When considering a building occupancy management or tracking system it is vital to ensure the privacy of data related to the UW-Madison campus community, especially as it relates to the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The Division of Information Technology (DoIT) needs to be involved in the selection and procurement of any software solutions for:
- Proper management of investment in any new technology solutions designed to track, count, or log the whereabouts of individuals entering buildings, classrooms, or research facilities
- Prioritizing and supporting groups who have a legal mandate to track campus levels in facilities (e.g., campus-run dining)
- Creation of a consistent and professionally managed campus security approach
Examples of existing acceptable technology solutions:
- Campus door lock systems
- Course attendance software
Examples of unacceptable technology solutions:
- Occupancy sensors
- Newly developed web databases designed to track occupancy levels
If departments wish to develop or use systems to allow the reservation of spaces, those systems must be pre-approved (approved before use) by the UW–Madison Office of Cybersecurity and the Division of Information Technology. Such systems will be evaluated in terms of privacy of data use, data storage, and compliance with regulations such as Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
For questions or concerns, please contact Todd Shechter, Chief Technology Officer, DoIT at Todd.shechter@wisc.edu.