Aerial view of campus with Williamsport, the Susquehanna River and Bald Eagle Mountain as a backdrop

Software Policy

Overview

All software installations on College owned devices, must meet the following guidelines and requirements:

All Software Acquisitions

The purchase of any software, administrative or academic must be done by the Office of Information Technology and with prior approval of the Chief Information Officer. This includes lab applications, classroom applications, specific applications for faculty and staff devices, administrative applications, and all tablet/smartphone apps on College devices.

Faculty and Staff Devices

In compliance with information security best practices and cyber liability insurance requirements, Lycoming College does not allow faculty or staff administrative access to their college provided devices. This following provides guidelines and procedures around the vetting and installation of standard and non-standard software applications related to faculty and staff roles.

Expected Use of College-Provided Computers

  • Computers are provided for academic, administrative, and professional purposes aligned with job duties.
  • Users should not attempt to install unauthorized software, modify system settings, or bypass security controls.
  • Software requests or system issues should be reported to IT Services via the college's ticket tracking system.
  • Users are expected to abide by the following guidelines to ensure a safe and secure environment across all Lycoming devices.

Standard Software Self-Installations

  • Users can install software directly from Lycoming’s Service Center Downloads without involvement from IT.
  • Available software will include frequently installed applications tailored to meet common institutional needs.
    • Go to servicedesk.lycoming.edu and login with your Lycoming credentials.
    • Click on the “Downloads” link on the left.
    • Click on the software you’d like to install.
    • Select your computer name in the drop down menu labeled “Device to install software on:”
    • Click “Run Now” at the bottom of the page then click “yes” on the confirm screen.
    • After a few minutes, you will see a popup on the bottom right of your screen referencing the installation of your software. It will indicate when it’s complete.
  • For Software not available on Lycoming's Service Center Downloads, users will need to submit software installation requests via Lycoming’s ticket tracking system, the details of which can be found in the procedural section.

Faculty and Staff Installation Procedures - Non- Standard Software Requests

For Software not in the Service Center "Downloads" section, users must submit a request to the IT Services via an IT Service Center ticket.

Requests must include:

  • Software name and version.
  • Justification for business or academic needs.
  • Official download link (if possible).

IT will review requests for security, compatibility, and licensing compliance.

If any additional review or procurement is needed, IT will notify the user of any delays.

Approved requests will be processed within three business days of submission, where they will then be installed by IT.

Remote Software Installation for Off-Campus Users

  • For users off-campus or unable to visit IT Services in person, IT will use a secure third-party remote access tool to install approved software.
  • Users must submit a software installation request, noting their off-campus status.
  • IT will schedule a remote installation within three (3) business days of approval, coordinating with the user for availability.
  • Users must ensure their device is powered on, internet-connected, and accessible during the scheduled session.
  • Remote installations will adhere to college privacy and security protocols, with user consent required.

Lab/Classroom Software Installation Guidelines

  • All software will be installed by a qualified member of ITS. ITS will test basic operability of any software installed in labs and classrooms. More extensive testing is the responsibility of requesting faculty.
  • Usually, installations will be done on a “master image” from which all computers in the labs are updated.
  • All requests for new software in the computer labs and classrooms will be submitted to ITS by June 1 of each year We ask that faculty have all lab software installations fully tested at least one month before the start of class.

Lab/Classroom Software Installation Requirements

  • Software for use in computer labs/classrooms must be purchased in sufficient quantities to install for the total number of computers. All software purchases are approved by the Computer Replacement Task Force as part of the budgeting request process. Smaller block or individual installations will not be done in computer labs.
  • All software must be compatible with the present operating system being used in the computer labs. All software is subject to periodic review.
  • All software requested for installation in the computer labs must be designed and intended for academic class work.
  • Security or Hacking tools that could be used to compromise the network or any other software that would act contrary to appropriate use statements are not allowed.

Submitting software does not guarantee its installation. All software must pass testing and administrative review. If the software compatibility or appropriateness is in question, it is advisable to submit the software well in advance of the deadline to ensure the testing and review process can be completed before the start of the semester.

ITS will make an effort near the end of each semester to contact the professors using existing software in the lab to confirm whether the software will or will not be needed again the following semester.

Revisions approved by the Information Technology Committee on 3/7/2026
Revisions approved by the President’s Administrative Cabinet on 3/9/2026
Last Reviewed: 3/6/2026