Higher Education is heavily regulated by both Government and Private Entities, especially in the areas of Information Technology. SMU is both an Internet Service Provider to over 2,000 on campus students, as well as a enterprise supporting over 2,000 facullty and staff. Information is vital to the health of the University and the Office of Digital Interests assists in monitoring of Regulation of Higher Education Information Technology and the development and revision of policy.
Federal Regulation
FERPA: FERPA protects the privacy of students' education records by enforcing limitations on the release of student information. Particularly sensitive information includes students' Social Security numbers, race or ethnicity, gender, nationality, academic performance, disciplinary records, and grades.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA): HIPAA is a federal law comprised of regulations that establish and protect patient rights and disseminate standards for the protection of individually identifiable health information.
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act: GLBA sets forth key provisions on the collection and disclosure of consumer's personal financial information, such as bank account numbers.
FACTA Red Flags: The Federal Trade Comission, in conjunction with several other agencies set out a list of guidelines, collectively called the Red Flag Rules, that regulate how Universities will address potential incidents of Identity Theft.
State Regulation
Texas 78(R) SB 473: An Act relating to assisting consumers to prevent and detect identity theft; providing penalties.
Texas 79(R) SB 122: An Act relating to the prevention and punishment of identity theft and the rights of certain victims of identity theft; providing penalties.
Texas Penal Code 7.33: Criminal statute regarding Computer Crimes
Texas Penal Code 32.51: Criminal statute regarding Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information.