Responsible Computing

As a Texas A&M faculty member, you will have access to confidential information, such as student educational records, the privacy of which you are obligated to protect. Texas A&M's Information Security Awareness Training, which is required to be taken annually, contains a "Confidentiality" section to assist you in learning how to protect confidential information. Additional tips can be found at FERPA IT Security Reminders for Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Student Instructors.

These important practices are integral to protecting confidential information:

• Always secure confidential information and student sensitive personal information. Encrypt confidential data stored on computers, portable computing devices (e.g., laptops and PDAs), or portable media (e.g., CDs, DVDs, external hard drives, Flash/thumb drives, etc.). Ask your department IT personnel for assistance or go to http://itim.tamu.edu/encryption for more information.
• Understand that email is not secure; it can be forged and does not afford privacy. Take precautions not to send anything by email that you would not want disclosed to unintended parties. If you need to send confidential information via email, encrypt the email or include the data in an attachment that is encrypted.
• Post grades using secure technology so that only individual students or authorized personnel can have access. Howdy and eLearning are preferred methods for distributing grades online at Texas A&M.
• Store documents, physical media, and portable computing/storage devices containing confidential information in locked file cabinets or drawers.
• Delete and write over (i.e., "wipe") confidential data from any electronic media before transferring or disposing of it. Ask your IT support personnel for assistance.