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CSUSB Mobile Device Standards and Guidelines

Revision Date: October 2017

Criteria and approval

The department administrator identifies the employees who qualify for a cellular phone or other mobile device. The department administrator also identifies the respective business needs for each employee, based on the following criteria. Administrators should identify all criteria that apply to each employee who will be using a mobile device:

  • Employee availability 24/7
  • Significant portion of work assignments are off site or in the field
  • Access in case of emergencies required
  • Programmatic needs identified by administrator

Approval by the respective vice president is required for the issuance of any university provided mobile device.

Carrier Charges and Billing

CSUSB mobile devices using a public carrier are consolidated under one account managed by the Information Technology Services. ITS will post the monthly charges to the individual department’s telephone billing each month, including equipment purchases. Each month, ITS will send a copy of the carrier charges to the designated departmental contact for telephone charges. Billing errors from the carriers and billing adjustments will be applied to the appropriate department’s telephone charges, when those corrections show on the carrier invoices.

Carrier Services

A request to add, change, or delete such service will be processed through the appropriate department administrators. Only the addition of a device will require approval by the respective vice president. ITS will act as the CSUSB agent for the employee with cellular carriers. CSUSB employees will not deal directly with carriers about CSUSB provided equipment and services, except with cooperation of ITS. Verizon is the consolidated sole cellular service provider for CSUSB employees.

Carrier Plans & Pricing

Default cellular plan for university smartphone will be the Nationwide Flat Rate Plus Data plan. 

Smartphone Plans:
Nationwide Flat Rate Plus Data - $0.06/ minute + $24.99/ month
Plan Includes: Pay per minute used, unlimited Night and Weekends, 100 text messages and unlimited data
** Additional text messaging plans can be added:  1100 text messages: $10.00/ month or unlimited messages: $12.00/ month

Nationwide Email & Data Shared 400 - $49.99/ month
Plan Includes: 400 minutes, unlimited Night and Weekends, Unlimited text messaging and unlimited data
** Mobile hotspot may be added:  $10.00/ month

Basic Phone Plan:
Nationwide Flat Rate Plus Data - $0.06/ minute 
Plan Includes:  Pay per minute used unlimited Night and Weekends and100 text messages

Data Service (for MiFi and iPad Devices)
Mobile Broadband Unlimited - $37.99/ month

Device Cost Coverage/Reimbursement

The university will fund a maximum of $200 for a cell phone device and a maximum of $500 for a tablet device. Any costs beyond these amounts must be approved by the vice president of the respective division. The device cost will be charged to the departments account and the department will be responsible for any recovery of costs from the employee.

Device Options

  • Please contact the Technology Support Center at ext. 77677 for current device list.
  • Tablets/ iPads: Users should purchase such devices through the Coyote Bookstore, IT Services will facilitate cellular data service for the devices.

Upgrade Requests

The employee using a university provided mobile device may request an upgrade when new features are needed, or when the current device is at or near end-of-life. Purchase of or upgrade to a new device over the approved limit will require approval by the vice president of the respective division; all other changes can be approved by the appropriate administrator. All old devices must be cleared of personal identifiable information and returned to Information Technology Services.

Mobile Device Security Recommendations

Because of the large diversity of makes and model of mobile phones, users are encouraged to carefully read the User’s Manual for their particular mobile phone and implement the following security recommendations, when available. Users can contact their device vendor for assistance.

  • Enable passcode lock on the mobile phone
  • Choose a combination that will be difficult to guess
  • Set the auto-lock option after a period of inactivity
  • When available enable the option to erase data after a certain number of failed attempts
  • Password protect the SIM card
  • Disable features that could be accessed without entering the passcode
  • Disable voice dial feature
  • Disable SMS preview
  • Overcoming privacy issues due to the inherent design of mobile device
  • Disable or delete keyboard cache
  • Disable geotagging and location tracking
  • Erase all data before returning, repairing, or reselling of your mobile device
  • Regularly update the device's firmware and do not attempt to Jailbreak the mobile device
  • Enable appropriate restriction on your mobile phone
  • Prevent from launching and using unnecessary inbuilt applications
  • Prevent from installing or deleting any applications
  • Prevent making changes to any accounts
  • Enable available privacy and security settings on the mobile phone’s internet browser 
  • Enable pop-up blockers
  • Disable auto-fills
  • Enable fraud warning of websites
  • Clear cookies, history and cache after visiting sensitive websites
  • Delete unnecessary databases created by websites
  • Do not remember passwords to sensitive websites
  • When not in use, disable Bluetooth, Wi-Fi connection, and sharing services
  • Configure the email reader to use a secure protocol (TLS/SSL)
  • When available, enable "Find My Mobile Phone" service

End of Employee Positions/Appointments

If an employee separates from the university, he or she shall have the option to transfer the phone number associated with the mobile device onto a personal plan. If an employee changes positions or job assignments such that a mobile device is no longer necessary, then he or she shall be given the option to transfer the phone number associated with the mobile device onto a personal plan. If the employee choses to transfer the number, the transfer must be completed 14 days prior to the date of separation or re-assignment.

When an employee stops using a university-issued mobile device, the employee must ensure that all personal identifiable information has been removed from the device and return it to Information Technology Services. Devices may be returned to the carrier for credit, or disposed of according to property asset disposal procedures.

Privacy and Ownership Disclaimer

Cell phones and other mobile devices provided by CSUSB are the property of the university and the expectation of privacy should not be inferred. For further information, please refer to the Privacy and Ownership (Disclaimers) section within the CSUSB Acceptable Use Policy.