RUP

http://tech-in-the-middle.wikispaces.com/Student+Resources = EPISCOPAL STUDENT RESPONSIBLE USE POLICY =

Episcopal High School recognizes that as telecommunications and other technologies change, there will be a shift in the ways in which information may be accessed, communicated, and transferred by members of our society. Methods of instruction and student learning will also change. Guidelines are provided below to make all Episcopal technology users aware of the responsibilities that they accept when they use Episcopal's technology resources. In general, what is required is efficient, ethical, and legal utilization of technology resources on the Episcopal campus - use that is respectful of the rights of all users in the Episcopal school community. The Responsible Use Policy is an extension of the school’s Honor Code, and general school rules for behavior apply. A signature on the School’s Enrollment Contract indicates that the signed party has read the terms and conditions of use, understands their significance, and agrees to abide by the terms. Guidelines for Responsible Use of Technology
 * Appropriate Use of Technology Resources**: Episcopal provides technology resources to support the pursuit of educational excellence by its students. Within the school environment, these resources are to be used to conduct research, to support classroom activities, and to engage in self-discovery activities that are consistent with the educational goals and mission of the school. Uses that might be acceptable in another environment may not be acceptable in this system because of its limited educational purpose.


 * Use of Technology Resources****:** The use of technology resources at Episcopal is a privilege, not a right.


 * Procedure for Reporting Inadvertent Inappropriate Use:** If a user inadvertently uses a technology resource inappropriately, the user is responsible for immediately notifying a teacher, a librarian, or an administrator of the mistake. Failure to report unintentional misuse will result in the incident's being considered an intentional violation.


 * The Use of Personal Devices:** Students who bring their privately-owned electronic device to school are personally responsible for the equipment. Responsibility for the maintenance and repair of the equipment rests solely with the owner. Any damage to the equipment is the responsibility of the owner. No privately-owned computers or devices defined as such may be attached to the Episcopal High School network except to the public side of the network as prescribed by the technology department. All privately-owned computing devices attached and/or connected to the schools network (even wirelessly) are treated as school owned computers. Any device that can connect in any way to our network is considered a computing device under this policy.

Episcopal seeks to protect the civil, personal, and property rights of those individuals using school technology resources and regards the following technology use as unacceptable:
 * Unacceptable Use of Technology**


 * Accessing Information Which Does Not Support Educational Purposes:**
 * Sexually explicit sites
 * Hate or discrimination sites
 * Sites that promote violence or illegal activities
 * Sites that promote or support academic dishonesty
 * Any Social Media site when not used for a teacher-led assignment where the teacher has prior approval
 * Use of proxies or anonymizers to access sites to circumvent any network security measures Episcopal has in place
 * Use of personal cellular hotspot devices. Any Wi-Fi needed should go through the school provided wireless access
 * Any mobile device brought on campus is deemed an educational use-only device and should remain turned off and stored unless being used on the school’s wireless for classwork as specifically directed by the teacher


 * Publishing (Sending, Forwarding, Posting): Inappropriate Information:**
 * Communications containing language that is obscene, profane, sexually explicit, lewd, vulgar, rude, disrespectful, threatening, or inflammatory
 * Communications containing harassment, personal attacks (including prejudicial or discriminatory), or hate mail (spreading false or defamatory material about a person or organization). This also includes any form of cyber bullying
 * Sending (including forwarding) chain letters or spam (annoying or unnecessary messages to large numbers of people)
 * Posting to personal web pages in a way that connect students to Episcopal High School (including pictures or video)
 * Using references to Episcopal on any unauthorized web pages


 * Abusing Technology Resources:**
 * Using the network in ways that disrupts network use by others
 * Using the network to engage in illegal activity
 * Changing, rearranging, adding, or deleting desktop and software settings on school resources
 * Downloading, installing, or storing unauthorized software on school systems• Downloading and/or storing information not pertinent to classroom activities
 * Changing rights or permissions even within a student’s folder
 * Downloading or storing files or other information on the hard drive of a school computer rather than the approved network location (this includes but is not limited to files, videos, graphics, programs, Internet shortcuts, or student-created material)
 * Wasting finite resources; i.e., print cartridges and paper by printing unnecessarily, bandwidth or data storage by downloading or storing unnecessary content• Using school technology resources to conduct a business or for other unauthorized commercial gain
 * Disconnecting or taking cables, mice or other accessories, (this includes vandalizing, damaging, or disabling equipment, software or data)
 * Playing video games (this includes all games, including online educational games that are not part of a classroom assignment)


 * Safety and Security Issues:**
 * Failing to keep personal passwords confidential
 * Failing to log off when finished using a workstation **•** Using the password of another person **•** Disclosing photographs or personal information, such as names, addresses, or phone numbers, online for the school, for oneself or for others **•** Entering credit card numbers and purchasing materials or services online
 * Hacking or otherwise accessing accounts of others even if the location is left unlocked
 * Spoofing or otherwise falsifying the source of network traffic including e-mails
 * Creating or propagating computer viruses or overloading the school’s network resources


 * Copyright/Piracy Issues:**
 * Downloading or exchanging pirated or illegally obtained software
 * Violating software licensing agreements by loading software illegally
 * Copying, modifying, distributing, displaying, or transmitting the work of another without contacting the owner for permission [material on most websites is protected by copyright]
 * Cracking/spreading or otherwise copying or distributing commercial software


 * Consequences for Inappropriate Use:** Access to technology is provided as an important component of the Episcopal educational environment. Users who fail to adhere to the terms of the Acceptable Use Policy face cancellation of access privileges as well as disciplinary, Honor Code, or legal action.

Episcopal makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the Internet access service it provides. Episcopal specifically denies any responsibility for the quality of information obtained through the Internet. Episcopal denies responsibility for loss of data resulting in delays, non-deliveries, miss-deliveries, or interruptions sustained by users as a result of system failure. Episcopal denies responsibility for financial obligations arising from unauthorized use of the system for the purchase of products or services. Episcopal accepts no responsibility for damages incurred by a user's inappropriate use of the system.
 * Disclaimers:**


 * Limited Expectation of Privacy:** Users of Episcopal technology resources have the right to privacy from their peers in their e-mail correspondence and personal files; however, Episcopal administration reserves the right to gain access to these files to investigate unusual activity on the system or any user believed to be in violation of acceptable use guidelines.

Although the Internet is a very worthwhile educational tool, it poses the risk of its users being exposed to inappropriate materials. Episcopal focuses on students' learning to make appropriate choices based on school guidelines and personal values. Campus Internet use is monitored so that users making inappropriate choices can be redirected toward productive use in accordance with school guidelines.

Parents/guardians have the right at any time to investigate or review the contents of their child's files and e-mail. Parents/guardians have the right to deny Internet access to their child or to request the termination of their child's individual account at any time.