Department of Computer Science

CS IT Policies & Updates

Room Reservation System: We have implemented a new system found at the Room Reservation page. This helps us manage our department’s spaces, and gives you an easy way to reserve the following rooms: 203W (Seminar Room), 237 (Conference Room), 222 (iMac Lab) for faculty and GTAs only, and 206 (Collaborative Learning Lab).
1. Rooms 203W (Seminar Room) and 237 (Conference Room) require reservation before using them.
Technical Support: For all technical support needs, it must be submitted through our online support system at sysmgr.cs.okstate.edu. This ensures efficient tracking and assignment of incidents.
IT Alerts and Scheduled Downtime: All IT alerts and scheduled downtime info will be posted on the CS IT main page. Please ensure to review the page before requesting support.
MSCS 222 (iMac Lab):
1. New Equipment: The lab is now updated with 24-inch, M1, 2021 iMacs.
2. Data Management: To maintain data security, all data in MSCS 222 is subject to deletion at the end of the week.
3. Access Update: iMacs login for MSCS 222 is now authenticated through Okey credentials instead of CSX login and password.
4. Room Usage: Valid OSU card is required to enter the room; this access applies to current CS students for 24/7. However, it will be unlocked fully during any scheduled class times. The lab will be locked during any scheduled OSU University Holidays.
5. Computer Usage: Computers are intended primarily for use by current CS students. They are fully allowed to utilize the computers for homework, classwork, group projects, and other academic purposes. However, staff and faculty are not allowed to utilize the computers for research, office-related tasks, office hours, personal use and similar purposes.
6. Software Installation: Software installation requests are limited to instructional purposes in the lab.
7. Teaching in 222: If you are scheduled to teach in the lab, please inform us at your earliest convenience. This helps us better manage the room's access and scheduling.
MSCS 206 (Collaborative Learning Lab):
1. Data Management: To maintain data security, all data in MSCS 206 is subject to deletion at the end of the week.
2. Room Usage: The room is accessible during business days from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This access applies to current CS students, staff, and faculty. However, it will be locked during any scheduled OSU University Holidays.
3. Computer Usage: Computers are intended primarily for use by current CS students. They are fully allowed to utilize the computers for homework, classwork, group projects, and other academic purposes. However, staff and faculty are not allowed to utilize the computers for research, office-related tasks, office hours, personal use and similar purposes.
MSCS 237 (Conference Room):
1. New Equipment: The conference room is now upgraded with a new TV for presentation purposes. A wireless connection is now available for personal laptops.
2. Room Usage: Valid OSU card and reservation is required to enter and to use the room. The room will be locked during any scheduled OSU University Holidays.
MSCS 203W (Seminar Room):
1. New Equipment: The Seminar room is now upgraded with a new TV for presentation purposes. Camera and Audio connection can be utilized using the Desktop computer. An HDMI cable connection and wireless connection are available for personal laptops.
2. Room Usage: Reservation is required to use the room. The room will be locked during any scheduled OSU University Holidays.
TAs Computers:
1. Computer Power: Kindly do not turn off your office computer at the end of the day. Leaving the computers powered allows us to ensure deploying latest security updates.
2. Admin Access: TAs are not allowed to have admin accounts. If there is a special case, admin account on TA office computers requires a request by a member of the faculty and the approval of the IT Supervisor.
3. Software Installation: Software installation requests are limited to instructional purposes in the office. Approved software can be installed through a (self-service) app on iMacs. Approved software will be automatically installed on Windows.
Device Inventory and Configuration:
1. All computers, printers, tablets, and similar devices must be submitted to the IT supervisor for inventory recording and configuration setup before deployment in offices and labs. This policy ensures proper control, security, and standardization of IT assets within the department.
Department Servers:
1. Server Reboots: Department servers may be rebooted at moments of minimal use to install firmware upgrades, kernel updates, etc. This may be done without warning if the server is not currently in use. Hadoop datanodes will be rebooted as needed in a way consistent with data replication. Critical servers (file servers, for example) will when possible have reboots announced in advance on the IT Alerts page.
2. Accounts: All Computer Science majors and students currently enrolled in Computer Science classes are eligible for server accounts, as are all department faculty and staff. These accounts are created automatically on a regular schedule.
3. Account removals: Students who are no longer enrolled in any Computer Science classes and are not Computer Science majors (including those who have graduated or otherwise left the university entirely) will have their accounts closed in the following fall or spring semester after the course add period has ended. Accounts for departing staff and faculty will be handled on a case by case basis. Files in closed accounts will be moved to an archival system thereafter and retained for a period of time in accordance with the department data retention policy (10.d).
4. Data Retention Policy: In accordance with state policies on records disposition of student work, archived account data from previously closed accounts may be purged once four years have passed since the initial archiving. This schedule also may be applied to backup media no longer in active use.
5. Software Installation: As superuser access on instructional servers is limited to IT staff, software installation is done by request. Requests should specify the software needed, a brief statement of its purpose, and either the Ubuntu package name(s) or where to find the software otherwise.
Laptop Checkout: The Department of Computer Science IT Services offers laptops, iPads, and other equipment checkout program for CS staff, faculty, and GTAs.
1. This program is designed to be a temporary solution while one is in the process of purchasing a laptop, if their laptop is being repaired, or if needed for teaching purposes. As well as lending cables or equipment for temporary use.
2. Users may opt into the program on a semester by semester basis by following the instructions here.
Appropriate Use Policy:
1. All Computer Science information technology resources fall under Oklahoma State University's Appropriate Use Policy.
2. In particular, users should take note of section 4.02.C under Use Purposes: "Incidental personal use of University information technology resources is permitted, but must not interfere with a user’s performance of official University business, result in direct costs to the University, expose the University to unnecessary risks, or violate applicable laws or other University or Board policy. Users shall have no expectation of privacy in any personal information stored by a user on a University information technology resource, including University electronic mail accounts. Storage of any electronic mail messages, voice messages, file, or documents created by incidental personal use by a user must be nominal."
3. This policy should be taken to apply to resources including, but not limited to, file storage on the CSX, Hadoop, and other file servers; usage of the department web server to serve files; any and all storage on individual machines including those in the MSCS 222, MSCS 206 and other laboratories; and any other services or devices that fall under the cited Appropriate Use Policy.