the key role that information technology (IT) plays in both teaching and research in the social sciences and it is committed to ensuring that both staff and students have access to the necessary facilities and support.
The School's IT systems, including access to the Internet, are provided for students to pursue their studies and for staff to carry out their work.

Scope

1. This policy statement covers:

the use of all of the School's IT facilities and systems, which include the LSE network; any other directly or indirectly connected network; and the Internet;
the production of any material using the School's IT facilities, including printed output, World Wide Web pages, electronic mail messages, bulletin board and news group entries; and
the publication of any material relating to the School on systems within and outside of the School.

Authorised users

Any student registered with the School, any member of staff or any individual who has signed the IT Services' Conditions of Use of IT Facilities at LSE form is considered to be an authorised user of School's IT facilities.

Obligations of users

Users of the School's IT facilities are required to comply in every respect with the Conditions of Use of IT facilities at LSE. In doing so they must:

respect others' intellectual property
avoid activities which may lead to criminal liability, including use of pornographic material
avoid keeping of others' personal data unless registered
not produce or pass on any material which could be considered defamatory
understand that the School will impose severe penalties - up to expulsion or dismissal or even referral to the police - in order to protect the interests of IT users and to safeguard the reputation of the LSE.

Detailed regulations and conditions

1. Authorised users are also expected to be familiar with and comply with the
following documents:

the School's Disciplinary regulations for students (published in the School Calendar) or the Terms and Conditions of Employment for Staff (published in the Staff Manual)
the Conditions of Use of IT Facilities at the LSE
the Rules of the Computer Classrooms and Areas
the Code of Practice for the Publishing of Information on the LSE World Wide Web Server
Electronic Mail: Email Etiquette
the CHEST Code of Conduct for the Use of Software and Datasets.
As the School's network is connected to the Internet via the Joint Academic Network (JANET), any activity that involves the use of the Internet must comply with:
the JANET Acceptable Use Policy.

The School does not tolerate racial or sexual harassment in any form whatsoever nor any discrimination on racial or ethnic grounds or on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, political or religious beliefs. This includes any material created or distributed using the School's IT facilities.

Permissions

Authorised users who publish information relating to, or on behalf of the School, or which may reasonably appear to be on behalf of the School, must ensure that they have obtained the requisite permission to do so. Explicit permission must also be obtained for the use of the School's name, logo or crest in any publication, including documents made available on the Internet, and may only be used for official School documents.

Access to the systems

Authorised users are provided with access to the School's IT facilities by means of a username and password. Users must take all reasonable steps to keep their passwords confidential and not disclose them to anyone else. If an authorised user believes that their password has become known to anyone else, the password should be changed at the earliest opportunity.
Any user who, for whatever reason, comes to know the password of any other user must not attempt to obtain access to the School's IT facilities using that password nor disclose it to any other person. Use of a password by anyone other than the authorised person will be treated as serious misconduct.

Penalties

Failure to observe this policy will be considered a serious matter by the School and may result in the users right to access the IT facilities being withdrawn. The Terms and Conditions of Employment for Staff and the Disciplinary regulations for students provide for disciplinary action on the grounds of various forms of misconduct.
Misuse of the School's IT systems may also result in court proceedings, including criminal liability, against you personally and/or the School. Users will be held responsible for any claims brought against the School for any legal action resulting from their unauthorised use of the School's IT facilities.