To keep your data safe and our systems secure, the university is enabling 10-minute automatic timeouts on all Saint Mary’s managed/owned computers. This means that if a computer is left inactive for 10 minutes, it will automatically lock and require a password to continue. (Inactivity generally means no keyboard or mouse use. If you are in a video conference meeting or webinar, the system will stay active.)
To ensure a smooth classroom experience, teacher stations in classrooms are not affected by this change until May 5th but the change will take effect on all other university-managed computers, including labs, libraries, offices, and shared spaces starting Thursday April 10th.
Automatic timeouts help protect Saint Mary’s data and reduce the risk of unauthorized access when a computer is left unattended. They also support compliance guidelines such as FERPA which require inactivity timeouts as a basic safeguard.
Remember: If you step away, your computer will lock after 10 minutes of inactivity. Just sign back in to continue working!
Thank you for your cooperation in helping keep our systems safe and secure! If you have any questions, please contact the HelpDesk at 507-457-7800 or helpdesk@smumn.edu.
