It is a pain the the ass. This is why I help my students do their applications at the end of each class.
If she was using the newest version of IE then the problems were actually being caused by a security setting that you would never think to change. To make things worse, they have no desire to fix it.
If that requires a reduction in the client side (i.e., IE) security settings it could be a FIPS violation, and accordingly a violation of MD State IT Operating Standards. That could be a hammer if in fact this sorry excuse for a state government administration actually HAS any documented operating standards.