[This document describes fields in the Princeton University Host Database. You may also view descriptions of other fields.]
The DEPARTMENT field contains the name of the department responsible for this device, if any.
Although Host Database entries contain a field named DEPARTMENT containing a department name, you cannot edit the contents of this field directly when registering or changing a Host Database entry.
Instead, the forms used to register or change an office device entry contain a field labelled DEPARTMENT-NUMBER, with a list of available department numbers. Select the appropriate department number from this list. If you don't know your department number, see this Department Name to Department Number List.
When your request is processed, the department number will be translated into a department name; the department name will be stored in the Host Database entry's DEPARTMENT field, and the DEPARTMENT-NUMBER you specified will be discarded (it will not be stored in the Host Database entry).
We do not allow you to edit the text of the Host Database entry's DEPARTMENT field directly, as it is important that only official University department names appear in this field (i.e. no abbreviations, typos, etc). Other facilities rely on exact matching against this field.
For an office device, specify the department that is responsible for the device (e.g. the department that owns or operates the device).
For an office device for which no department is responsible (e.g. it is personally-owned and operated), specify the special department "Not Applicable" (department number 000). For example, students registering personally-owned/operated devices as office devices should specify "Not Applicable", rather than the department in which they are majoring (unless of course that department will actually be responsible for their device).
The DEPARTMENT field specified for a Host Database entry determines the Departmental Contacts associated with it.
Departmental Contacts can change or delete the Host Database entry. They are also (if they choose) cc'd on email showing the succesful outcome of adding, changing, or deleting the Host Database entry.