Introduction

The Center for Research Computing (CRC) at Rice University provides high-performance computing resources to faculty, staff, and students for the purpose of supporting their research endeavors. This Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) outlines the guidelines for using these resources responsibly and ethically.

Scope

This policy applies to all University faculty, staff, & students with any access to CRC resources.

Acceptable Use

CRC resources are intended for research computing activities that are aligned with the academic mission of Rice University. These activities include:

• Data analysis and manipulation
• Scientific simulations and modeling
• High-performance computing tasks
• Educational use related to research computing

Prohibited Use

The following activities are strictly prohibited on CRC resources:

• Any activity that violates the law, including copyright infringement, unauthorized access to systems, and distribution of illegal content.
• Activities that could harm the integrity or availability of CRC resources, such as running malware or launching Denial-of-Service attacks.
• Download, install, or run security programs or utilities that reveal weaknesses in a system's security. For example, CRC users shall not run password-cracking programs. 
• Commercial use not approved by the CRC.
• Personal use beyond minimal tasks unrelated to research.
• Sharing of login credentials with others.
• ALL CRC computing systems may NOT have classified information processed, entered, or stored on any CRC system.
  • With the only exception being at this time being VRDE under special circumstances
  • Installing or using any software or data under the following protected categories without consultation of the CRC via helpdesk@rice.edu
    • International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
    • Export Administration Regulations (EAR)
    • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
    • Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA)
    • Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

User Responsibilities

Users of CRC resources are responsible for:

• Familiarizing themselves with this AUP and adhering to its guidelines.
• Maintaining the confidentiality of their login credentials.
• Using resources efficiently and avoiding wasteful practices.
• Reporting any suspected misuse of CRC resources to the CRC staff.

Monitoring and Enforcement

The CRC reserves the right to monitor user activity on its resources to ensure compliance with this AUP. Violations of this policy may result in the following actions:

• Written or verbal warnings
• Suspension or termination of access to CRC resources
• Referral to appropriate university disciplinary committees
• Criminal prosecution

Additional Policies

This AUP is in addition to other applicable Rice University policies, including the campus-wide Acceptable Use and Security policies. Users are responsible for complying with all relevant university policies.

Contact Information

For questions or concerns regarding this AUP, please contact the CRC Help Desk at helpdesk@rice.edu or visit the CRC website at https://researchcomputing.rice.edu.

Revision

The CRC reserves the right to revise this AUP at any time. Users are responsible for staying informed of any changes to the policy.

Citations

Please consider acknowledging Rice University's Center for Research Computing program in your publications, presentations, and other media which minimally would be:

Center for Research Computing Rice University

Suggested:

The authors acknowledge the Center for Research Computing (CRC) at Rice University for providing resources that contribute to the research results reported in this paper. URL: https://researchcomputing.rice.edu