Email, Collaboration, and Communications Policy

Policy Statement

This email, collaboration, and communications policy serves as a set of rules and guidelines governing the way employees use email, collaboration, and communication channels to provide the best experience possible. This policy is in place to mitigate risks to EIU and individuals within the university, to assist the university in understanding its legal requirements, to aid in preventing the spread of confidential information, and to promote a professional and productive work environment.

Entities Affected by This Policy

Employees, students, and any individual who uses EIU email, collaboration, and communication platforms.

Contacts

EIU Information Security, phone 217-581-1939, email info-sec@eiu.edu

Principle

Email and Messaging

These procedures will focus on supporting EIU's own email system. It allows ITS to provide the best possible experience for its users and ensure their emails are always delivered securely and reliably.

• Only use approved email and messaging platforms for EIU communication. Please visit this help article for more information. (selfhelp-article.php?id=94)
• Email should be used in accordance with IGP 129 - Use of Technology Resources by Employees (/auditing/igp/129) with minimal usage for personal business, preferably none.
• Employee and annuitant emails are not to be automatically forwarded to an external email service.
• Email is not a secure platform and has limitations for use. Follow these information classification guidelines for what is approved to email: (/panthertech/policies_classification.php)
• Mass emails to external addresses should only be sent by approval and in accordance with the 2003 CAN-SPAM Act.
• Mass emails will be approved by University Marketing.
• Mass internal emails will be approved by the appropriate vice president.
• Non-desired mail could get the domain eiu.edu on block lists which prevents proper routing of email off campus.
• Follow the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, which sets the rules for commercial email.
• Email is considered EIU’s property and should not be copied when leaving the university without prior written authorization.
• Business email may be copied to supervisor with vice presidential or presidential approval.
• Former employees and students will not have access to email.
• Annuitants
• Annuitant information available here

Telephone and SMS Messaging

• Should follow all regulations outlined within the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act ()
• Telephone systems should be used in accordance with IGP 129 - Use of Technology Resources by Employees (/auditing/igp/129) with minimal usage for personal business, preferably none.
• SMS messages follow the EIU Privacy Statement: /about/privacy.php

Collaboration and File Storage Software

ITS has decided to focus on supporting its own collaboration and file storage software system. This allows it to provide the best possible experience for its users and ensure their files are always delivered securely and reliably.

• Files stored on EIU platforms are considered EIU’s property and should not be copied when leaving the university without prior written authorization.
• Business files may be copied to a supervisor with vice presidential or presidential approval.
• Collaboration and file storage software should be used in accordance with IGP 129 (/auditing/igp/129) with minimal usage for personal business, preferably none.
• Only use authorized collaboration and file storage platforms. Please visit our help article for more information. (selfhelp-article.php?id=94)
• Do not use unauthorized file storage platforms such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and Apple iCloud without written approval.
• Annuitants
• Annuitant information available here

Further Resources

1. Compromised Accounts, Account Locks, Password Resets, and Disabled Accounts - /panthertech/policies_assessment.php
2. The State Records Act (5 ILCS 160) -
3. The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) -
4. FOIA information at the Illinois State Library -
5. Privacy Statement - /about/privacy.php
6. CAN-SPAM -
7. Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act -

Last Date Reviewed: 6/1/2026