Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to address the use of official University electronic messaging systems and the resulting responsibilities of faculty, staff, and students.

Authority

Code of Virginia Section 23.1-1301, as amended, grants authority to the Board of Visitors to make rules and policies concerning the institution. Section 6.01(a)(6) of the Board of Visitors Bylaws grants authority to the President to implement the policies and procedures of the Board relating to University operations.

Definitions

Electronic Communication - Any message, image, form, attachment, data, or other communication sent, received, or stored within an electronic messaging system.

Information Technology Resources - Defined as, but are not limited to, computers, telecommunication equipment, networks, automated data processing, databases, the Internet, printing, management information systems, and related information, equipment, goods, and services.

Official Email Account - An email account issued by Old Dominion University that ends in the domain name @odu.edu, and is the official electronic account used to conduct University business.

Scope

This policy applies to all employees, students, employees of affiliated organizations and guests, volunteers and researchers who are provided official email accounts, and governs all information technology resources associated with electronic messaging whether owned by or operated for University business through contractual arrangements. Employees include all staff, administrators, faculty, full- or part-time, and classified or non-classified persons who are paid by the University. Students include all persons admitted to the University who have not completed a program of study for which they were enrolled; student status continues whether or not the University's programs are in session. Affiliated organizations are separate entities that exist for the benefit of the University and include the Foundations, the Community Development Corporation, and the Alumni Association. Visitors include vendors and their employees, parents of students, volunteers, guests, uninvited guests and all other persons located on property owned, leased, or otherwise controlled by the University.

Policy Statement

Electronic messaging systems and communication services are provided by Old Dominion University for the purpose of enhancing productivity and maintaining effective communication.

Old Dominion University employees, students, employees of affiliated organizations, and guests, volunteers and researchers who are provided official email accounts must activate and maintain regular access to these accounts. These accounts must be used to send and receive electronic communications related to official University business.

Failure to access the email account will not exempt individuals from their responsibility of being aware of and meeting requirements and responsibilities included in electronic communications.

Message content is the sole responsibility of the individual sending the message and users must adhere to University Policy 3500, Use of Computing Resources, and Information Technology Standard 09.1.0, Acceptable Use Standard. Users are also encouraged to practice generally accepted online etiquette.

Instructors retain the discretion of establishing class expectations for email and other electronic messaging communication as a part of the course requirements.

Alternative messaging services should be arranged in cases where users' access to information technology resources is limited or unavailable.

Procedures

Email activation is completed by retrieving a password for the messaging system upon employment or upon registration at the University. Users are required to acknowledge their agreement with Information Technology Standard 09.1.0, Acceptable Use Standard.

MIDAS ID Information

Student Email Information

Faculty Staff Email Information

Mobile Email Information

Records Retention

Applicable records must be retained and then destroyed in accordance with the Commonwealth's Records Retention Schedules.

Responsible Officer

Chief Information Officer

Related Information

Information Technology Standard 04.2.0 - Account Management Standard

Information Technology Standard 06.2.0 - Email Retention Standard

Information Technology Standard 10.1.0 - Disciplinary Action Standard

Information Technology Standard 11.2.0 - Student Email Standard

Information Technology Standard 11.4.0 - Electronic Mass Mailing Standard

Information Technology Standard 11.5.0 - University Announcements Standard

Information Technology Security Program

Safe Computing Practices Website