Responsible University Official: AVP Ethics, Compliance, and Risk
Responsible Office: Office of Ethics, Compliance, and Privacy
Last Reviewed: March 4, 2020
Non-compliance with this policy can be reported through this website.
The university provides many types of resources and facilities for faculty and staff to undertake activities related to the university’s mission. The university recognizes that occasional unofficial use of certain resources and facilities will occur, and permits such use so long as it is incidental, reasonable, and in accordance with this policy and any other applicable policies. This policy is intended to support appropriate and effective use of University Resources, while providing guidelines to limit personal use of those resources.
The university provides a wide variety of resources, including computers, networks, software, printers, office telephones, cellular phones, and office facilities for use by faculty and staff. Property, facilities, assets, and other resources may only be acquired to support the mission of the university, and are not intended to support more than incidental personal use. The university recognizes that faculty and staff may occasionally use University Resources for personal purposes.
The primary principles governing personal use of University Resources are that reasonable and incidental personal use is authorized only so long as: (1) the university incurs no additional cost from that use other than the minimal cost incurred from ordinary wear and tear, and the use of minimal amounts of other resources (e.g., ink, toner, or paper); (2) the use does not inappropriately interfere with or reduce the hours worked by the employee; (3) the use does not preclude others with work-related needs from using the resources; and (4) the use does not violate any applicable laws, regulations, or other university policies.
When the university incurs no additional costs or only negligible additional costs from personal use of a University Resource (e.g., local telephone calls; e-mail; internet usage; cell phones subject to fixed price charges; and fax machines, copiers, and printers), reasonable and incidental personal use of the resource is permissible, but supervisors and employees are responsible for keeping that personal use to a minimum.
In the case of occasional personal use that results in additional cost to the university, such as printing or copying, employees must reimburse the university for additional costs incurred beyond a nominal amount.
Use of university telephones is restricted to university business and necessary personal communications. Examples of necessary personal communications include telephone calls to arrange family and personal schedules, communications for medically-related purposes, communications to reach businesses or government agencies that can only be contacted during business hours, and communications for other reasonable purposes (see the university’s Telephone/Wireless Communication Usage Policy and the Acceptable Use Policy for Computing Systems and Services).
Examples of unallowable uses of University Resources may include, but are not limited to:
Employees and supervisors are responsible for keeping incidental personal use of University Resources to a minimum. Supervisors are expected to monitor periodically for abuses, and violations may result in disciplinary action.
University Resources: Property, facilities and/or assets purchased, leased or acquired by the university, or under the university’s control, that are intended to foster or support the ongoing missions of the university.
Acceptable Use Policy for Computing Systems and Services
Conflict of Interest Policy for Non-Faculty Employees
Policy on Conflicts of Interest and Commitment for Faculty and Investigators
Telephone/Wireless Communication Usage Policy
Contact | Phone Number | Email Address |
---|---|---|
Office of Ethics, Compliance and Privacy | 202-994-0462 | [email protected] |
Responsible University Official: AVP Ethics, Compliance, and Risk
Responsible Office: Office of Ethics, Compliance, and Privacy
Last Reviewed: March 4, 2020
Non-compliance with this policy can be reported through this website.
2013 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
Compliance Contact
202-994-3386
[email protected]
Privacy Contact
[email protected]