The College uses Gmail as the email system and you will be issued with a College email account during your IT induction. Email is a major form of communication with your tutors, the Students' Union and other College staff so please always use the allocated account and check it on a regular basis. If you have difficulty accessing your allocated account or have queries related to the IT systems, wifi access etc, please contact the IT Helpdesk located on the third floor at Room 3.22 or email the IT Helpdesk - ithelpdesk@pca.ac.uk. The Multimedia Lab team are also situated within the room. In addition, helpline telephones are placed either inside or just outside the IT suites, and alongside the photocopiers which students can use to contact the IT Helpdesk. More complex queries on using software related to your programme should be directed to your lecturer / technician.

In the event of working remotely / online the IT Helpdesk is still available to assist on email.

Please keep your password safe and do not share it with anyone else. If you forget it, don't worry as you can reset it by visiting webmail.pca.ac.uk and click on the ‘Forgot password?’ link. Alternatively visit the IT Helpdesk in person and they’ll be happy to assist.

Email: ithelpdesk@pca.ac.uk

Telephone: 01752 203449

The College has an Acceptable Use Policy which must be adhered to by all users - staff and students. The network must not be used for any activity that may be reasonably regarded as unlawful or potentially unlawful.

Our network must not be used for any activity that may be reasonably regarded as unlawful or potentially unlawful. Examples are provided below:

• creation or transmission, or causing the transmission, of any offensive, obscene or indecent images, data or other material, or any data capable of being resolved into obscene or indecent images or material

• creation or transmission of material with the intent to cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety

• creation or transmission of material with the intent to defraud

• creation or transmission of defamatory material

• creation or transmission of material such that this infringes the copyright of another person

• creation or transmission of unsolicited bulk or marketing material to users of networked facilities or services, save where that material is embedded within, or is otherwise part of, a service to which the user or their User Organisation has chosen to subscribe

• deliberate unauthorised access to networked facilities or services

• deliberate or reckless activities having, with reasonable likelihood, any of the following characteristics:

  • wasting staff effort or Janet resources, including time on end systems on another User Organisation’s network, and the effort of staff involved in the support of those systems

  • corrupting or destroying other users’ data

  • violating the privacy of other users

  • disrupting the work of other users

  • denying service to other users (for example, by overloading of wireless access points, or the wired network)

  • continuing to use an item of software or hardware after a member of staff has requested that use cease because it is causing disruption to the correct functioning of the network

  • other misuse of the technology, such as the introduction of “viruses” or other harmful software

• where our network is being used to access another network, any deliberate or persistent breach of the acceptable use policy of that network will be regarded as unacceptable use of the College’s ICT resources

• any deliberate or persistent breach of industry good practice (as represented by the current standards of the London Internet Exchange) that is likely to damage the reputation of Plymouth College of Art will also be regarded prima facie as unacceptable use of the Plymouth College of Art network.

Users shall not:

• introduce data-interception, password-detecting or similar software or devices to our network

• seek to gain unauthorised access to restricted areas of our network

• access or try to access data where the user knows or ought to know that they should have no access

• carry out any hacking activities

• intentionally or recklessly introduce any form of spyware, computer virus or other potentially malicious software.

Exemptions

Exemption requests to these usage terms for specific projects must be submitted to the Head of ICT and an approved response must be received via email. It should be noted that exemption requests will most likely involve third parties, so an immediate response should not be expected.

Consequences of Breach

In the event of a breach of this policy by a User the College may:

• • Disable, or terminate a User’s access to the Network.

  • Erase any material that breaches College Policies

  • Disclose to law enforcement agencies and may take disciplinary and/or legal action.

  • take own disciplinary and/or legal action in accordance with Disciplinary Procedures for Students or PD02 Disciplinary Policy and Procedure (Staff).

Definitions

• • College Network - all computers, peripherals, networks, software and data. Also IT Facilities owned by other organisations or privately owned which are connected to the College network or accessing College data through any means.