UC Santa Cruz ResNet Responsible Use Policy

UCSC CUHS, in partnership with the campus Network & Telecommunications Services group provides in-room connection services in the residence halls in support of the educational mission of UC Santa Cruz. Use of these services is a privilege. As such, it is the responsibility of each resident to use these services appropriately and in compliance with all University, City, County, State and Federal and regulations, or face possible revocation of such privilege.

According to the policies for use of UCSC computing facilities (“Computing Use Policy”) by which all UCSC students must abide:

Campus units that administer computers may also establish guidelines for the appropriate use of their equipment in addition to these campuswide policies. These guidelines must be consistent with campuswide policies.

Under that authority, the ResNet administration has the following guidelines that are incorporated under the umbrella policy and which are also governed by the campuswide policies of UC Policies Applying to Students, UCSC Rule Book and UC Electronic Mail Policy and specific policies of UCSC Colleges and University Housing Services.

• Any modification or unauthorized repairs to phone or data wiring in the residence halls is considered destruction of University property. If you believe your outlet needs repair, contact the ResNet Help Desk.
• The ResNet Ethernet service may be extended from its wall outlet with a twisted pair drop cord up to 10 meters (33 feet) long. Extension of the Ethernet Service from the wall outlet outside the room or apartment or using electronics equipment, such as bridges or routers, is not permitted.
• Students must use UL listed equipment and materials, including computers, extension cords, answering machines, etc.
• Residents understand that the network extended to student rooms is the property of the University and that the campus network administrators monitor and inspect network traffic for the purposes of assuring both proper operation of the network and fair allocation of its resources.
• The ResNet may not be used to provide computer services or Internet access to anyone outside of the Residence Halls community for any purposes (other than those in direct support of the academic mission of the University).
• The ResNet may not be used to provide UCSC computer servers that may potentially disrupt the operation of the UCSC campus network. Specifically, no ResNet system may be an authoritative DNS server.
• The ResNet is a shared resource. Thus network use or applications which inhibit or interfere with the use of the network by others are not permitted. (For example, applications which use an unusually high portion of the bandwidth for extended periods of time, thus inhibiting the use of the network by others, are not permitted). Users may be asked to cease any system activity that directly or indirectly creates interference in the operation and administration of the network.
• Use of ResNet facilities to make copyrighted materials available on the network in a manner contrary to copyrights or license agreements is prohibited regardless of the source of the copied materials.
• ResNet access to the University’s network services may not be used for commercial purposes, for personal financial gain, nor may the services be exchanged for money or any other thing of value. Advertising of the availability for sale of miscellaneous used personal property belonging to the resident is not commercial within the meaning of this paragraph.
• ResNet connections may not be used to monitor network data or devices by means of hardware or software applications.
• ResNet connections may not be used for unauthorized attempts to circumvent data protection schemes or uncover security loopholes. This includes creating and/or running programs that are designed to identify security loopholes (typically referred to as port scanning) and/or decrypt intentionally secure data.
• Students are reminded that they should not use their computers in a hostile manner. Any activity with the purpose of denying another user the use of the network is harassment, which is a violation of the computing use rules.
• Computers used on ResNet must be configured to acquire their IP network address automatically from our servers. Manual configuration options in some operating systems may interfere with someone else's use of the ResNet service by taking their address. Computers or operating systems that cannot acquire an IP address automatically are not compatible with the ResNet service offering and may not be used on our network.
• Ethernet devices are provided with a unique hardware address at the time they are manufactured. This Ethernet Address is separate and distinct from the IP address discussed above. Equipment used on ResNet must use a manufacturer assigned address. Equipment that either (a) uses an address of all zeros, or (b) changes its address from day to day is either defective or infected with an abusive computer program (worm or virus). In either case, it is a violation of our rules to knowingly operate a computer that does not use manufacturer assigned addresses on our network.

This list is not exhaustive and may be modified, in writing, at any time.

Resident and non-resident users must abide by these policies and all guidelines.

You are ultimately responsible for all use of the network connection in your room.

Student violations of the above policies will be handled through normal policy violation procedures established by UCSC Colleges and University Housing Services, the campus Network & Telecommunications Services group, Student Judicial Affairs Office and/or the University Police Department. Failure to comply with any of the above guidelines may result in sanctions consistent with the violation of University rules as presented in the Computing Use Policy, UC Electronic Communications Policy, UC Policies Applying to Students or UCSC Rule Book which may include warnings, termination of in-room network services, forfeiture of housing, suspension or dismissal, other Residence Halls or University disciplinary action, and/or criminal prosecution.

In accordance with University guidelines and/or court orders, files and transmissions may be subject to search and examination by system administrators or employees as required to protect users and the integrity of computers systems such as those that are suspected to be involved in unauthorized use or misuse, or that have been corrupted or damaged.

Questions about this policy or whether a particular activity would violate it should be addressed to John Rocchio, ResNet Manager, at (831) 459-3506 or through email at