E-Mail As Official Means of Communication

Policy 915

Introduction

1.1 Offices and individual members of the Appalachian State University community rely on Appalachian State University e-mail addresses as their primary means of communication. This includes communication to individuals and to groups within the campus community, and is motivated by the convenience, speed, cost-effectiveness, and environmental advantages of using e-mail rather than printed communication.

Scope

2.1 This policy applies to all employees and students of Appalachian State University and covers all uses and Users of University E-mail Facilities. Any User of University E-mail Facilities consents to all provisions of this policy and agrees to comply with all of the terms and conditions set forth herein, all other applicable University policies, regulations, and procedures, and with applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations.

Definitions

Official Communications

include content related to 1) a student’s enrollment, academic standing, financial information and responsibilities, emergency notifications and compliance with university policies and procedures and 2) an employee’s employment status, responsibilities, and benefits, emergency notifications and compliance with university policies and procedures.

Official Appalachian State University E-mail Account

is an account with e-mail address of the form <username>@appstate.edu. An Official Appalachian State University E-mail Account is provided to faculty, students, staff, and other individuals and entities granted e-mail privileges at Appalachian State University. It is automatically created for admitted and enrolled students as well as actively employed faculty/staff.

University E-mail Facilities

include all facilities, technologies, information resources, and computing and electronic communication devices, hardware, software, and services required to accomplish the processing, storage, transmission, and communication of electronic mail, whether individually controlled or shared, stand-alone, or networked.