Personal Use of Equipment

University equipment is to be used to support its teaching, research, and administrative functions.  University employees may not use state resources (including equipment) for their private benefit or gain, or the private benefit or gain of any other person.  Occasional limited use of University equipment, including email, is permitted for other than official state job purposes only if all five of the following criteria are met:

  1. There is little or no cost to the state (de minimis).
  2. The use of state resources does not interfere with the performance of the employee's official duties.
  3. The use is brief in duration and accumulation.
  4. The use does not compromise the security or integrity of state information or software.
  5. The use promotes organizational effectiveness or the activities improve the work-related job skills of the employee.

Certain personal uses of university equipment are permissible such as the use of University equipment by an employee to write his or her own theses outside of normal work hours.  Personal use should be approved in advance by the immediate supervisor and must meet all three of the following criteria:

  1. There is little or no cost to the state (de minimis).
  2. The use of state resources does not interfere with the performance of the employee's official duties.
  3. The University must find some public benefit, either direct or indirect, in addition to any private benefit to the employee.

The University does possess unique equipment which, by their very nature, should be available to private businesses for testing or examining proprietary products.  When such situations arise, approval for the usage must be approved through normal departmental processes.  The fair rental value of the facilities and equipment requested, including equipment costs and University overhead, must be established by the dean or vice president and paid in advance.University equipment may not be used for the following purposes:

  • Conducting an outside business.
  • Supporting, promoting, or soliciting for an outside organization or group unless otherwise provided by law.
  • Political campaigning.
  • Commercial purposes such as advertising or selling.
  • Illegal activities.