Privacy Statement

Spartan Health Science University is committed to respecting the privacy of all users of our academic computing resources. This policy outlines users’ privacy rights, responsibilities, and expectations. Except for illegal electronic communications, all electronic communications and files are considered the private property of their author and, if applicable, their recipient. The privacy of users will not be compromised by the use of private information contained in network records. Any breach of this policy may result in disciplinary action.

Monitoring of Network Activities

The Information Technology Services (ITS) department at Spartan Health Science University maintains logs of URLs (web page addresses) visited from campus computers and other network activities. These logs are solely used to manage network traffic and will not be used to infringe on users’ privacy.

Email Privacy

Spartan Health Science University intends for all email to be private and confidential. The university’s network is structured to limit the interception of emails, and ITS has procedures in place to prevent unauthorized access to accounts. Interception of network transmissions is strictly prohibited. However, users should be aware that the university cannot guarantee the security of email communications. If privacy is critical, users should encrypt messages or take other precautions. Responsibility for email security ultimately rests with the user. To protect the university community from email viruses and other network threats, ITS may intercept emails that meet specific criteria indicating the presence of a threat. If this occurs, ITS will notify the university community as soon as possible and will inform the intended recipient if their message has been intercepted and not delivered. ITS will not open any intercepted messages without the recipient’s consent.

Encryption and Digital Signatures

Users concerned about maintaining the privacy of their emails and files are encouraged to use encryption software or the IMAP protocol instead of POP. For identity verification, users are encouraged to use digital signatures. Additional information on encryption and digital signatures is available from ITS.

Files and Software on Desktop Computers and Servers

Files on personal computers and servers are considered the private property of the author. Users may grant others access to their files by making them publicly available. However, users should be aware that once a file is made publicly available, anyone with the appropriate access privileges may view the file.

Archiving

ITS regularly backs up campus servers. These backups are used to restore the system in case of technical issues and are retained for up to one year before being destroyed. Users should be aware that these backup tapes include records of all files, including emails and network logs, present at the time of the backup.

Unauthorized Access

Unauthorized access to electronic communications and files is strictly prohibited. While ITS makes reasonable efforts to secure the campus networks, users should take steps to protect their privacy. This includes maintaining secure passwords and encrypting sensitive information. Additional information on security is available from ITS.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Spartan Health Science University is dedicated to protecting the privacy of its users and strives to offer a safe and secure user experience. The information provided on this site is intended to help users understand how their personal information is used and the options available to protect it. For more details, please click here.