Information Technology Acceptable Use Procedures

Suffield Public School

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The computer technology is present to support the educational mission of the district. Use of this equipment provides great opportunity, but places a responsibility on all students. All students have the responsibility to use the equipment in a considerate, ethical and lawful manner. The right to use this equipment may be revoked at any time by the system administrator or the administration if deemed necessary.

Internet access is provided to the students to enhance their educational opportunities. Internet access is now available to students and teachers in our school district. The access is offered as a collaborative project involving your student's school and a local Internet Service Provider. Our goal in providing this service is to promote educational excellence in the district by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication.

For example:

• Language and comments will not contain rude, offensive, abusive, sexist or racist remarks.

• On-line harassment by electronic comment is harassment.

For example:

• Students will not delete, rename or alter school files on public computers.

• Students will not deliberately sabotage school files, hardware or software.

• Students will not disconnect or move ANY hardware without specific permission. This includes computers, monitors, keyboards or mice.

• Files and folders used or stored on school computers will not contain material inappropriate to the school setting.

• Students shall not attempt to thwart passwords. They shall not trade passwords. Passwords belong to an individual and may not be shared. Students are responsible for maintaining the privacy of their own password.

• Students shall not attempt to gain access to private information on the network, or on a school computer.

• Students will not use a computer while logged on as someone else, even if that is how they found the computer.

• It is illegal to represent yourself as someone else in any form of electronic communication.

• Students will immediately report any lapses in security that they discover to a staff member.

Just because things are easy to do does not mean that they are ethical or legal.

• Students will cite the source of any text, photo or video when including it as something submitted for credit.

• The use of the Internet must be in support of education, research and school sanctioned projects.

• Students may NOT submit their name, address, or any other personal information.

• Any use of the Internet to facilitate illegal activity is prohibited.

• Any use of the Internet for commercial or for-profit purposes is prohibited.

• Discriminatory remarks, hate mail, harassment, and other antisocial behavior is prohibited.

• The illegal installation of copyrighted software for use on district computers is prohibited.

• Use of the Internet to access and/or transmit obscene or pornographic materials is prohibited.

• Students may not participate in CHAT sessions or CHAT rooms.

Consequences of violations include but are not limited to:

• Suspension of Internet access;

• Suspension of school network privileges;

• School suspension;

• School expulsion; and

• Legal action and prosecution by the authorities.

I have read this AUP and agree to the restrictions and guidelines contained within the document. I also understand that any behavior considered inappropriate by the School Staff could also be considered a violation of this AUP.