ITS Policy and Standards

Published

August 1, 2025

Responsible Use of University Computers and Information Systems

In today’s dynamic cybersecurity landscape, a wide range of organizations—including universities, financial institutions, social media platforms, and other online services—are adopting strategic measures to reduce risk and safeguard user data.

These measures are typically formalized through comprehensive policies that govern the organization’s information systems, data management, and operational processes. At the University, the implementation of such policies strengthens and sustains our cybersecurity posture by addressing the following key areas:

Personal and Academic Data Protection

Students, faculty, staff, and institutional partners rely on the University to maintain a strong cybersecurity program that effectively safeguards personal and academic information. To remain eligible for federal funding—including financial aid programs—the University must demonstrate adherence to NIST cybersecurity frameworks, which includes maintaining a comprehensive library of cybersecurity policies.

ITS Policy Refresh (IT Policy and Standards)

The Policy for Responsible Use of University Computers and Information Systems, went into effect in July 2025.

This represents a vision for the University's future cybersecurity posture. At present, not all the necessary organizational and technical systems are in place to fully meet the requirements outlined in the new or updated policies. Information Technology Services (ITS) has identified the need for a strategic plan and implementation timeline to establish these systems, ensuring that all areas of Nebraska Wesleyan University can achieve compliance with the new standards.

Milestones

July 1st, 2025 - Responsible Use of University Computers and Information Systems goes into effect
August 1st, 2025 - ITS-17: Digital Course Retention Standard goes into effect

Key Stakeholders

These policies and standards applies to all Nebraska Wesleyan University technology assets. All users (employees, contractors, vendors, or others) of information systems are responsible for adhering to these policies and standards.