Policies

Use of computing equipment must be in keeping with all CSU and ETS policies

ETS Policies

Administrative privileges

  • Faculty/Staff

    Faculty and Staff do not automatically receive administrative privileges on their computers. Administrative privileges may be granted based on legitimate need and may be revoked when ETS/CSU policies are violated. Administrative access will be tied to Engineering logins. Faculty and Staff may not add anyone to the admin group, or create local accounts, on any computer. Please submit this form for administrative privileges requests here.

  • Students

    By default, students do not have administrative-level access (“administrative privileges”) to CSU-owned computers. With permission from a student’s faculty advisor, a student may be granted administrative privileges to a computer. The advisor then accepts responsibility for actions taken by the student with administrative access. ETS reserves the right to deny any user local administrative privileges on a desktop system which ETS supports. Administrative privileges will be granted or revoked at the discretion of ETS staff. If a user does have administrative access, it will be tied to his/her Engineering login (rather than a separate account). Please submit this form for administrative privileges requests here.

College Computing

  • Do not share passwords with others.
  • Do not create local or administrative accounts on Engineering computers, this includes those used by faculty and staff
  • Do not install unlicensed/illegal software or software unrelated to your job
  • Always check with ETS prior to installing any software; in general, we will do that for you
  • All computing equipment must be purchased through ETS and be inline with CSU contracts
  • Do not connect any non-computer device to the network without asking ETS
  • Do not delay Microsoft updates

Computer service and repair

For a computer to be serviced by ETS, the computer must be on the Engineering Windows domain and allow Domain Admins as administrators. If a user refuses to comply with these, ETS may decline to service the machine, and reserves the right to disable the network port for that machine.

Supported operating systems

ETS will not, in general, service computers with a non-supported operating system.  ETS may support basic network access or help upgrade that machine to a supported OS.  In addition, ETS reserves the right to work on any system that appears to contain viruses or spyware in order to avoid harm to the network. ETS does not support more than one OS on one machine, including dual-boot configurations and virtualized operating systems (e.g. Parallels Desktop).

Supported computers

Computers that are over six years old are not considered viable for a high-performance computing nor modern business environment, and as such may not be supported by ETS, at its discretion.

Personal computers

ETS does not provide hardware technical support for personally owned systems.

Printing

Students can print whatever they want as long as it falls within CSU’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). This policy defines what is acceptable and what is not acceptable for printing on CSU printers (to include the printing of offensive material or duplicating of copyrighted material). Any violation of these policies will result in disabling your user account.

Purchasing computing equipment

All purchase of computer equipment must be coordinated with ETS staff.

All CSU computing equipment purchased through ETS will be supported at no extra cost. Computing equipment purchased through other channels may be supported at the rate of $50/hour; ETS will evaluate this equipment, prior to doing any work, to determine if we will support it and will provide a cost estimate to the client. ETS does not service personally-owned computers but the Help Desk in the Morgan Library does. It is understood that there are a broad array of computing needs in our college and that no single solution is adequate. Checking with ETS prior to ordering simply ensures a mutual understanding of the support available for a purchased item.

Purchasing printers and peripherals

For all printers that will be connected to the CSU network, their purchase must be coordinated through ETS staff.

 

ETS highly recommends coordinating the purchase of any non-networked printer or peripheral device with an ETS Staff member prior to making a purchase. The goal of coordinating purchases is to help make an informed decision about which printer or peripheral will best suit the project needs and budget. At the same time, this will ensure that the device will function properly on the Engineering network.

ETS staff have also researched and identified specific printer models that are known to be reliable, budget-friendly, and work well on our networks. We recommend HP brand products. Please contact ETS if you have any questions.

In general, laser printers are always recommended over inkjet printers. Laser printers typically have better cost per page over the long run, and avoid issues that some inkjet printers have with ink drying up when not used frequently. In addition, inkjet printers are frequently made with lower grade materials and break easily. When they break, they do not have user-serviceable parts like laser printers do.

Multifunction or all-in-one printers are similarly discouraged, even if they are laser models, for many of the same reasons. Additionally for multifunction printers, if one component breaks (and they frequently do), all that’s left is a very large single function device, defeating the purpose.

File backup and recovery

Electronic files stored on the college file servers are backed up nightly.  If deleted, a file will be kept on backup tape for six months.  After six months, the file will be permanently deleted and can not be restored.  If a file is modified, the previous two versions will be saved on backup tape for one month after the latest version was created.  ETS is not responsible for backing up or recovering data that is not stored on the college network file space.

Personal File space quota

All fully registered Engineering students are provided with 15 GB of network storage space. Faculty and staff are provided with 25 GB. Open option and non-Engineering students are provided with 100 MB of space.

Engineering Accounts

  • Student eligibility: All engineering students and non-engineering students taking engineering classes are eligible for an engineering account by default. All others can receive an engineering account, for free, with staff or faculty approval . See below for information on when the account expires.
  • Staff or Faculty eligibility: All engineering staff and faculty are eligible for an engineering account by default. All other CSU faculty and staff can receive an engineering account, for free, with engineering staff or faculty approval.
  • Engineering Accounts for non-CSU individuals: Individuals who need an engineering account who are not a CSU student, faculty member, or staff member will be first need an associate NetID and approval from an engineering staff or faculty member prior to applying for an account.
  • General use accounts (not tied to an NetID): We allow for temporary accounts to use for short term workshops only. All other engineering accounts require an associated eID.

Engineering Account Expiration Policy

When your Engineering account expires, it will be closed, and you will no longer be able to access your network files or Engineering-specific network resources. Your network files will be archived (saved) for a short period.

  • Engineering undergraduate students: Your account will expire six months after your graduation date.
  • Engineering graduate students: PhD graduates will keep their accounts for 12 months after graduation; all other graduates for 6 months. After that, your account will expire and be closed.
  • Non-engineering students taking engineering classes: Your Engineering account will expire the second week of first semester after the last Engineering course you were registered for.
  • Faculty: Your account will expire 12 months after you leave CSU. Former faculty will be reclassified as university affiliates if your home department deems that the account is still needed, and your home department will pay an annual charge for an Engineering account.
  • Staff: Your account will expire the day after termination of employment. The account may be extended up to one month after departure if requested by your supervisor.
  • Retirees/Emeritus Faculty: Faculty and staff retirees in good standing with the college may keep their Engineering computing account indefinitely. ETS will provide computing support services for CSU-owned computing equipment (per normal ETS policies regarding support) for up to 10 hours of support per year. Support requested beyond the 10 hours per year will be charged at the hourly rate for computing support. Established by the Engineering Executive Committee 1/13/2012
  • Deceased Employees: Engineering accounts that are active upon the death of a faculty member, staff member, or retiree will remain active for six months. The account will then be archived for two years. After two years, the archive will be deleted. Established by the Engineering Executive Committee 1/13/2012

Once a student has left the college (graduated, or moved to another college), they may gain an extension to finish their course work or research project. This extension must be sponsored by an Engineering faculty member. The faculty member should contact ETS on behalf of the student, and the annual charge for an Engineering account (pro-rated monthly, if necessary) will apply. If necessary, the graduate will be reclassified as a university affiliate.

For information about CSU NetID, including expiration, click here.

Web site requirements and guidelines

All new Web sites must comply with current web standards and guidelines. Please see the WSCOE Style Guide for more info.

Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering logo

Engineering Technology Services

Bookmark and use our online help desk form first.
 

Email help@engr.colostate.edu
Call (970) 491-2917
 

Stop by an ETS Help Desk:
Main Help Desk (Glover 100)
Foothills Campus Help Desk (Atmospheric Science 107)
Academic Village Help Desk (AVB C142, next to the Orion Design Studios)