IT Help Desk

The following acceptable use policy covers use of E-mail and other Hastings computer resources. Use of such resources constitutes acceptance of this policy.

UC College of the Law, San Francisco provides computing resources, including E-mail, in support of the College’s mission of teaching, research, and community service. Use of UC Law SF’s computing resources constitutes acceptance of this policy and agreement to comply with this policy. In addition, you should be aware that there is no guarantee of privacy or confidentiality with regard to E-mail/Internet communications.

Users of UC Law SF’s computing resources must respect the rights of other users, including the rights of copyright holders, abide by the security needs of the systems, and conform their behavior to all relevant laws, regulations, and contractual obligations of the College. In addition, all College regulations and policies apply, including the Student Code of Conduct, Academic Regulations, and the Staff Personnel Manual. Misuse of UC Law SF’s computing, networking, or information resources may result in disciplinary action. Additionally, misuse can be prosecuted under applicable state and federal statutes defining computer crime.

Confidential Information may be collected and/or maintained through the use of the College’s electronic mail system, e-mail. UC Law SF’s employees should be cognizant that the email system is for conducting business by or on behalf of the College although employees may send or receive personal messages via email and the College reserves the right at all times to access employee e-mail messages.  Employees should not access the e-mail of or use the e-mail credentials of another employee unless otherwise authorized by the Chancellor and Dean or the General Counsel.

Access to UC Law SF’s computer systems and networks is provided through the use of individually assigned unique computer passwords.  Passwords to Essential or Restricted databases containing Confidential Information including student data, personnel data, and/or fiscal data, such as provided by Colleague, shall not be shared.  When there is a need for shared passwords, the appropriate department manager and the DIT shall be responsible for authorizing and setting up specific accounts for that purpose.  Each individual is responsible for all computer activity performed under his/her assigned password.

Policy on Spam
We have provided email services at UC Law SF to facilitate official communications between the school, its departments (including student organizations), faculty, staff, and students. Any email message that is unofficial and unsolicited is considered “spam” and represents an inappropriate use of Hastings computer resources.

Announcements from UC Law SF offices (the Office of the Registrar, Career Services, Student Services, the Academic Dean’s Office, your faculty advisor), and any student group to which you belong that uses email is a legitimate means of communication.

The IT Help Desk will make a reasonable effort to repair computers that are owned by the law school and provided to employees of the College. The Help Desk assumes no responsibility for personal data on a computer that is presented to the Desk for repair. Employees are responsible for backing up personal files. Instructions for backing up work files are available from the UC Law SF website. Further, the Help Desk will not take responsibility for restoring personally owned or unlicensed software to any law school computer.

Tampering with software protections or restrictions placed on computers owned by the College is not allowed. In the repair process, all College-required applications will be restored. While respecting users’ privacy to the fullest extent possible, the Help Desk reserves the right to delete any damaging computer files.

Every effort will be made to insure the timely handling of equipment left for repair, however, depending on the extent of the damage, or pending the acquisition of repair parts, the Help Desk cannot commit to a certain time frame for restoration of hardware. The Help Desk may offer a loaner laptop for use during the duration of a repair. Safeguarding the integrity of the loaner equipment, and the data and software provided with it is the responsibility of the borrower. Any data or software stored or installed on a loaner laptop will be deleted from the loaner laptop upon its return to the Help Desk.

While the UC Law SF IT Help Desk would like to provide support to all students and employees for any personal computer or mobile device they may own, it is not practical to do so. IT cannot take responsibility for repairing an employee or student’s personal computer or other personal equipment. The Help Desk can provide guidance on how to access the wireless network, setup email, and install Microsoft Office on personal devices. Also available to students is help with the Examsoft SofTest software used during midterms and finals. Again, it is the responsibility of the equipment owner to back up all data, software, information, or other stored files on their personal device. The IT Help Desk shall not be responsible under any circumstance for any loss or corruption of data and/or software, nor breach of warranty.