Princeton University Information Technology Policy

University policies apply to university-owned devices and systems, as well as privately-owned devices using the University’s networks and resources. The policies apply to technology administered by individual departments, to information services hosted by dorm-resident students or by authorized resident visitors on their own hardware connected to the campus network, to the resources administered by central administrative departments such as University Libraries or OIT (Office of Information Technology), to authorized collaborative devices connected to the campus network and using University Internet addresses, to personally-owned devices connected by wire or wireless service to the campus network from University-owned housing or via campus locations providing mobile wired access or wireless access, and to actions originating from computer systems or mobile devices maintained or used by members of the campus community off-campus, but connecting remotely to the University's network services and under the aegis of the University's name. The policies also apply to actions of visitors to the campus who avail themselves of the University’s temporary visitor wireless network access service and those who register their computers and other devices through Conference and Events Services programs or through other offices, for use of the campus network.

Privately-owned computer systems or mobile devices, or those owned by collaborative research projects, when attached to, or connected via, the campus data network and/or other campus resources, are subject to the same responsibilities and regulations as pertain to University-owned devices and systems. University account holders including departmental computer users with University accounts who use computers or mobile devices belonging to others to connect to the campus network either directly or via Virtual Private Network (VPN) must assure that the devices are in compliance with University regulations before making such connections, except when accessing only Princeton University public World-Wide Websites from the outside device.

In general, as stated in Rights, Rules, Responsibilities, the University normally does not impose penalties for misconduct off campus beyond the local vicinity. However, electronic misconduct directed by a member of the Princeton University community against another member or members of the Princeton community may be actionable regardless of the network or devices used or the location from which the misconduct originated. As per RRR, judgments about such incidents will depend on the facts of an individual case.

All faculty, students, staff, departmental computer users, and authorized visitors, and others who may be granted use of the University’s systems and network services, must comply with the University’s policies. When a member of the University community is found to be in violation of policy, any disciplinary action is handled by the normal University authority and via the normal disciplinary process that would apply for other types of infractions. When an authorized visitor or departmental computing user is in violation of policy, the University sponsor or host may be held accountable. If the matter involves illegal action, law enforcement agencies may become involved as they would for campus actions that do not involve the information technologies or Internet.