IT Rules and Regulations

The following Rules and Regulations were approved by Governing Body on 3rd December 2025. All earlier iterations of the rules and regulations are superseded.

Use of the Somerville College IT network and facilities is subject to the regulations set out below.

By connecting a wired or wireless device to the network, you are agreeing to abide by all regulations listed below and those in the IT Regulations of the University of Oxford and the Janet Acceptable Use Policy (which govern the provision of a network at Somerville College).

Use of your SSO account

  • Do not share your SSO account details with anyone else. If you think your SSO account has been compromised, report it immediately to ict.desk@some.ox.ac.uk or call 01865 270597.
  • Do not do any of the following activities using your account and computer access, which are all deemed unacceptable: attempting to access college facilities without authorisation; attempting to access another user’s computer, account or email; masquerading as another user; creating programs with malicious intent; introducing programs with malicious intent; software theft; using college facilities to harass any company or individual; sending chain or junk mail.

Use of the network

  • Do not share your POGO connection details with anyone else.
  • Your devices will be register when you add to the network using your connection key.
  • You will be held responsible for any activity on your device. If you lend your device to a friend, any transgressions of this acceptable use policy by them will be your responsibility and will result in the suspension of your SSO account.
  • Do not do anything on your devices which compromises the integrity of the network. If you do, you will be disconnected from the network.
  • Do not use the network to run games/mail/web servers, or other forms of file/resource service.
  • Do not use the network to run any type of business.
  • Do not do anything illegal on the network. Illegal activities include sharing, streaming or downloading copyrighted material without licence.

Security of your devices

  • Ensure that your devices have the latest (self-updating) antivirus software, with on-access scanning enabled, before connecting to the college network. (The university provides members with antivirus software, which you can download here: http://help.it.ox.ac.uk/viruses/).
  • Keep your devices up-to-date with operating system updates and security patches. (Failure to install updates leaves computers vulnerable to viruses, malware and malicious attacks.)
  • Do not run Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing software without prior written permission. This includes, but is not limited to: Gnutella, Gnutella2, EDonkey, BitTorrent, uTorrent, Shareaza, eMule, FrostWire, Ares Galaxy, WinMX and Soulseek.

Use of shared computing facilities

The college provides access to shared PC facilities for students in the library and in the Palmer Room helpdesk area.

  • You must log onto a shared PC with your SSO account. Do not share your account details with anyone else, and do not use someone else’s account details.
  • Do not leave a logged in PC unattended. If you must leave the PC for a few minutes, lock the screen. If you need to leave the PC for longer than a few minutes, log out fully.
  • The shared computing facilities are primarily for academic work, not leisure use. Those trying to complete academic work will have priority in the use of shared computer facilities over those using the facilities for leisure (sending emails or browsing the internet).
  • Do not disconnect, move or ‘borrow’ any of the shared facilities IT equipment.
  • Do not attempt to reconfigure, copy or in any way interfere with the software on the shared PCs.
  • Do not do anything illegal on shared computing facilities.
  • When using the shared computing facilities do not interact with or view material which others might consider constitutes harassment, for example, viewing pornography in a public space.
  • Do not leave files on the shared computers; they will be deleted.

The regulatory framework

All use of the network and computing facilities should comply with current legislation, including (but not necessarily limited to):

Somerville College does not guarantee the provision of a network connection and takes no responsibility for the loss of data or consequential damage arising from the use of its network and shared computer facilities.

Breaches of the rules and regulations

Any breach of these rules will result in the immediate suspension of your SSO account. Students breaching the rules will be reported to the Dean. An account will be reinstated once the infringement has been investigated and resolved to the satisfaction of those investigating.

Unlawful activity carried out on the college network will be investigated by the Somerville College IT team, in accordance with sections 16-18 the IT Regulations of University of Oxford, Examining Users’ Data. In these instances, a System Administrator has the right to access users’ files and examine network traffic, but only in pursuit of their role as System Administrator and normally with the user’s permission having been sought. This right applies to any device connected to the network.

Download a printable version of the rules and regulations.

Written: 19th November 2025

To be reviewed: September 2026