CVM Computer Use Policy
Approved CVM Cabinet, July 14, 2009
CVM faculty provide an abundance of material for veterinary education in CVM course lockers. All CVM students have access to material in any course web site, regardless if they are currently enrolled in that course. This is meant to help students build on material learned in earlier parts of the program, as well as helping when they are trying to research information pertaining to disorders in animals encountered in the hospital.
All faculty, staff and students must follow NC State’s Computer Use Policy, found at:
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/informationtechnology/POL08.00.1.php
and the computer use regulation, found at:
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/informationtechnology/REG08.00.2.php
In addition to the policy and regulation, the following outline expected behavior for use of computers specifically related to veterinary education:
- It is considered a misappropriation of intellectual property to copy any material from course lockers into publicly accessible web sites. Students may copy material onto their own computer for use related to their education, but may not redistribute it.
Background Information: The course lockers are set-up to prevent the general public from accessing the information contained therein. This is necessary due to “fair use” copyright restrictions. If material is copied from course lockers and posted in other web locations where it can be accessed by a larger group than NC State veterinary students, it could create a very serious copyright violation. - The classroom is part of a learning community. Any action that distracts classmates from the course material of the day is inappropriate behavior. This includes sending instant messages or emails to others during class, visiting web sites that are not directly related to the class and distracting classmates, playing computer games during class time (unless the game is specifically for the class being taught), etc. This policy includes use of other electronic devices (cell phones, PDA’s, etc.). In short, any activity that distracts others from the education they have paid for is unprofessional and will be referred to the Faculty Committee on Academic Performance and Student Conduct.
- It is an individual responsibility to adequately protect personal computers and computing materials. This includes appropriate password management for all university accounts. It is against policy to use another individual’s log-in and password to access university accounts or to let someone use your access. It is also a violation to try and circumvent network security protocols in order to gain access to material that you don’t have official permission to access.
- Posting of material in social networking sites must be done with the utmost care and consideration. Visual images that veterinary students are quite accustomed to could be considered offensive to many in the general public. Pictures of surgeries, students performing rectal examinations on cattle, animals in necropsy, etc. can be very upsetting to those not in veterinary educational programs. In addition, these images could be copied and misused by other groups, resulting in permanent harm to veterinary education programs. Therefore, no pictures of any animal within the college may be posted to any web site without the prior approval of the dean. No picture of any hospital client may be posted without the approval of the dean and the client involved. Any violation will result in notification of the Faculty Committee on Academic Performance and Student Conduct and could result in dismissal from the DVM professional program.
Password Security
Never tell anyone your password.
- You will NEVER be asked for your password so DO NOT respond to any email requests for it.
- If you feel that someone may have seen you type your password or that is has been compromised in some other way, create a new one immediately.
- Never write your password down anywhere.
- Never let anyone watch you type it on a computer. If someone tries to watch, ask them to look away. Making this request is perfectly acceptable and is part of your responsibility to protect your password.
- Improve your typing speed so that it will be harder for someone to see your keystrokes.
Quick Tips
- Include numbers and letters
- Include uppercase and lowercase letters
- Do not use dictionary words
- Passwords are case-sensitive
- Do not reuse old passwords
Password Strength Requirements Your password must:
- be at least 8 characters
- be no more than 127 characters
- not contain your username
- not contain your username backwards
- contain at least one digit (number)
- contain at least one letter
- not contain a word found in the dictionary
- not have 5 consecutive digits (e.g. phone number)
- be more than a simple case change of your old password
It is recommended that your password:
- have at least one special character (not a number or letter)
- contain at least one capital letter
- contain at least one lowercase letter
If you really want to use a word as your password, you can abide by these rules with some simple modifications. For example, mydoggie would be valid if changed to m1D0gg1e. Because this password is used as an example, it is not available to be chosen as your password.