Reed College
Reed College

Information Technology

Theft, Loss or Damage of College Computing Equipment

Approved by the CPC on March 26, 2003; March 9, 2007; October 7, 2015; updated 11/15/2022

Faculty and staff are expected to take reasonable steps to protect College-owned computing equipment from theft, loss, or damage.

Off-campus

  1. If a College-owned computer provided to a faculty or staff member is lost, stolen, or damaged while off-campus, the faculty or staff member may be required to pay up to $500 toward the replacement or repair of the computer.*  Guidelines for keeping your equipment safe while traveling or at home can be found on the IT website.

On-campus

  1. Faculty and staff should close and lock their doors and windows when they leave their offices, even if they intend to be gone for only a short period of time. Lock-down cables will be distributed with laptop computers that contain a security slot, and these should be used consistently.   Overnight, on weekends, and during holidays, laptops should be stored in lockable drawers or cabinets and the key should be secured. If needed, Facilities Services can install grommets or other means of attaching security cables in faculty and staff offices, and can provide a lockable cabinet or drawer.
  2. No payment will be required of faculty or staff in the event that computing equipment is stolen from their offices, provided that they have taken reasonable precautions against theft (as indicated above). If appropriate precautions have not been taken, the faculty or staff member may be required to pay up to $500 toward the replacement or repair of the computer.*

Repeated Theft, Loss, or Damage

In the event of repeated instances of computer theft, loss or damage, especially if reasonable precautions have not been appropriately taken, the faculty or staff member may be required to pay $500 or a higher amount, up to the cost of the replacement or repair of the computer and/or may be denied replacement equipment of equal value. The individual will be notified of these potential costs by the College as appropriate.

*College funds may not be used to pay penalties. If the loss is covered by the individual's homeowner's or other insurance policy, the coverage amount received should be provided in full to the College towards the cost of a replacement computer.

The Computing Policy Committee can be reached at cpc@reed.edu