Policy Number: IT-10

 

Approved Date: 03/20/2002
Revision Date: 08/26/2025
Reviewed Date: 08/26/2025

 

The domain name system (DNS) is an Internet-wide distributed database of names primarily associated with Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. It is also a tool for locating services since many services are known by their domain name.   The purpose of this policy is to describe how DNS names are chosen and managed for university resources.

Scope

This policy applies to all hostnames used to conduct university business, as well as all hostnames of devices residing on the university network.

Policy Statements

  1. The principal domain name for the University of Iowa is "uiowa.edu". All services that are provided by members of the University of Iowa community as part of their official functions and as part of the mission of the institution will be registered within the uiowa.edu domain.  A limited number of additional domains are approved for certain functions of the university, (e.g., healthcare, sports), subject to the Implementation section below.
  2. All services that are provided by either members or nonmembers of the University of Iowa community, but that are not part of their official functions as members of the community or as part of the mission of the institution, must be registered outside the uiowa.edu domain according to the Implementation section below.
  3. Services provided by University affiliates (e.g., University of Iowa Center for Advancement) may be registered under the uiowa.edu domain, or may be registered outside of the uiowa.edu domain.
  4. Names outside of the uiowa.edu domain may be allowed if associated with the support of University-related organizations. For example, the University could provide DNS and web service for a pro bono basis scholarly journal, edited by a University faculty member.
  5. All services listed outside the uiowa.edu domain must obtain their own IP address space. The network administrator must contact hostmaster@uiowa.edu to discuss associated domain name service and IP routing issues before requesting the domain name or configuring services related to the domain name or IP address space, unless otherwise arranged (such as per (4) above).
  6. Existing hostnames or subdomains registered under uiowa.edu that do not conform to this policy will be reviewed to bring them into conformity with this policy, including the conditions for exceptions described below, or to grant them "grandfathered" status, if that is most appropriate.
  7. All exceptions that are granted to the normal subdomain naming within the uiowa.edu domain will be assigned an alias to the domain that would otherwise normally apply to the request, if such a domain exists. This will allow users to use network tools to determine the unit to which a particular service is affiliated even though the affiliated unit does not appear in the exception name.

Implementation of the Policy

  1. Responsibility for interpreting and implementing this policy will rest with the Office of Strategic Communications, the Enterprise Infrastructure (EI) unit of Information Technology Services (ITS), and Healthcare Information Systems (HCIS). Requests can be sent  to hostmaster@uiowa.edu.  These groups will jointly oversee the process of DNS requests, including approvals, exceptions and appeals.
  2. If the justification changes for a non-standard domain name, the assignment of the name may be reviewed. For example, if grant funding ends and a center is no longer officially recognized, the domain name assignment may be reviewed.
  3. If the IP address associated with the domain does not respond to network inquiry for two months, the assignment of the name may be terminated. Notice to the name owner will be given first, if possible.





Related Policies, References and Attachments


This collection of University of Iowa Information Technology policies and procedures contain acceptable use, security, networking, administrative, and academic policies that have been developed to supplement and clarify University of Iowa policy.
They are incorporated into the University of Operations Manual http://opsmanual.uiowa.edu by reference, per the Policy on Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources (opsmanual.uiowa.edu/community-policies/acceptable-use-information-technology-resources)

Requests for an exception to IT Policies & Standards can be submitted via the webform link here: Request a Security Exception