Does a University have the right to read the email correspondence of a student?

Question

Particularly if the correspondence takes places via webmail, in other words is hosted on University servers.

No assumptions please.

Again, why are you guys assuming that I'm the student. Please.

Answer 1

The university OWNS the servers---it's THEIR property...just like where I worked (which is a STATE OFFICE)... our email server was owned by my department and it was scanned fairly regularly to weed out anyone emailing INAPPROPRIATE things (usually pictures) through the office email system.... and it DID happen ---would you believe some guys IN THE OFFICE would look at PORN and then EMAIL some of those photo to others in the department??? Those people were caught and FIRED due to the proof found on their computers and in their emails. I truly don't believe every single email is READ in full on a university email server, but, if suspicious looking emails started being hit by these servers (like for example someone emailing someone about doing something HARMFUL to people AT the university, then I would HOPE something like THAT would be caught before anything serious HAPPENED... Think about Virginia Tech.... weren't some of the shooters emails read AFTER THE FACT? Had they caught them BEFORE, maybe that shooting wouldn't have happened... As a safety precaution I think email scanning is OK---besides, people who write emails MUST realize that SOMEONE can see them SOMEWHERE---whether you use YAHOO or AOL or whatever, these emails can be seen by the servers all the time... So my best advice would be BE VERY CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY IN YOUR EMAILS...big brother is truly watching WORLD WIDE

Answer 2

At the time that you made arrangements to use the university server, if you were advised that there was to be no pressumption of privacy for any material on their server, then the university has that right. If you used the university server without their permission, then they also have that right.

Answer 3

Yes, if the email correspondence has been conducted through the university communication system or through a computer that is the university's property.

If you read the email policy there, it will state this condition.

Answer 4

Dear Sir/Madam, My name is Susan Smith and I am a student from Kirkburton College. I would like to inquire if you offer any programs where College students can work for the experience? I wish to study law next year and would like to gain some experience.I am mainly interested in a part-time job. Thank you in advance for any consideration. Sincerely Susan

Answer 5

Yes. This is typical and fairly standard to some degree. However due to the time involved given teh number of studentsw and sheer volume of e-mail it is not done unless theier is a specific reason or your e-mail contains certain key words or phrases that get flagged.

Answer 6

A university has right to read university email if it is a university paid for domain and they also inform the students that they may read email in extenuating circumstances.

Answer 7

Oh yeah if its thier servers the student most likely signed something to use them. This is totally legal. and people would argue we have to spy on the students to protect the students from other students

Answer 8

No, they can't just open that and read them, but I don't know what's the law on what info those servers can save and for how long. Like that big news about Google or other search engine keeping log of search data for certain amount of time.

Answer 9

If the E-mail is on the Universities computer.

Answer 10

If you are using a personal laptop or pc,and not threatning anyone they shouldn't but can,it's like can your mom or dad read your email if you live in there house or using there computer?