| Information Technology (IT) has become an integral part of virtually every aspect of higher education. The connection of individual computers to the campus network, and subsequently to the Internet, has created new ways for students to use and abuse campus computing resources. While these technologies give students extraordinary access to a myriad of information on a global scale, computing policies are routinely violated which can either cause a significant decline in services or put institutions at risk for costly legal liabilities.; The purpose of this project is to investigate the reasons why so many University of Delaware students violate the school's policies on responsible computing. In an effort to better understand student activities, a combination of qualitative and qualitative information collection methods are used to examine the factors that influence student use of computers.; The results and a brief analysis of this study are presented in Position Paper Two. Interviews were conducted primarily to explore student knowledge and attitudes about the policies. In addition, interviewees were asked what factors most influence their computing activities. For the purpose of triangulation, a questionnaire was distributed in three campus public computing sites and to three undergraduate classes. Although the questionnaire suggests that many students are aware of the University's Policy for Responsible Computing, interview results indicate that students lack an understanding of the issues surrounding computing and Internet use. Only students who had completed the University's Computing Ethics class were able to describe and discuss the policies in detail.; Recommendations for reducing computing policy violations are presented in Position Paper Three. The recommendations are based on information gathered from the literature, other institutions, and feedback from University sources. Suggestions for University administrators are included with a focus on educational approaches that involve collaborative efforts between several University departments. |
