Stanford
University Privacy Office

How To Request Electronic Access To Stanford Accounts

From time to time, Stanford may have legitimate reasons to request access to an individual’s data stored in Stanford-managed systems.  For example, when faculty or staff leave Stanford, they may have files or communications in their individual Stanford accounts that are necessary for ongoing operations or research. Access to such individual accounts may be granted only:
(1) with permission of the individual account owner, or
(2) in accordance with Administrative Guide 6.1.1 (Privacy and Access to Electronic Information).  

This “How to Request Electronic Access to Stanford Accounts” document describes the process for requesting access to such accounts.  

When Should I Use This Policy? 

Use Admin Guide 6.1.1 when university personnel need to access electronic accounts or data without prior user consent in specific, justified situations. These include: 

  • Accessing accounts of a departed or current employee to support business continuity
  • Investigating a possible policy violation or legal noncompliance
  • Responding to legal process (e.g., subpoena, court order)
  • Addressing emergencies or operational disruptions
  • Maintaining IT systems (e.g., patching, audit logs)

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