Domain Name Governance Procedure

All third-level host or domain names under rochester.edu will be registered with University IT, the data custodian of this namespace. The goal of this policy is to support the presentation of a coherent and unified image of the University to the public.

The leadership of each University division may designate an IT representative and a marketing representative who will have the authority to review proposed names covered by this policy. Each division's leadership may choose to make two, one, or no designations. University IT will maintain an email distribution list of these designees, updating the list whenever new designations are received from the divisions' leadership.

Step 1

Requests to register a name covered by this policy may be submitted to University IT.

Request a Third-Level Domain Name

Step 2

When University IT receives a request, it will forward the request to the distribution list, with notice that the requested name will be registered if no objection is raised within five business days. University IT may include with the forwarded request information about technical feasibility or possible conflicts with other requests or plans.

Step 3

Those on the distribution list will apply the following guidance to their deliberations. A third-level name under rochester.edu

1. may be the commonly known name or initials of:

a division, department, or administrative unit of the University; or
a program, service, or activity that serves the goals of or the members of multiple divisions of the University; or
a wayfinding service that aggregates links to similar services in multiple divisions;

2. is not ambiguous, for example, because the proposed name is in common use for different purposes in different divisions.

Step 4

Any objection or concern with a request may be discussed by the designees via the distribution list. The designees of the division from which the request came will gather any information required from that division to make a decision.

Any objection or concern that is not resolved at this level will be raised to the Vice President for IT and the Vice President for Communications for a decision.

Urgent Requests

If the requester states that the request requires immediate action, that it cannot be delayed by five business days, University IT may at its discretion implement the request immediately if technically feasible. University IT will notify the requester that the name is subject to revocation if any designee objects to it within five business days.

Fourth-Level Namespaces

Governance of fourth-level namespaces under approved third-level names is delegated to the requester of the third-level name. The requester may choose to use University IT as the data custodian of this fourth-level namespace rather than operate a separate DNS infrastructure.

Name Revocation

Previously registered third-level names may be revoked at the direction of the Vice President for IT and Vice President for Communications.