METU Information Technology Resources Use Policy

1. Definitions

METU IT Resources: The concept of "METU IT Resources" covers METU's ownership rights and METU's licensing or leasing privileges upon, or METU's possession of the rights to use every computer/computer network, hardware, software and related services.

Users of METU IT Resources: They are natural and legal persons for whom authorization procedures, which entitle them the use METU IT resources, have been carried out on the system resources.

Special Users: The natural and legal persons to whom the University provides specific limited and/or specific temporary information technology services are defined as "Special Users". Such natural and legal persons affiliated to METU are entitled to use METU IT Resources in a limited and/or temporary fashion under the explicit authority and approval of the Presidency.

Excluded Users: The individuals or organizations that do not possess the similar rights to use METU IT Resources as the rights defined above for METU Users and and Special Users who are only entitled to use those commonly available services or resources (e.g. METU web pages, METU Electronic List Service, ftp service etc.) are defined as "Excluded Users".

2. Use of METU IT Resources

Primary Use: The use of METU IT Resources in ways precisely related with such missions of the University as instruction, education, research activities, providing social service and with such administrative/managerial activities are defined as "Primary Use".

Secondary Use: The "Secondary Use" of the resources covers the use that is excluded in the Primary Use. Secondary Use of the resources is acceptable only insofar this type of use consumes the part of the resources that are not needed essentially by the Primary Use and that would otherwise not be utilized. When Secondary Use of the resources starts to burden or hinder the Primary Use of the resources, that Secondary Use then is deemed as an infringement of the General Provisions and is no longer acceptable.

3. General Provisions

1. METU IT Resources are rendered available by the University to provide essential services for the applications defined within Primary Use section. Therefore, wasting of the resources should be avoided. 

2. The departments that render METU IT Resources available must,

• ensure the privacy and confidentiality of the information that belong to users,
• manage the resources in a fair manner,
• take security precautions according to risk levels to minimize the threats against resources,
• regularly back up resources according to the priority of the critical ones,
• keep the information that provides material evidence for security concerns systematically so as to assist in determining the identity of the users of the resources.

3. The users of METU IT Resources should implement the reasonable personal precautions pertaining to the security of the resources allocated to them/resources that belong to them within the scope of the Primary Use. It is the users' responsibility to make backups of the information available on these resources according to the priority of that information. 

4. METU IT Resources should be used under the framework of the regulations specified by the offices that METU administration granted authorization to. The implementations of the authorization granted to the offices should not be contradictory with the initial objectives of granting that specific authority. Appropriate authorization should be implemented for each task to be carried out. The regulations specified by the offices should not be changed or altered or annulled without appropriate permission of the relevant authority. 

5. While using METU IT Resources, the users should respect the copyright and intellectual property rights of all the resources created by using METU IT resources and all the resources (such as software, hardware, network resources) kept or used on METU IT resources (by carefully observing such rules and procedures as obtaining permission/approval, adhering to licensing terms, complying with networking ethics etc.). 

6. METU IT Resources should not be used,

• to transfer, to extend and to lease the right to use METU IT Resources directly or indirectly to others,
• to use METU IT Resources for commercial purposes or for personal monetary gain,

without the explicit approval or authorization of the University Presidency. 

7. METU IT Resources should not be used, 

• to distribute the information resources within METU (announcements, news, documents etc.) to the third parties unless specifically authorized or permitted to do so,
• to gain unauthorized access to the information and resources (computer, computer network, software and services) belonging to METU or third parties,
• to perform applications and activities intending to prevent the use of the resources by other users,
• in manner that damages the resources/jeopardizes the security of the resources.

8. METU IT Resources should not be used,

• to generate, keep or distribute material that is inconsistent with the general code of conduct or ethical/moral behavior,
• to spread political propaganda,
• to send random and unsolicited e-mail messages (SPAM messages).

9. It is forbidden to use METU IT Resources for the purposes of carrying out activities that breach the University regulations, the laws of the Turkish Republic and affiliated regulations. 

10. Disclaimers do not render the cases/incidences that violate General Provisions of this policy acceptable.

4. Authorization and Responsibilities

The University makes available METU IT Resources to the users and maintains the operation and continuity of the services in conformity with the primary purposes and missions of the University.

The users of METU IT Resources are themselves solely responsible from the activities they perform on METU servers with the "User Code/Password" pairs and IP (Internet Protocol) addresses that are assigned to them, all kinds of resources (documents, official paper, software etc.) they have created by using or keep on the METU IT Resources, providing authorized personnel with accurate and intact facts/information about the use of resources when required in compliance with the usage terms of those resources, with the Regulations of the University, with the Laws of the Turkish Republic and affiliated regulations.

The METU administration reserves the right to take sides in the issues causing disputes between METU Users/Special Users and the third parties.

The METU Presidency and/or the departments that METU Presidency authorized are entitled to specify the all-encompassing rules, regulations and policies about METU IT Resources, review and revise them regularly according to the demands of the emerging new technologies, implement and enforce the required amendments. The changes committed shall be announced publicly via the general announcement mechanisms.

5. Procedures and Sanctions

If one or more of the General Provisions of this policy are violated and METU IT Resources are inappropriately used, this may result in one or more of the following actions

depending on

If in any case, the Use and the User definitions set forth within this policy cannot govern certain circumstances, or if the terms and definitions of "METU Information Technology Resources Use Policy" do not suffice to explain some special or exceptional incidences, such cases shall be evaluated and settled by METU authorities.

METU Information Technology Resources Use Policy v2.1, March 28th, 2008