Policies and Procedures
Acceptable Use
Rules Governing the Use of the Computer Labs
Obtaining Access to the Computer Facilities
Availability of Labs
Lab Consultants
Lab Frequently Asked Questions
Acceptable Use
Computer hardware and software operated by Divison of IT are the property of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The computing resources are intended solely for the administrative and academic needs of the University of Massachusetts Boston and may not be used for any other purposes.
To use any of these systems you must be an active UMass Boston student with a valid UMass Boston ID and current sticker, but you need not be enrolled in a course that requires computer use.
Rules Governing the Use of the Computer Labs
- The computer labs operated by Divison of IT are reserved for UMass Boston students with a current UMass Boston ID card.
- Faculty and staff members with a valid UMass Boston ID card may also use the labs on a space available basis.
- The labs may be used only for valid academic and administrative purposes.
- The software and hardware in the labs are the property of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and may not be used for commercial purposes nor copied.
- Only legally acquired, properly licensed, and installed by the network administrator, software may be used in the labs and its use must be consistent with the terms and limitations of the software license.
- The equipment in the labs may not be used in violation of the University's policies governing plagiarism.
- Users may not eat, drink, or smoke in the labs.
- Users are responsible for the security of their files, diskettes, and tapes.
- A reasonable level of quiet is expected in the labs so that all users may work undisturbed.
- Users may not jeopardize the proper functioning of the equipment, software, or the safety of other users.
- Users may not make any changes to the setup files on the computers in the labs.
- Users may not use the printers to print multiple copies of print jobs.
- Users may not write to the hard drives in the labs.
The Student Consultants who staff the labs have the authority to enforce proper behavior in the labs, including checking ID cards.
Obtaining Access to the Computer Facilities
Use of the labs is limited to faculty, staff, and students currently enrolled at UMass Boston. Users may use any of the microcomputer labs. All users are required to show a valid UMass Boston identification card.
Students must have a proper sticker indicating that they are active students. If you are not enrolled as an active student but need to use the computing resources to finish a course in which you have taken an "Incomplete," you must bring to the Lab Supervisor, Healey Library, Upper Level, both a note from your instructor certifying your need to use the resources and a check for $25 made out to the UMass Boston Computer Trust Fund. You will be given access to the computer labs for the current semester.
Please Note: When you enter a lab, you are required to present a valid Student I.D. (with a current sticker) to the consultant on duty. To borrow any of the software or manuals available in the labs, you must leave a valid UMass Boston student identification card with the Lab Supervisor. Your card will be returned to you when you return the borrowed items. The borrowed materials may not be removed from the lab area.
Availability of Labs
The computer labs on campus have a dual purpose: they are intended for students to use on a walk-in basis and for instructors to conduct classes. One of each type of lab (Windows XP Professional and Macintosh) is left unreserved for student use. The other labs, however, are frequently reserved. The weekly schedule for each lab is posted outside the lab and on-line. Be advised that while seats in the labs are usually plentiful in the early mornings and late evenings, on Fridays and Saturdays, and during the beginning of the semester, the labs are especially crowded in the late afternoon/early evening period, Monday through Thursday, during the midterm period, and at the end of the semester. During these busy periods you should allow additional time to complete your assignments in the labs.
Lab Consultants
Keep in mind that the Student Consultants are not able to provide tutorial services or extensive assistance to individual users, nor can they complete your homework assignments. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the hardware and software by attending workshops and reading relevant textbooks, manuals, and handouts. Always bring to the labs your textbook, lecture notes, a copy of your assignment, and any computer instructions provided by your instructor. If you are in need of academic assistance, see your instructor, your faculty advisor, or the academic support personnel of the College in which you are enrolled.
Please report to the consultant any malfunctioning equipment or damaged diskettes. If you are dissatisfied with the service or facilities or have suggestions for improvements, please send an email message to GULmgr@umb.edu
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
This section contains answers to common questions handled by our support staff, along with some tips and tricks that we have found useful and presented here as questions.
Note: In these answers we will follow a few shorthand conventions for describing user-interface procedures. Key combinations will be presented like this: Ctrl+Alt+Delete, which means that you should press and hold down the Control key, the Alt key, and the Delete key at the same time. Menu selections will be presented like this: File->Open, which means that you should open the File menu, and then make the Open selection.
Where is the Supervisor's Office?
It is located in the middle of the corridor, second door on your left before you reach the Gold lab on the Upper Level of the Healey Library.
Where are the PCs or Macintosh computers?
We have two Macintosh and six PC undergraduate labs, one graduate lab and an Adaptive lab. Their locations, configuration information, and schedule can be found through the GUL home page.
Why do I have to show my ID card and why do I need a valid sticker?
The ID cards and stickers are the only way that we can ensure that members of the UMass Boston community are using our facilities. In the past we have found others tying up machines when students could be doing their homework.
Where are . . .?
The bathrooms are located on the same floor as the lab you're in, on the side opposite from the elevators.
The nearest public telephone is located on the 4th floor of the Healey Library, near the woman's room.
The Lab Supervisor's office is on the Upper Level, next to the Gold Lab.
How do I get out of here?
There is only one exit from the building; you must take the elevator or stairway to the 2nd Floor.
Are there limitations to my use of the computer?
You can only run software that has been authorized by the IT department. If your professor has assigned a software package (for example, accompanying your text book) that can't run on the lab machines, have your professor contact the Lab Supervisor at 617-287-5240 for Macintosh software and the PC Network Administrator at 617-287-5265 for PC Software.
We ask that you do not maliciously delete software nor change the configuration settings so that the machine will be working properly for the next user.
Although you can save to the desktop of the machine. Be warned that the next time someone logs off and onto the system your files will be lost. Therefore bring a diskette with you to save your work. Software materials can be purchased via the vending machine on the 2nd floor.
I don't know how to use the computer. Is there someone who can help me?
Although every open lab has a student lab consultant available to answer questions, he or she may not be able to give you the attention you need. The IT department offers free workshops at the beginning of the semester on commonly used applications, such as MS Word or e-mail. The workshop dates, times, and sign up sheets are posted on the bulletin board outside of the Gold lab, located on the Upper Level of the Healey Library outside of room 41.