Policy On Administrative Status On College Computers
A: Introduction
Computers owned by the College are serviced and maintained by ITS and thus ITS is always to have administrative status over College owned computers. Although office and laboratory computers are the property of Manchester College, faculty and staff may also be granted administrative status on laboratory or office computers. Administrative status allows individuals to add additional software and hardware.
B: Recommendation
To reduce incompatibility risk and resulting loss of College time and money, ITS requests that all software and hardware purchases with College funds go through the Director of ITS. This ensures compatibility with current (and future) Manchester College technical abilities and directions, as well as ensures that competitive pricing can result.
C: Assignment of administrative status
1. Upon the issuance of an office computer, individuals will be asked by ITS whether they want administrative status on their office computer. Those wanting administrative status will have it added prior to the delivery of the computer.
2. Administrative status for department computers not assigned to a specific individual may go to the department chair or designee(s). See C.1. for additional information.
3. Granting administrative status is at the discretion of ITS. Appeals of ITS’ decision are made to the appropriate vice president (VP Academic Affairs for faculty; VP Financial Affairs for staff). The Technology Committee may play an advisory role in the process as necessary.
4. Failure to abide by these regulations may result in ITS removing administrative status.
D: Regulations for maintaining administrative rights
1. Nothing is to be done to a College computer to keep ITS from being able to exercise its administrative rights.
2. ITS software is configured to randomly perform inventory audits to assess new hardware or software present on computers. This software searches for new .exe files only, and updates its database accordingly.
3. Individuals need to ensure compatibility of hardware and software with current machine configurations. ITS can provide assistance in determining compatibility. ITS reserves the right to refuse to install software or hardware that may cause problems on College computers.
4. ITS is not responsible for support of non-standard software on office computers, although ITS is willing to assist the individual in installing the software/hardware.
5. Individuals with administrative status must not infringe on any copyright of any installed software. Any person with administrative status over a computer and who installs software on the computer must be prepared to demonstrate proof of legal use of the installed software. ITS will request that the software be removed if there is no proof of legal use.
6. Additional permission from the vendor will be needed for group use of the software. Faculty members should keep in mind that CD software that accompanies textbooks typically is identified with a single user license and that additional permission would be necessary for copies placed on additional computers. Note: use of the textbook does not imply unlimited use of the CD accompaniment.
7. When it is necessary to upgrade an office computer, the replacement computer will have only standard ITS supported software installed. It is the individual’s responsibility to reinstall any non-standard software or hardware, and restore data from backup files. ITS is willing to advise individuals on how to back up data and how frequently it should be done.
Approved by Technology Committee on Tuesday, 1 April 2003.
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