Reducing Text Messaging While Driving and Performing Work under Federal Grant or Contract

Scope

This policy applies to all Indiana University faculty, staff and students performing work under a federal award that requires compliance with this Executive Order.

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Policy Statement

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that, when applicable, Indiana University complies with Presidential Documents: Executive Order 13513 of October 1, 2009, “Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging While Driving.”

It is the policy of Indiana University to comply with Presidential Documents: Executive Order 13513 of October 1, 2009, “Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging While Driving”. Consistent with this Executive Order, all Indiana University faculty, staff, agents, and students shall not engage in text messaging when driving while driving any vehicle, including personally owned vehicles, when performing work under a federal award that requires compliance with this Executive Order.

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Reason for Policy

Federal Leadership On Reducing Text Messaging While Driving, was signed by President Barack Obama on October 1, 2009. This Executive Order requires granting and contracting agencies to encourage award recipients and contractors of the Federal Government to adopt and enforce policies that prohibit the use of text messaging while driving federally or institutionally owned vehicles, or while driving personally owned vehicles when performing any work for or on behalf of the government.

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Definitions

“Texting” or “Text Messaging” means reading from or entering data into any handheld or other electronic device, including for the purpose of SMS texting, e-mailing, instant messaging, obtaining navigational information, or engaging in any other form of electronic data retrieval or electronic data communication.

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Sanctions

University faculty, staff, agents, and students that are found to be in violation of this policy may be subject to sanctions relating to the individual’s employment (up to and including immediate termination of employment in accordance with applicable university policy); the individual's studies within the university (such as student discipline in accordance with applicable university policy); civil or criminal liability; or any combination of these.

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History

This policy became effective on 09/01/2010.

Policy was renumbered and moved to Sponsored Programs Administration subcategory.

A substantive review of the policy was conducted by IU Research and minor non-substantive changes were made in March 2024.

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