Student Email Use Policy
1 Aims
1.1 This policy applies to all students at Canterbury
Christ Church University who use the University email system and
relates to the proper and effective use of email.
1.2 The policy has been developed to help protect the
security and integrity of the systems and maintain the
reputation of the University. It should be read alongside and in
conjunction with the Regulations for the Acceptable Use of
University IT.
2 Principles
2.1 All students are individually responsible for
adhering to this and other policies governing the use of
computing services. Students must abide by these rules when
using the University email system.
2.2 The allocation of computing resources is provided
primarily for academic use to support teaching, learning and
research.
2.3 All electronic communication from the University to
students will be to their University email address
(name@canterbury.ac.uk). Students must check their University
email regularly, it is recommended at least weekly during term
time.
3 Email Use
3.1 Students are prohibited from
3.1.1. Sending any electronic communications whose
meaning, transmission or distribution is illegal, unethical,
fraudulent, defamatory, harassing or offensive. Material that
may be considered inappropriate, offensive or disrespectful to
others should not be sent or received as electronic
communications using university facilities.
3.1.2. Taking any actions likely to adversely affect the
capacity or performance of the email system
3.1.3. Sending unsolicited bulk email messages ("junk
mail" or "spam") which is disruptive and generates, or is likely
to generate, a significant number of user complaints.
3.1.4. Bulk sending of emails containing attachments.
3.1.5. Forwarding or otherwise propagating chain letters
and pyramid schemes, including ostensibly charitable appeals and
whether or not the recipient wishes to receive such mailings.
3.1.6. Attempting to conceal their identity when sending
electronic mail.
3.1.7. Forwarding or otherwise propagating in bulk
unverified information such as hoax virus warnings.
3.1.8. Sending email to any person whom the sender is
aware does not wish to receive it.
3.1.9. Harassment, whether through language, frequency,
content or size of messages.
3.1.10. Malicious email, including "mailbombing" or
flooding a user with very large or numerous pieces of email.
3.1.11. Forging of sender information or other
concealment of identity with an attempt to deceive.
3.1.12. Sending email for commercial gain, other than
relating to a student’s employment.
3.2 Email resources are limited and an individual student
has a quota on the amount of personal disk space. No student may
borrow the user-name or resources allocated to someone else.
3.3 If authorisation to use the facilities has been
temporarily or permanently withdrawn it is a disciplinary
offence to use, or to attempt to gain access to, another user’s
account.
3.4 Moderate use of e-mail for personal and social
purposes is allowed as long as this is reasonable. This is a
privilege not a right, and may be withdrawn. Personal use should
at no time interfere directly or indirectly with any other
person who is trying to work and should be used only in
accordance with this policy.
3.5 The University may access information held in a
student account in order to investigate a complaint, to
investigate a reasonable suspicion of abuse of computer
facilities or to cooperate in the investigation of a crime.
Otherwise, the University will normally respect the privacy of
e-mail messages and data stored on computing systems.
3.6 Emails, archived copies and logs may form part of a
record which the University may be required to disclose under
civil or criminal law.
3.7 Where email abuse is suspected, accounts will
normally be disabled pending an investigation. Under the
Regulations, disciplinary action may be taken including denial
of access to IT facilities regardless of academic consequences.
Updated September 2008
