ITS Technology Policies

ITS Technology Policies

Access & Compliance | Banner | Dialup | Electronic Communications

Please report inappropriate use to the
User Advocate Committee

Email Lists | Mcard | Mediated Classrooms | Password |

Printing | Proper Use | Server | Software | Training

Uniqname | VPN | Web Pages and Blogs | Wireless Network

Welcome to the University of Michigan information technology environment. The University provides many information technology resources for its community. Whenever you use these resources, you implicitly agree to abide by the highest standards of responsibility to your colleagues - the faculty, staff, students and external users who share this environment. Users are required to comply with all University policies and state and federal laws concerning appropriate use of information technology. Non-compliance is considered a serious breach of community standards and may result in disciplinary or legal action.

Users of UM computing resources are subject to a number of policies and guidelines. A complete listing and full text of UM policies on information technology is available online at http://www.umich.edu/~policies/. In addition to these general UM policies, UM-Flint users are subject to the policies and guidelines established by the Flint campus (see below).

The Proper Use of Information Technology at the University of Michigan - Flint

Policy
It is the policy of the University (1) to attempt to provide appropriate access to local, national, and international sources of information and (2) that information resources will be used by members of its community with respect for privacy and the public trust.

In accordance with the policies above, the University works to ensure that intellectual property and University records are protected from unauthorized use or distribution.

Authorized Use
As conditions of use for Information Technology Services (ITS) facilities and communication systems accessed through their use, all users agree to respect (1) the privacy of University records, (2) the legal protection provided by copyright and license agreements for programs and data, (3) the intended use for which access to the resources was granted, and (4) the integrity of the computing systems.

Appropriate Use
All users of computing resources should be mindful of the impact of their participation on the campus community, and should engage in only authorized use and should abide by standards of good citizenship in general.

Responsible Use
Users of ITS resources are expected to use those resources in a responsible and efficient manner. Users are expected to refrain from engaging in illegal, unauthorized, inappropriate, for-profit, or deliberately wasteful practices as outlined in the Standard Practice Guide.

The UM-Flint User Advocate Committee (more information) is an ad-hoc committee charged with reviewing alleged violations of University policies concerning information technology and determining appropriate penalties. To report suspected violations of University information technology policies, please use the online User Advocate form.

Access and Compliance Statement
Please read the ITS Access and Compliance document, designed to acquaint institutional data users at the University of Michigan-Flint with the policies that define and regulate responsible use of information.

RESPONSIBILITY: The granting of access carries with it an implicit bond of trust that:

You are responsible for all actions within your account. All actions can be traced back to you like a fingerprint.

You will not allow anyone else to use your UM-Flint computer account to access or obtain access to sensitive data not within the scope of one's University responsibilities.

You will be a responsible user of data, whether it is data relating to your own unit or another unit.

Data that you obtain from these data sets will be stored under secure conditions.

You will make every reasonable effort to maintain privacy of the data.

You will make every reasonable effort to interpret the data accurately and in a professional manner.

Prior to sharing data with others, electronically or otherwise, ensure that the recipient is authorized to access the data and understands their responsibilities as a user.

You will sign off or lock the systems when not using them.

You will keep passwords to yourself.

You will store/secure confidential and sensitive information, reports, etc. in an appropriate manner when not using them.

You will dispose of confidential reports in an appropriate manner when done with them.

VIOLATIONS: Misuse of the data in or from these data sets will subject you to disciplinary action as described in Standard Practice Guide section 201.12 (Discipline-Performance and Conduct Standards) and as deemed appropriate by executive authority.

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Uniqname Policy

Identification
A uniqname is a personal identifier that is required for using University of Michigan computing services (for example, Wolverine Access, the University of Michigan Online Directory (UMOD), the MichNet Dial-In Service, the Computer Aided Engineering Network (CAEN), the Institutional File System (IFS), dial-in access to the Network Access Server (NAS), and the local area (LAN) and wireless networks at the UM-Flint campus. Your uniqname is very important as it identifies you to these and other service providers. You may tell anyone your uniqname because it will be used widely and helps others to find and communicate with you specifically.

Authentication
You will also receive an UMICH (also called Ann Arbor or Kerberos) password for your uniqname. Your UMICH password allows you to authenticate, or prove, your uniqname identity when you access services. DO NOT TELL ANYONE YOUR UMICH PASSWORD. Protecting your password is your responsibility in order to guard against unauthorized use of services in your name.

Authorization
You will be able to use many services right away without any special authorization from the service provider. Other service providers may require you to make special arrangements with them to be authorized for their services (they will need to know your uniqname to give you authorization).

Your Uniqname
Your uniqname was automatically assigned. Your uniqname is both long-lived and widely published. If you find that you must change your uniqname, you must appear in person at the ITS office on the Flint campus. All uniqname changes are subject to review and, if approved, a fee will be assessed.

Password Policy (Effective Winter 2005)

LAN and Banner computer passwords (consult flyer "What are all these Passwords for?") for UM-Flint faculty and staff will expire every 90 days.
Users will not be allowed to immediately change their new password back to their old password. The systems will keep an encrypted history of passwords thereby decreasing the chance for repetition.
ITS will enable password filtering to disallow commonly used passwords (consult Prohibited Password List).
Passwords will require a length of at least 8 characters.
For special accounts deemed appropriate by ITS personnel, the same requirements would apply except with a 30-day expiration date.

For more information, please consult the Password Security campaign.

Banner Access and Compliance
Please read the ITS Access and Compliance document, designed to acquaint institutional data users at the University of Michigan-Flint with the policies that define and regulate responsible use of information.

Dialup Access Disclaimer
The University of Michigan will not assume liability for any miscellaneous charges incurred by any individual as a result of using the University computing systems, including but not limited to:

Long distance charges from using dialup networking services
Repair to personal equipment and supplies
Loss or corruption of files
Loss of wages or fees paid to third parties for services rendered

Electronic Communication Policy
Approved by the Technology and Technology Fee Committees (Effective Fall 2004)

Purpose of the Policy

The University of Michigan-Flint is committed to using available technology to communicate among members of the campus community and recognizes an expanding reliance on electronic communication among students, faculty, staff, and the administration. This policy will define the proper use of electronic communications.

Policy

The University of Michigan-Flint authorizes the use of the University email address as an appropriate mechanism for official communication between members of the campus community. All members of the campus community are expected to comply with established guidelines and procedures, which define the proper use of electronic communications.

Provision of University Email

The University of Michigan-Flint will provide all students, faculty, and staff with an official University Outlook email account (uniqname@umflint.edu). This will be the address listed in University directories and records. The University will direct all official email communications to this address.

Use of University Email

Certain University electronic communications may be time-critical. Users are responsible for checking their official University Outlook email account (uniqname@umflint.edu) on a frequent and consistent basis in order to stay current with University communications.

This includes, but is not limited to: policy announcements, important dates and deadlines, emergency notices, registration and financial information, meeting and event notifications, and correspondence between students, faculty, staff, and the administration.

Redirecting of Email

Users who elect to redirect (forward) messages sent to their official uniqname@umflint.edu email address to another address (such as AOL, Yahoo, or Hotmail) do so at their own risk. Having email lost or delayed as a result of redirection or mislabeled as spam or junk mail does not absolve users from the responsibilities associated with communications sent to their official email address. The University is not responsible for the handling of email by outside vendors or unofficial servers.

Responding to an Unofficial Email Address

Users need to be careful when responding in detail to a formal University business inquiry sent from an unofficial email address, since there is no assurance that the sender is a member of the University community. For security reasons, users should provide a generic reply to an inquiry from a non-university email address and request that the inquiry is sent through a University tool that requires authentication, such as Outlook Webmail, SIS, or Blackboard.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Official University communications sent by email are subject to the same public information, privacy and records retention requirements and policies as other official University communications.

Confidentiality regarding student records is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). All use of email, including use for sensitive or confidential information, must be consistent with FERPA.

REFERENCES

This Electronic Communication Policy complies with the guidelines as found in:

Policies and guidelines set forth by the University in the Standard Practice Guide:
Privacy of Electronic Mail and computer Files at the University of Michigan (SPG) 601.11 (http://spg.umich.edu/pdf/601.11.pdf)
Proper Use of Information Resources, Information Technology, and Networks at the University of Michigan (SPG) 601.7 (http://spg.umich.edu/pdf/601.07-0.pdf)
MichNet Policy: Policies for Organizations and End Users (http://www.merit.edu/mn/about/policies.html)
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html)
UM-Flint Information Technology Services Policies (http://ww2.umflint.edu/its/policies.htm)
UM-Flint Student Rights Policy (http://www.umflint.edu/departments/catalog/acadpol/sturghts.html)

Email List Serve Policies

The University encourages use of electronic mail by members of its community, but members must do so with sensitivity to the rights of those with whom they communicate and with the highest standards of ethics.

Electronic Communication Policy | Email Accounts: Faculty/Staff - Students | Email Lists | List Serve G uidelines

Do you need to send email to multiple people within the University? ITS supports email list serves that can be used by various people to communicate items of interest within the University of Michigan - Flint.

Email Etiquette Tips
University of Michigan Guideline on Sending Chain Email

Mcard Policy (Effective Fall 2005)

OBTAINING AN MCARD
UM-Flint students, faculty, and staff can obtain a new or replacement Photo ID card (Mcard) by going to one of the UM-Flint Mcard Stations (please consult the list on the right). The Mcard stations are open during normal lab hours. Mobile Mcard Stations are placed in the University Pavilion (next to Subway) at the start of each semester. Please check the Mcard Project page for dates and times. Picture Identification is required to obtain an Mcard.

The Mcard is required by the Library for printing and checking out books and by the Recreation Center for use of the facilities.

LOST, STOLEN OR DAMAGED MCARDS
There is a $10.00 fee to replace Mcards that are lost, stolen, or damaged. You are required to pay the fee at the Cashier's Office located at 261 University Pavilion and bring the receipt to the Mcard Station before the Mcard can be replaced.

No fee will be charged to replace an Mcard for name or department changes, expired cards, or a card that no longer functions due to normal wear. You are required to turn in your old Mcard when requesting a no-fee replacement.

Note: All photo ID and non photo ID cards are property of the University of Michigan and must be surrendered upon request.

UM-Flint Mcard Stations
(in Open Computing Labs)

206 Murchie Science Building

3174 William S. White Building (WSW)

Mcard Project

What is an MCard?

Mediated Classroom Services (MCS) Policies (Revised Winter 2005)
Classroom Policies and Procedures
These policies address proper use of equipment, energy saving, and seating capacities. Please help MCS maintain an excellent classroom environment by following these policies.

View the entire Classroom Policy at http://ww2.umflint.edu/its/mcs/classroom_policies.htm

Equipment Scheduling and Delivery Policies
Many classrooms are already equipped with a Smart Cart, an AV Cart, or a TV with a DVD/VCR combo. Please consult the classroom listing to see if the classroom has the desired features before placing an equipment order.

Faculty, staff, and departmental secretaries may place orders. Students MAY NOT place equipment orders. If students need equipment for a class assignment, they must go through their instructors for order placement. Orders may be placed by using the online equipment order form.

View the entire Equipment Delivery Policy at http://ww2.umflint.edu/its/mcs/delivery_policies.htm

Server Usage (Revised Winter 2006)

ITS has increased the free amount of space offered and offers additional space at low rates. Students, who previously had 100 MB of storage for their home (H:) drive, now have 500 MB. Faculty and staff also received an increase from 150 MB to 500 MB of space on their home (H:) drive. Departments around campus will find an increase to 1 GB on their departmental (I:) drive, with additional storage space available for a fee.

Personal space (H:drive)
Students, faculty and staff are provided with 500 MB of storage free of charge for their home (H:) drive. Any additional space required by faculty and staff for their home (H:) drive will require an annual fee of $15.00 per 100 MB.

Departmental space (I:drive)
1 GB of space will be initially provided to all departments. The departments can request additional free space until they reach 5 GB, at which time one of the following fees will be assessed: an annual fee of $60.00 per 1 GB of additional storage space, excluding the initial free 5 GB (this fee will cover storage, backups, restoration from tape, and maintenance).

Space on Progdata (ftp://progdata.umflint.edu)
Space is available upon request. There will be no charge for storage but all requests above 10 megabytes are subject to ITS review.

For more information on server space availability and fees, please consult the Fee-Based Services Chart.

Student Printing
Approved by the Technology Committee (Effective Fall 1998, Updated Winter 2007)

ITS provides laser printing services at all open computing labs and instructional labs for use in support of academic work. This service includes providing operational printers and adequate printing supplies. The following guidelines will be followed in administering the student printing process.

Uniprint Accounts
- Registered Students
  All registered students with a uniqname automatically receive $16 in their Uniprint Account to print during Fall, Winter and Spring/Summer semesters. The budget used to cover this expense will be derived from the maintenance portion of the Technology Fee dollars provided to ITS.
  
  Adding funds:
  Registered students requiring more than $16/semester can obtain more funds in their Uniprint Account by logging into Student Information Services (SIS). In SIS, click on “Student Services and Financial Aid”, click on “My Student Computer Account”, and then select the link to add Uniprint money. Printing funds that you add will be available to use immediately. When you request for additional funds to be added to your Uniprint account, a charge will be made to your university student account. You can pay this bill at the Cashier’s office or pay online with a credit card.
  
  Surplus funds:
  Students will not be permitted to accumulate funds across semesters. Refunds will not be made for leftover amounts from the initial $16 printing allowance and the remaining funds will not carry over to future semesters. At the end of the semester, if you added more funds than you used, you will be refunded for all amounts over $2.00. For example: if you add $10 to your account, but only use $5, then a $5 credit will be made to your student account. This refund is made to your university student account and not your Uniprint account.
- Others
  Anyone who is not a current student (such as alumni) must visit the ITS office in 207 MSB to add money to their print account.
Uniprint Cards (no longer usable)
The card reader was removed from the labs at the end of the Fall 2006 semester.
Fees
Any fees charged to students for printing shall not exceed the cost per page of providing the hardware and supplies.
- The cost for black/white printing is $0.05 per page.
- The cost for color printing is $0.30 per page.

Software Installation in Computer Labs (Effective November 2003)

Introduction
Information Technology Services (ITS) is committed to supporting faculty and staff as they enhance their courses and administrative duties with new technology. In order to ensure that individuals and departments avoid some common problems in utilizing software and gain the most benefit, ITS has established guidelines that departments should follow before they purchase software, whether the software will be used locally, in public computer labs, or on the University's networks.

Following the process outlined below will ensure that the technology you are evaluating and preparing to utilize, either on the campus network or on other University-owned equipment, will work properly within our current infrastructure and with our current equipment and systems. ITS does not guarantee that all software will be compatible with University systems and equipment and suggests that you do not purchase any software until you have consulted with ITS to ensure that the software is compatible.

Consult ITS Before Software is Purchased
To ensure compatibility, please engage ITS early in the process of acquiring new technology for use on University systems and equipment. To ensure that you involve ITS early enough, you should contact the Network Support Services (NSS) team by sending an email to nss@list.flint.umich.edu or by calling 762-3123 and asking for a member of the NSS team as soon as you have a request to evaluate software. They will determine who in ITS should be involved in the evaluation and also begin the process of determining if the software will be compatible with University systems standards. Please note that you should allow 15 days for ITS to complete its compatibility study, and this study must be completed before any software installation can take place.

Incompatible Software
If there is a compelling academic or administrative need for software which does not run on our current network infrastructure, ITS can assist the requesting department in determining the cost for upgrading our systems to meet the needs of the requested software. The requesting department is responsible for unforeseen expenses, identified by ITS staff, that are related to the new software installation project. These costs could include but are not limited to additional required hardware, server space, and database upkeep, for example. Whatever the costs, ITS will assist in identifying these expenses as a result of an investigation of the software’s compatibility, installation, maintenance, and/or upgrades. In the event that ITS upgrades computer systems (ex. ITS installs in labs new computers with OS upgrades) and/or the requested software requires an upgrade, the requesting department is responsible for costs that may be incurred as a result of the system or upgrade changes.

Obtain Proper Licensing Agreements
ITS will not install software without appropriate licensing, and the acquisition of such licensing is the responsibility of the requesting party. Therefore, please make certain that you obtain and provide a sufficient number of valid network licenses, lab licenses, or laptop licenses prior to the installation of any software on individual computers, in entire computer labs, or on University systems and equipment. Software installed in an ITS instructional computer lab must have enough licenses to cover every computer, unless a Keyserver alternative is chosen. (See note below for more information about Keyserver.) Please understand that a software evaluation version will not be accepted. Shareware is not acceptable unless proof of ownership is provided. Freeware will be reviewed per request as dictated by the freeware license agreement.

If the department does not have the funding necessary for purchasing licensing for software, they may apply for funding from the Technology Committee, which is commonly awarded during the Fall semester of each year.

NOTE: Keyserver is a single shared license pool for both open and instructional lab purposes as designated by the requestor. It will limit the usage of the software by placing a counter onto the server that adheres to the number of licenses purchased by the requestor. Therefore the requestor need NOT purchase an entire lab or site license for their instructional software. Keyserver is provided free of charge in all ITS open computer labs. However, there is a charge to install Keyserver into Departmental labs. The department will be responsible for a $5/client per year fee for every Keyserver license that is needed.

Request Software Installation on Network
Please complete the Software Installation Request form available online at http://ww2.umflint.edu/its/forms/software.PDF. Upon submission of the form, all requestors must be prepared to provide media, proof of ownership, and license to an ITS representative.

Installing and testing new software, whether on the University network or other computer assets - including computers in our Public Labs - is a time-consuming and often complex task. If you need software installed before the start of a specific semester, please adhere to these deadlines for requesting your software installation:

Fall Semester - Request must be made by the second week in August
Winter Semester – Request must be made by the first week in December
Spring Semester – Request must be made by the last week in March
Summer Semester – Request must be made by the first week in June

If you are requesting that software be installed any other time, please submit your request at least three weeks in advance. Please understand that ITS will contact the requestor at least one week prior to the implementation date for testing purposes. It is imperative that testing is conducted to allow the ITS staff the time to resolve any issues prior to installation.

For requests that involve adding software to any ITS imaged computer lab, the software will remain installed on the lab image until December 1^st of the following year. If you wish to keep the software on the lab image for a longer period of time, you will be required to renew the software request once before the next expiration date. ITS will send an email reminder to all faculty and staff to remind them to evaluate and renew their software installation requests at least one month before the December 1^st expiration date. Additional compatibility testing is not necessary for renewed software except in the event that ITS has changed the base operating system of the computers in the specific ITS imaged computer lab.

Testing the Software
Once the software purchase has been approved, the licensing has been purchased, and the software has been installed, ITS will contact the requesting party and inform them that they can test the software on a designated computer. It should take no more than two weeks for software installation and one week for testing. No software will be distributed to any labs until the software requestor has tested and certified the installation on the ITS designated computer. Once the new computer image has been approved, ITS will upgrade the computers with the new software within one week. ITS will create and maintain an email list that will be used to send notification messages when new software is ready to be added to a particular ITS imaged computer lab.

Software Conflicts
In the event that a requested piece of software interferes with the functionality of another previously installed piece of software, we have outlined the following steps to resolve the issue:

The parties that have requested the software will be contacted by ITS to inform them of the issue. ITS will ask that the two parties attempt to come to an agreement about which software should be installed.
In the event that the two parties cannot come to an agreement, then ITS will attempt to mediate the two parties and arrive at an amicable solution.
If ITS cannot get the parties to agree on a solution, then the parties can make their case to the Technology Committee for a final resolution.

This policy was endorsed by the Technology Committee (formerly known as the Academic Computing Advisory Committee).

Training Policy (Revised Fall 2003)

As of Fall 2003, due to budget cuts, ITS Workshop offerings in the Microsoft Office Software (Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Word) are no longer available. Students, faculty and staff who are having a specific problem while using one of the Microsoft Office packages may contact the ITS HelpDesk for assistance. Also, individual training/help consultations are available for faculty and staff. Fee-based group trainings can be scheduled. Please visit the ITS Training Services site for more information.

VPN Policies and Proceduresb(Effective June 2005)

Purpose
These policies and procedures apply to the use of UM-Flint’s Virtual Private Network (VPN) service, which is one mechanism UM-Flint provides for authorized users to access University computing and network resources from remote locations. These policies and procedures apply to Faculty and Staff of UM-Flint, and not to students. All other policies covering the use of University computing services by authorized users are still in effect when resources are accessed from remote locations, as are all regulations which protect the confidentiality and integrity of information entrusted to the University’s stewardship.

Benefits
A VPN allows encrypted access to your UM-Flint network resources, such as your UM-Flint desktop and real-time editing of your network documents. This access is available from anywhere, with any computer that has internet access, without having to use FTP.

Definitions

Virtual Private Network (VPN) – is one or more encrypted connections over a shared public network, typically over the Internet, which simulates the behavior of direct, local connections.

Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) – is a communication protocol that enables a user to utilize a dial-up connection (commonly a modem using standard phone lines) to connect to the Internet.

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) – is a method for home users and small businesses to have high-speed access to the Internet over standard telephone lines. Because of the technology used, a DSL customer must be within a certain distance from the phone company’s CO (Central Office) for DSL to be available.

Cable (also referred to as cable modem) – is a type of Internet connection provided by the local cable company, used to transfer data at high speeds over the cable television network.

Account Administration
VPN accounts are automatically created for current faculty and staff of UM-Flint. All VPN users will be authenticated to the VPN server using their UM-Flint LAN account username and password. When a staff or faculty member is no longer employed, the VPN account is terminated at the same time as the LAN account.

Client Connection Setup
UM-Flint’s Information Technology Services Department will provide limited VPN HelpDesk support for the following platforms:

• Windows 2000
• Windows XP (home or professional)
• Mac OS 10.x or higher

Onsite HelpDesk support is available for these operating systems by visiting 207 MSB during normal business hours.

No support is available for any operating systems other than those listed above. Installation on other platforms should only be attempted by experienced users of that platform. Improper setup can result in the complete loss of all network connectivity. Setting up a VPN connection requires changes to the network settings of the computer you are using. Therefore, it is recommended that the VPN connection only be set up on your personal computer, not on computers belonging to other people or institutions.

Client Restrictions
All users must install anti-virus software on each computer from which the VPN server is accessed. The anti-virus software must be updated regularly with new anti-virus definitions. Also, all users are required to keep their computer updated with the latest operating system and software patches available from their respective vendors.

Microsoft Windows-based PC’s should have the automatic updater configured. For information and instructions on automatic updates, visit www.microsoft.com, and search on keywords “automatic update”. Mac OS users should have the software updater configured through the OS system preferences, and Linux users should have the RTM manager configured. Detailed information on configuring supported operating systems for updates is outlined in Quicknote #80 available at the ITS HelpDesk, or online at http://ww2.umflint.edu/its/helpdesk/quicknotes/QN80.pdf

UM-Flint reserves the right to audit all VPN client systems, and all communication between VPN client systems and the UM-Flint network, for compliance with all applicable Information Technology Services security requirements.

Users connecting to the VPN server using a broadband connection, such as cable or DSL, must install and enable a software or hardware firewall. The software firewall built into Windows XP (Service Pack 2) is acceptable, as is Zone Alarm, available free from http://zonelabs.com.

Other Considerations
While a computer is connected to the VPN server, it is logically connected to both the internal UM-Flint network and the Internet. For security reasons, each VPN user should disconnect from the VPN server when access to the UM-Flint network is no longer required. VPN users should be aware that if their VPN connection remains open, their Internet connection is routed and logged through the VPN server and the UM-Flint network. This will result in a slower Internet connection for the VPN user, as well as affecting on-campus network performance for network users. Increased Internet traffic due to VPN users failing to disconnect will result in increased Internet service provider fees to the university.

Non-UM-Flint Users
Third-party individuals (those other than UM-Flint Faculty or Staff), or vendors wishing to gain access permissions for the VPN should contact the UM-Flint Information Technology Services department by email
at nss@list.flint.umich.edu.

Web Pages and Blogs

The students, faculty, and staff of UM-Flint are eligible to create personal Web pages.

Please consult the UM-Flint Personal Webpage Disclaimer below before creating your personal web page. The URL or address of your personal web site can be either:

http://homepage.umflint.edu/~uniqname (H: or Homedrive server--for everyone).

http://www.umflint.edu/~uniqname (Spruce server--for faculty and staff only)

Web sites created on the Spruce server are limited to 5MB of space when initially created. Users can request up to 20MB against their Spruce account. Any Web page that exceeds 20MB will incur storage fees. See ITS Server Usage Policies for more information.

All departmental and student organization web pages must have a link to the UM-Flint Web disclaimer.

Assistance from the ITS Web and Instructional Technology Group is available for faculty and staff who require assistance with Web design.

Faculty, staff, departments and student organizations wishing to obtain Web space on the Spruce server, simply fill out the online Webpage Request Form.

For more information, please consult the University Relations Department for the official UM-Flint Web Publishing Policies and Guidelines. The University Webmaster can provide assistance and guidance with departmental web projects.

Student, Faculty, and Staff may register their already created Web page in the UM-Flint Homepage Gallery. Links to Flyers, Quicknotes and other resources for Web design and publishing are available on the Web Support and Resources page.

Web page design tips:

Use graphics and images sparingly. Keep each image within 1KB.
Post notes, articles, and lecture material in HTML format, or in Word format prior to conversion to HTML or PDF format.
Charts and graphs are better linked as PDF documents.
Update your page on a regular basis, but no less than twice a year. Do not post a service until it is ready to be used (i.e., "Under Construction" signs are discouraged). Faculty and staff may contact the ITS Web and Instructional Technology Group for more assistance with Web design.

Faculty and staff may now participate in the UM-Flint Blog Pilot, located at http://blogs.umflint.edu. More information is available at http://ww2.umflint.edu/its/projects/blogs.htm.

UM-Flint Personal Web Page and Blogs Disclaimer

The contents of all personal web pages and blogs (hereafter referred to as personal pages)published by students, faculty, and staff are solely the responsibility of the page authors. Statements made and opinions expressed on personal pages are strictly those of the authors and not the University of Michigan-Flint.

University of Michigan-Flint does not review, approve, or endorse the contents of personal pages, nor does the University monitor the content of any page except as necessary to investigate alleged violations of University policies, federal, state, or local laws, or the rights of other persons.

All publishers must comply with University policies, including the Proper Use of Information Technology at the University of Michigan-Flint, as well as all applicable laws, including those prohibiting copyright and trademark infringement. Violations may result in the imposition of sanctions.

All comments regarding the contents of personal pages are to be directed to the page author. Suspected violations of University information technology policies can be reported to the UM-Flint User Advocate Committee using the online User Advocate form.

Students, faculty, and staff are responsible for the accuracy of their Homepage Gallery listing. ITS reserves the right to inactivate (without notice) any listing that has a broken link to a web page or blog.

Wireless Policy

Wireless networks operate in both FCC licensed and FCC unlicensed bands. For the purposes of this document, wireless device(s) are defined as any wireless standards-based system conforming to the current 802.11 a, b, g, or n standards and 802.16 standards or to future wireless standards.

End user components, such as a desktop or laptop wireless card, are considered to be outside the scope of this policy and may be specified and installed at the user’s discretion with respect to the limitations outlined below.

Network Terms and Conditions (Effective Fall 2002)

ITS does not guarantee compatibility of wireless pc cards and associated software with user-owned hardware and software and is not required to provide support or troubleshooting assistance for resulting incompatibilities. ITS does not guarantee the availability of wireless internet service and reserves the right to terminate, delay, relocate, or otherwise interrupt service at any time. ITS is not liable for damage or loss incurred by the user for any reason, including but not limited to: power failure; disruption of service; physical damage to hardware; hardware or software incompatibilities; loss or corruption of files; unauthorized adjustments to settings, equipment or software; etc.

Wireless Network Usage (Effective Fall 2005)

To ensure the technical coordination required to provide the best possible wireless network for the University of Michigan – Flint, Information Technology Services (ITS) will be solely responsible for the deployment and management of wireless devices on the campus. No other departments, employees, or students may deploy wireless devices without coordination with ITS. Any wireless devices found to be operating within a UM-Flint-owned structure without the consent of ITS and within a spectrum that conflicts with the UM-Flint Wireless Network may be disconnected and banned from the network. In cases where the device is being used for a specific teaching or research application, ITS will work with the faculty, staff or student to determine whether there are circumstances under which use of the device may still be accommodated without causing interference to other UM-Flint users.

Air Space Policy (Effective Fall 2005)

Wireless networks operate in both FCC licensed and FCC unlicensed bands. Many communication products operate in these bands, and it is not unusual for one piece of equipment to interfere with another. Such interference causes degraded service quality. UM-Flint’s wireless LAN network is currently based on 802.11b standard specifications, and utilizes the FCC unlicensed 2.4 GHz Industrial/Scientific/Medical (ISM) band. Various other wireless devices also utilize this band and can potentially cause interference. Independent deployment of wireless networks and products by departments or individuals can limit the accessibility and quality of service from issues relating to interference and capacity.

In order to assure the highest level of service for all members of the campus community, potential interference with the wireless network must be minimized. ITS has developed guidelines and recommendations for the use of wireless products on campus, similar to other leading Universities in the wireless networking field.

ITS will monitor use of the airspace for potentially interfering devices, and will notify a user if a device is causing interference and potentially disrupting the campus network. In these cases, ITS reserves the right to restrict the use of all wireless devices in university-owned buildings and outdoor spaces on the campus.

ITS will work with the campus community to assist in phasing out other 2.4/5 GHz devices that are specifically used for digital communications in university-owned buildings. This does not prohibit the use of microwave ovens, security alarms, or other devices such as pacemakers, which make use of the 2.4/5 GHz radio frequencies. In cases where the device is being used for a specific teaching or research application, ITS will work with the individual or department to develop a solution that mitigates any potential interference. If you think you have an existing system that may use 2.4/5 GHz radios for transmission, or you are planning to purchase a wireless system and you are uncertain if it employs 2.4/5 GHz radios, please contact ITS.