Department of Computer Science

CS IT Policies

Room Reservation System: We have implemented a new system at Room Reservation. This helps us manage our department’s spaces and gives you an easy way to reserve the following rooms: MS203W (Seminar Room), MS237 (Conference Room), MS222 (iMac Lab), and MS206 (Collaborative Learning Lab).
1. Rooms MS203W (Seminar Room) and MS237 (Conference Room) require reservation before using them.
2. Rooms MS222 (iMac Lab) and MS206 (Collaborative Learning Lab) are available for reservation only for special cases.
Technical Support: For all technical support needs, requests must be submitted through our online support system at CS IT Services. This ensures efficient tracking and assignment of incidents.
IT Alerts and Scheduled Downtime: All IT alerts and scheduled downtime info will be posted on the CS IT main page. Please review the page before requesting support.
MS 222 (iMac Lab):
1. Data Management: To maintain data security, all data in MSCS 222 is subject to deletion at the end of the week.
2. User Authentication: Access to MS 222 iMacs is authenticated through Okey credentials.
3. Room Usage: A valid OSU ID card is required to enter the room; this access applies to current CS students for 24/7. Although, it will be unlocked fully during any scheduled class times. The lab will be locked during any scheduled OSU University Holidays, and access via OSU ID card will not be permitted.
4. Computer Usage: These computers are intended primarily for use by current CS students. They are fully allowed to utilize the computers for homework, classwork, group projects, and other academic purposes. However, staff and faculty are not allowed to utilize the computers for research, office-related tasks, office hours, personal use and similar purposes.
5. Software Installation: Software installation requests are limited to instructional purposes in the lab.
6. Teaching in 222: If you are scheduled to teach in the lab, please inform us at your earliest convenience. This helps us better manage the room's access and scheduling.
7. Printer: The printer in MS 222 is available for all CS students to use but adding it to personal computers is not permitted. Printing is limited strictly to the MS 222 computers.
MS 206 (Collaborative Learning Lab):
1. Data Management: To maintain data security, all data in MS 206 is subject to deletion at the end of the week.
2. Room Usage: The room is accessible on business days between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. This access applies to current CS students, staff, and faculty. However, it will be locked during any scheduled OSU University Holidays.
3. Computer Usage: These computers are intended primarily for use by current CS students. They are fully allowed to utilize the computers for homework, classwork, group projects, and other academic purposes. However, staff and faculty are not allowed to utilize the computers for research, office-related tasks, office hours, personal use and similar purposes.
4. Printer: The printer in MS 206 is available for all CS students to use but adding it to personal computers is not permitted. Printing is limited strictly to the MS 206 computers.
MS 203E (SPUR Center):
1. Data Management: To maintain data security, all data in MS 203E is subject to deletion at the end of the week.
2. Room Usage: The SPUR center is accessible during business days between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM. This access applies to current CS GTAs and students. However, it will be locked during any scheduled OSU University Holidays.
3. Software Installation: Software installation requests are limited to instructional and tutoring purposes in the SPUR Center.
4. Computer Usage: These computers are intended primarily for use by current CS GTAs to conduct office hours and assisting students. However, staff and faculty are not allowed to utilize the computers for research, office-related tasks, office hours, personal use and similar purposes.
5. Printer: The printer in MS 203E is available for CS GTAs only but adding it to personal computers is not permitted. Printing is limited strictly to the MS 203E computers.
MS 237 (Conference Room):
1. Equipment: A TV and a projector are available for presentation purposes. HDMI cable connection and wireless connection are available for personal laptops.
2. Room Usage: A Valid OSU ID card and reservation are required to enter and to use the room. Access is restricted to CS faculty, staff, and students. The room will be locked during any scheduled OSU University Holidays, and access via OSU ID card will not be permitted. Reserve at Room Reservation.
MS 203W (Seminar Room):
1. Equipment: TA TV and a projector are available for presentation purposes. The camera and audio connections can be utilized using the desktop computer. HDMI cable connection and wireless connections are available for personal laptops.
2. Room Usage: Reservation is required to use the room. Access is restricted to CS faculty, staff, and students. The room will be locked during any scheduled OSU University Holidays. Reserve at Room Reservation.
GTAs Computers:
1. Computer Power: Do not turn off your office computer at the end of the day. Leaving the computers powered allows us to ensure deployment of the latest security updates.
2. Admin Access: GTAs are not allowed to have admin accounts. If there is a special case, admin account on GTA office computers requires a request by a member of the faculty as well as the approval of the IT supervisor and the department head.
3. Software Installation: Software installation requests are limited to instructional purposes in the office. Approved software can be installed through a (self-service) app or automatically on iMacs. Approved software will be automatically installed on Windows.
4. Computers must not be relocated from offices without prior notification to the IT Staff.
Faculty Computers:
1. Computer Power: Do not turn off your office computer at the end of the day. Leaving the computers powered allows us to ensure deployment of the latest security updates.
2. Admin Access: Faculty are not allowed to have admin accounts on office computers. However, if there is a special case, admin account in research laboratories can be requested by filling out the Administrative Privileges Request Form at https://forms.office.com/r/5VRddJEYJt.
3. Software Installation: Software installation requests are limited to instructional and research purposes in the office. Approved software can be installed through a (self-service) app or automatically on iMacs. Approved software will be automatically installed on Windows.
4. Computers must not be relocated from offices without prior notification to the IT Staff.
Staff Computers:
1. Computer Power: Do not turn off your office computer at the end of the day. Leaving the computers powered allows us to ensure deployment of the latest security updates.
2. Admin Access: Non-IT staff are not allowed to have admin accounts on office computers.
3. Software Installation: Software installation requests are limited to work-related purposes in the office. Approved software can be installed through (Self-Service) app or automatically on iMacs. Approved software will be automatically installed on Windows.
4. Computers must not be relocated from offices without prior notification to the IT Staff.
Department Copier (MS 202):
1. Allowance: The copier is available for use by faculty, staff, and CS graduate students only.
2. User Code: A user code must be requested from CS IT staff and entered before accessing the copier.
3. Color Printing: The department copier will be restricted to black and white printing only to reduce costs and ensure efficient resource usage.
Device Inventory and Configuration:
1. All computers, printers, tablets, and similar devices must be submitted to the IT supervisor for inventory recording and configuration setup before deployment in offices and labs. This policy ensures proper control, security, and standardization of IT assets within the department.
Department Servers:
1. Server Reboots: Department servers may be rebooted at moments of minimal use to install firmware upgrades, kernel updates, etc. This may be done without warning if the server is not currently in use. Hadoop datanodes will be rebooted as needed in a way consistent with data replication. Servers that run services and any other critical servers will generally be rebooted on weekends as needed, and announcements will be made on the IT Alerts page when possible.
2. Accounts: All Computer Science majors and students currently enrolled in Computer Science classes are eligible for server accounts, as are all department faculty and staff. These accounts are created automatically on a regular schedule.
3. Account removals: Students who are no longer enrolled in any Computer Science classes and are not Computer Science majors (including those who have graduated or otherwise left the university entirely) will have their accounts closed in the following fall or spring semester after the course add period has ended. Accounts for departing staff and faculty will be handled on a case by case basis. Files in closed accounts will be moved to an archival system thereafter and retained for a period of time in accordance with the department data retention policy (10.d).
4. Data Retention Policy: In accordance with state policies on records disposition of student work, archived account data from previously closed accounts may be purged once four years have passed since the initial archiving. This schedule also may be applied to backup media no longer in active use.
5. Data Retention Policy: In accordance with state policies on records disposition of student work, archived account data from previously closed accounts may be purged once four years have passed since the initial archiving. This schedule also may be applied to backup media no longer in active use.
6. Software Installation: As superuser access on instructional servers is limited to IT staff, software installation is done by request. Requests should specify the software needed, a brief statement of its purpose, and either the Ubuntu package name(s) or where to find the software otherwise
Laptop Checkout: The Department of Computer Science IT Services offers laptops, iPads, and other equipment checkout program for CS staff, faculty, and GTAs.
1. This program is designed to be a temporary solution while one is in the process of purchasing a laptop, if their laptop is being repaired, or if needed for teaching purposes. Cables or other accessory equipment can be loaned for temporary use as well.
2. Users may opt into the program on a semester-by-semester basis by following the instructions at Equipment Checkout.
Appropriate Use Policy:
1. All Computer Science information technology resources fall under Oklahoma State University's Appropriate Use Policy.
2. In particular, users should take note of section 4.02.C under Use Purposes: "Incidental personal use of University information technology resources is permitted, but must not interfere with a user’s performance of official University business, result in direct costs to the University, expose the University to unnecessary risks, or violate applicable laws or other University or Board policy. Users shall have no expectation of privacy in any personal information stored by a user on a University information technology resource, including University electronic mail accounts. Storage of any electronic mail messages, voice messages, file, or documents created by incidental personal use by a user must be nominal."
3. This policy should be taken to apply to resources including, but not limited to, file storage on the CSX, Hadoop, and other file servers; usage of the department web server to serve files; any and all storage on individual machines including those in the MSCS 222, MSCS 206, MSCS 203E, MSCS 217 and other laboratories; and any other services or devices that fall under the cited Appropriate Use Policy.