Computer User Policy

As an institution founded to acquire and disseminate knowledge, Point Loma Nazarene University strongly encourages the free exchange of ideas and information among all members of its community and with members of other communities. The tools of communication can be a means of intellectual, social, cultural, emotional and moral growth, but they also can be a means of harassment and destructiveness. Point Loma as a whole finds a compelling need not only to facilitate the free flow of information, but also to encourage civility, to obey legal strictures and to enforce its own policies and standards. Consequently, students in the Point Loma community are expected to exercise responsibility, use computing resources ethically, respect the rights and privacy of others, and operate within the bounds of the law and of University policy and standards.

The University reserves the right to restrict the use of its computer facilities and limit access to its networks when faced with evidence of violations of University policies or standards, of contractual obligations or of federal or state laws. The University has the right to remove or limit access to material posted on or transmitted by its computers. Software, files and materials stored on or transmitted by University computer equipment will be considered property of the University.

In matters not controlled by law or institutional policy, the University urges students to exhibit ethical conduct in the use of computing resources. Electronic communication is ubiquitous and less personal in nature than other forms of interaction. Students are encouraged to engage in such communication within bounds of reasonable civility.