071.6 Support for Home Use of Personal Computers

071.6 Support for Home Use of Personal Computers

A. Background

Computing and Information Services must implement a set of policies and guidelines to ensure reasonable expectations with regard to support of employee use of personal computers at home, to ensure that proper steps are taken to ensure data integrity and security, and to ensure that software licensing agreements are not violated. This policy does not address issues such as employee compensation for work done at home or whether or not working from home should be encouraged or required.

B. Policy

The Director of Computing and Information Services sets the condition and guidelines under which home use of personal computers will be supported by the Computing and Information Services staff.

C. Guidelines

1. All software used in an employee's home for Furman University business must be properly licensed. It is the responsibility of the Budget Unit Head to ensure that software licenses are purchased, where necessary.

2. Each Budget Unit Head must provide the Director of Computing and Information Services with a list of university-owned hardware and software that is in use off-campus, including software and accessories used in conjunction with employee-owned equipment. The Budget Unit Head is responsible for ensuring that this list is kept current.

3. The University will not provide hardware support (troubleshooting, maintenance, and repair) for employee-owned equipment.

4. In the event of malfunction of any university-owned equipment, such equipment must be brought to Computing and Information Services, by appointment, for diagnosis and repair.

5. Any equipment used at home for university business must meet the minimum specifications established by Computing and Information Services for support of university applications.

6. Dial-up access to the campus network is not guaranteed by Computing and Information Services. Any department anticipating the need for persistent dial-up connections should make appropriate arrangements with Computing and Information Services in advance.

7. Any access to confidential university data from off-campus, whether via direct dial-up to the university network or through the public network, must be approved, in advance, by the Director of Computing and Information Services. Such approval must be obtained in addition to any approvals required for access to certain kinds of data.

8. Individuals and departments considering allowing or requiring employees to work from home should discuss this with the Director of Computing and Information Services to ensure that there is a common understanding of the kind of support that is expected and of the cost to the University.

9. Support of certain activities may require a financial commitment on the part of Computing and Information Services. Arrangements between university departments and Computing and Information Services to support employees working at home or off-campus are contingent upon approval of funding. Where possible, all such activities should be anticipated at the time the university budget is prepared.

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