TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION MEDIA

ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

St. Robert School/Parish provides computing, data storage, information retrieval systems
and network resources for the use of students, employees, and others affiliated with the
school/parish. Network and Internet access is provided at the school to further the
legitimate educational goals of this institution. The equipment, software, and network
capacities provided through school/parish computer services are and remain the property of
the school/parish. All users are expected to conduct their online activities in an ethical and
legal fashion. The use of these resources is a privilege, not a right. Misuse of
resources will result in the suspension or loss of these privileges, as well as disciplinary,
legal, and/or monetary consequences.

Conditions of Acceptable Use:

1. Educational Use Only

 School computers and telecommunications equipment is to be used only in
support of established curricular goals. Non-educational games, videos,
music, websites, e-mail, and proxy servers are not allowed.

2. Appropriate Material Only

 Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures or using obscene
language is prohibited
 The display or transmission of messages, images, cartoons, e-mail, or
other electronic messages that are sexually explicit or constitute
harassment are prohibited.
 Use for personal financial or commercial gain, product advertisement,
political lobbying, or the sending of unsolicited junk mail, or chain
letters is prohibited.

3. Proper Citation
 Violation of copyright laws is prohibited. The transmission or use of
copyrighted materials or information created by another individual,
known or unknown, requires proper citation or the written permission
of the author or creator.

4. Privacy
 Trespassing in others' folders, work or files is prohibited
 Using others’ passwords is prohibited.
 Examining files, electronic mail messages, and/or data belonging to other
users are prohibited.
 Forging, deleting, copying, and/or modifying files and/or data belonging to
other individuals are prohibited.
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 5. No dangerous, destructive, or disrespectful activity
 Harassing, insulting or attacking others via electronic media is strictly
prohibited.
 Vandalism is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, any attempt to
harm or destroy computers, computer systems, or networks or network sites
as well as the data of another user. Attempts to breach security codes and/or
passwords will also be considered a form of vandalism.
 The creation, propagation, and/or use of computer viruses are prohibited.
 Intentionally wasting limited resources is prohibited.
 Willful destruction of computer hardware or software, or attempts to exceed
or modify the parameters of the system is prohibited. Nothing in this policy
shall prohibit the school operator from intercepting and stopping e-mail
messages that have the capacity to overload the computer resources.
Discipline may be imposed for intentional overloading of the
school's/parish's computer resources.

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Revised 7/08
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES--TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION MEDIA
Students are responsible for good behavior on school computer networks just as they are in a
classroom or school hallway. Communications on the network are often public in nature.
General school rules for behavior and communication apply.

The network is provided for students to conduct research and communicate with others for
educational purposes. Independent access to network services is provided to students who agree
to act in a considerate and responsible manner. Parent permission is required. Access is a
privilege, not a right, therefore, access means responsibility.

Individual users of the school computer network are responsible for their behavior and
communications over the network. It is presumed that users will comply with the school
standards and will honor the agreements they have signed.

Network storage areas should be treated like school lockers. Network administrators may review
files and communications to maintain system integrity and insure that users are using the system
responsibly. Users should not expect that files stored on school computers or servers will always
be private.

During school, teachers will guide students toward appropriate materials. Outside of school, families bear the
responsibility for such guidance.

Our COMPUTER CODE of ETHICS requires:

1. Educational use only

2. Appropriate material only
3. Proper citation
4. Privacy
5. No dangerous, destructive, or disrespectful activity

Violations of computer ethics may result in one or more of the following:

 Suspension or loss of access to equipment

· Repeated offenses will result in progressive suspension or loss of privileges
· Additional disciplinary action
· Notification to law enforcement agencies

While filtering software is in place at the school to help prevent access to undesirable material,
it may not be possible to block out all undesirable topics. If, while using the Internet, a student
comes across an undesirable site, they shall exit the site immediately, and let the teacher know
about it.14-3

7/08
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