Guiding principles

The network provides the ability to connect to millions of people and resources. It is very important for each user to recognize his or her responsibility when using this connection. Each user is directly responsible for his or her actions while accessing the network. Users must always remember that just because something can be done, does not mean that it should be done.

The North Park University computing resources and network are for the use of current North Park faculty, students, and staff, and are to be used primarily for the academic, administrative, educational, and research purposes of the institution. Occasional non-institutional use is permitted if (i) the use is not excessive, (ii) does not interfere with the performance of any faculty, staff member, or student’s duties, (iii) does not interfere with the efficient operation of the North Park network or its computing resources, (iv) is not otherwise prohibited by this policy or any other North Park policy or directive, and (v) is not otherwise prohibited by law.

Understand that North Park is a Christian community. Your activities must reflect that when utilizing our resources.

Specific prohibitions (not meant to be all-inclusive): 

• Sending confidential information without encryption. Un-encrypted information can be easily read and re-transmitted. 
• Downloading, keeping, sending, publishing, posting anything that could be considered offensive, vulgar or harassing by North Park Standards. 
• Sending of unsolicited email messages to groups of people. 
• Tampering with any electronic or computer system that you do not own. 
• Actions likely to result in the loss or disruption of another’s work. 
• Accessing or attempting to access information that does not belong to you or to which you do not have legitimate permission to access. 
• Sharing your password with anyone. 
• Using our resources for any illegal, immoral, or unethical activity. 
• Storing of information deemed protected by government regulations on non-North Park-owned computers. 
• Sharing of information deemed protected by government regulations to unauthorized parties. 

Choose passwords that cannot be easily guessed. They protect your personal information and that of others. 

North Park expressly reserves the right to inspect and examine any North Park owned or operated computer system, computing resource, and/or file(s) or information contained therein at any time. This includes email communications stored on our servers and information traveling over our networks.

If you encounter problems with North Park’s computers, please report them by opening a helpdesk ticket, or calling Information Technology.

File sharing

North Park University expects our campus community to be aware of current laws and applicable University policies with respect to computer, network, and internet use. It should be noted that it is illegal to use the North Park network to use file-sharing programs for copyrighted material. Industry organizations have filed copyright infringement lawsuits against individual college students who have used file-sharing programs to share copyrighted information. Violation of copyright laws can have serious consequences in both the areas of civil and criminal liability. North Park University advises students not to engage in peer-to-peer file sharing. We have technology in place to prevent this type of traffic, and there are many alternatives to illegal peer-to-peer file sharing.

Disciplinary actions

The use of North Park’s technology is a privilege, not a right. Abuse of any of the equipment or violation of any of the above stated rules may result in a loss of computing privileges or campus disciplinary procedures through the office of the Dean of Students, or Director of Human Resources.