professor and their email account spayed?

The previous posts are accurate. Better still, universities (and all employers really) have the legal right to monitor your non-university e-mail if you access it from work. So in other words, if you’re using Yahoo! e-mail at work, then they can monitor that as well if you’re using your employer’s network to gain internet access.

NOTHING is private at your place of employment other than your use of the bathroom.

At some institutions, they use software that scans e-mail for keywords, usually sexual, profane, or imflammatory. Similarly, they monitor which websites we (professors, students, staff) visit on the University network. These e-mails are then flagged for review by either IT personnel or administrators. These e-mails can, of course, then be used as grounds for dismissal as long as they aren’t part of legitimate academic research or teaching. For example, if you were a sociologist studying the role of the Internet in promoting pornography, you’d probably get the attention of your employer, but would probably survive the inquiry.

Ever read the George Orwell book, 1984? If not… you should.

It depends on the university. Each one has a different policy. But just like any other business, the school (employer) has every right to look at the accounts that it provides for the professors (employees). Although I think reading every email would be tedious and unnecessary, they have the right to read an email if they want to (provided it is on the email account that they provide for the professor).

i’m sure at some schools this true. i beleave most employers can technically read your email account if they provide it for you, although most don’t i do know of some who do. so i’m sure at some schools the professors’ email is monitored.