Issue or Question
Who provides Internet, network, and telephone services for the Great North Innocence Project (GNIP) at TMH 110, and can GNIP use the University of St. Thomas network or phone system?
The Great North Innocence Project (GNIP) is an outside organization occupying the Terrence Murphy Hall (TMH) 110 office suite on the Minneapolis campus under a space use license agreement. As an outside organization, GNIP is not permitted to use the University's network, Internet, telephone, printing, or copying services. This article helps Tech Desk staff understand the service arrangement and know who to contact when GNIP requests network or telephony assistance.
Environment
This information applies to: Outside organizations in licensed campus spaces
- Great North Innocence Project (GNIP)
- TMH 110 office suite, Minneapolis
- ITS Tech Desk staff
- ITS Infrastructure and Network teams
Cause
Per the space use license agreement between the University of St. Thomas and GNIP, outside organizations occupying licensed campus spaces are not permitted to use University-owned network, Internet, telephone, printing, or copying services. This policy is consistent with how other outside organizations on campus are handled, such as LegalCORP on the Minneapolis campus. The relevant license agreement language states:
Licensee will be solely responsible for obtaining, securing, maintaining and paying for any wired and wireless network and Internet services, and telephone, printing and copying services (collectively, the "Outside Utilities") to be used by Licensee and its employees, agents, volunteers, interns, clients and other invitees in the course of offering or providing the Services at the Premises. University will provide reasonable assistance to Licensee to enable the delivery of Outside Utilities to Licensee at the Premises. Licensee will not use or knowingly take action to disrupt or interfere with University's wired or wireless network or Internet, telephone, printing or copying services and will cooperate with University to avoid and address any disruptions or interference that may occur as a result of Licensee's use of the Licensed Space.
Resolution
Before You Begin
Important: Do not provision University network access, VPN credentials, or University telephone extensions for GNIP staff. All requests of this nature must be redirected as described below.
Internet and Network Services
Comcast Business is the designated provider for all internet and network services for GNIP at TMH 110. GNIP is responsible for establishing and maintaining their own Comcast Business account and service agreement independent of the University.
Telephone and Landline Services
Telephone services — including individual employee landlines and a main office line — are not provided by the University of St. Thomas. All telephony needs for GNIP at TMH 110 are to be arranged through Comcast Business, outside of the University's phone infrastructure.
ITS Coordination Contact
If GNIP requires assistance coordinating Comcast Business service setup, or if ITS facilitation is needed for physical access or infrastructure build-out at TMH 110, direct the request to the Tech Desk. The Tech Desk will put in a ticket for networking to assist.
Caution: Connecting GNIP devices to the University network would violate the space use license agreement and could disrupt University network services. Always redirect GNIP network and telephony requests to their Comcast Business account.
Troubleshooting
If GNIP contacts the Tech Desk with network or telephony issues:
- Confirm that the request is for the TMH 110 space and that the caller is a GNIP staff member, volunteer, intern, or client.
- Do not attempt to troubleshoot University network connectivity for GNIP — they operate on a separate Comcast Business connection.
- Direct GNIP to contact Comcast Business support directly for service issues with their account.
- If the issue involves physical infrastructure access at TMH 110 or coordination with Comcast Business, escalate to networking.
- Record the complete description of the request before escalating.