General Information

Through its Customer Care/Support Center (http://www.fiu.edu/~utssc, utssc@fiu.edu, (305)-348-2284), UTS offers around-the-clock, help desk assistance for most computer-related problems, and for setting up and maintaining computer accounts.

• Connection Services
• Email Accounts
• Computing Labs
• iNET and the Freshman Class
• Computing and Networking Practices

Panther Connections. All on-campus computers can be directly connected to the high-speed University-wide network. If you live in a University residence hall, you may be able to get an Internet connection without tying up your telephone.

Off-Campus Connectivity. You can telephone-connect to the University network from home if you have a computer, modem, dial-up software, and an FIU computer account. You may access Internet and do graphical browsing from home if you have PPP access.

PPP Account. A PPP (Point-to-point Protocol) account is your passport to dial-up Internet access. Currently, undergraduate students have to be enrolled in an Internet-related course and/or have an instructor's permission to have a PPP account. Click here to apply for a PPP account.

Click here for general information on how to get connected to FIU's high-speed network and dial-up modem pool.

E-mail Accounts. All FIU students are automatically furnished an FIU-Email account. Click here to look up your FIU E-mail address and initial password.

On-Campus Labs. UTS and other departments have "open," instructional, and research computing labs at UP and BB campuses. The labs are normally open weekdays from 8 am to 11 pm, and some have weekend hours. Most of these labs are directly wired for Internet access. Click here: for UP UTS Lab information; Click here for BBC UTS Lab Information.

iNET and the Freshman Class. All freshmen entering the University after Spring 2000 will be a part of the iNET Project, designed to enhance students' use of computers and technology, in both their course work and communications with various academic and administrative support services. Click here for an overview of on-line services for students.

AT&T Global Network and Prodigy Services. University Technology Services' contracts with AT&T and Prodigy allow FIU's students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends to subscribe- at discounted rates- to Internet dial-up access services. These fee-based services are provided as an alternative and complement to FIU's modem pool dial-in service. The AT&T service offers local calling service all over the world, including a 1-800 number to use when local numbers just aren't available. The Prodigy service is very similar, but you cannot dial-up if you are outside the United States.

Remember! If you need any kind of computer help...
visit the UTS Customer Care/Support Center
305-348-2284

Computing & Networking Practices

It is important for all University students and personnel to practice responsible and ethical behavior in their computing activities.  They have access to many valuable and sensitive resources, and their computing practices can adversely affect other persons and/or diminish the reputation of the University.

Computer users who do not act responsibly, have the potential for disrupting others, or even for stealing or damaging their work.  Recent network technology even makes it possible for computer abusers to seriously affect those outside the University community.  . For the most complete and current information about FIU computing and networking policies, click here.

Copyrights, Intellectual Property, Dishonesty: Copyrighted materials cannot be duplicated without the proper release forms. Copyright laws apply to all electronically available information.  Illegitimate use of such property includes, but is not limited to:

(1) Reproduction of copyrighted materials, trademarks, or other protected material in any electronic form without express written permission from the material's owner. Many of the materials found on the World Wide Web enjoy protected status under current intellectual property laws.  Web authors are cautioned to limit the usage of such materials in their own publications.

(2) Distribution or duplication of copyrighted software without appropriate licensing agreements or use of software in a manner inconsistent with its license. Each University department head must make reasonable efforts to ensure that individuals under his or her supervision adhere to appropriate software licensing agreements, including those negotiated by University Tehcnology Services for the University as a whole. Illegally duplicating or distributing software is a felony in Florida.

(3) Distribution or reproduction, in any digital form, of copyrighted music, video, or other multimedia content without the express written permission of the material's rightful owner.

(4) Improperly accessing or copying files related to research or coursework is a serious violation and may be considered professional or academic misconduct. Persons who knowingly receive, divulge, or pass on University computer data that has been improperly accessed or obtained shall be considered accessories to the original infraction.

Privacy: Users should apply standards of normal academic ethics and polite conduct to their use of University computing resources.  Contemporary ethics demands the respect of privacy.Unauthorized access of, damage of, or tampering with any information stored in a University computer is a direct violation of privacy and University regulations governing equipment.  Willful and improper access to, alteration of, or divulging of the contents of student or personnel record files or other proprietary administrative files is prohibited, and, may be a consideration for disciplinary action.  By state law, all electronic mail sent from, or received at, state facilities is subject to scrutiny under guidelines warranting formal investigation.

Standards of Communication: Obscene, racist, sexist, harassing, or threatening language or actions violate ethical and University standards, and are subject to University guidelines governing discrimination.

Damage or Disruption: (1) Any unauthorized, deliberate action which damages or disrupts a University computing or networking system, alters its normal performance, or causes it to malfunction is a violation of this policy, regardless of system location or time duration.(2) The willful introduction of computer "viruses," "worms," "denial of service" routines, or other disruptive or destructive programs or devices into the University computing and networking environment, or into other environments, via external networks to which the University is connected, is prohibited.

(3) Use of any University computing or telecommunications device to gain unauthorized access to a non-University computing or networking system is prohibited.

(4) Users may not use any University computing or networking resource to perform any activity which could damage the reputation of the University.

(5) The University will seek appropriate reimbursement and recovery costs due to willful acts to damage University property.

Commercial or Private Use: (1) Individuals are prohibited from using their University accounts in association with any unauthorized commercial or private purpose or enterprise. This includes, but is not limited to, advertising a product or service on personal Web pages, fund-raising or advertising on behalf of unsanctioned non-University organizations, publicizing of unsanctioned non-University activities, the reselling of University resources to any non-University individuals or organizations, and the unauthorized use of the University's name or logos.

(2) Incidental personal use of University computing and networking systems such as browsing the web to check for the daily weather report, or sending short E-mails to friends or relatives is permissible. Such usage should not deny or restrict other users' access to system resources or interfere with job performance.

PROCEDURE
Suspected violations of the federal, state, or local law should be reported to the appropriate civil authorities.  Suspected violations of University policy or standards should be reported to University Technology Services (UTS), and will then be investigated and dealt with through the appropriate University authorities.

Access to computing or networking resources may be restricted or denied, without warning, as a result of alleged or actual violations of law or University policy.  UTS will cooperate with investigative authorities as required by court order, warrant, subpoena, or other legal discovery in the collection of evidence of possible violations of law through the misuse of computing or networking resources.

Disciplinary action for violating the University policies set forth above shall be governed by the applicable provisions of University student handbooks, faculty and staff handbooks, and personnel policy manuals.  See the Academic Affairs Policies and Procedures Manual.