COMPUTER INFRACTIONS AND INTERNET POLICIES

PINKERTON ACADEMY

INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY FOR STUDENTS

Pinkerton Academy provides all students with the opportunity to use the Internet as a means of garnering resources to support research and for other educational endeavors. The purpose of the Internet is to facilitate communications in support of research and education by providing access to unique resources and an opportunity for collaborative work. It should be clear that the Academy does not have sufficient staff to monitor every aspect of the Internet. However, our network manager is constantly monitoring and blocking sites that are deemed “inappropriate” (Inappropriate meaning “visual depictions” that are obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors.), We encourage parents to discuss proper use of the Internet with their children and to guide them in accordance with acceptable family and school values.

Educational Purposes:

The purpose of the Academy's Internet connection is to enhance established school curriculum. Users are responsible for ensuring that their activities adhere to generally accepted educational standards. Within reason, freedom of speech and access to information will be honored.

Privilege:

Access to the Academy's Internet connection is a privilege and not a right. Inappropriate use will result in restriction or cancellation of access privileges and/or in disciplinary action.

Responsibilities [Acceptable Uses]:

All users shall assume full liability, legal, financial, or otherwise for their actions when using the Academy's Internet connection.

1)Compliance with the rules of the Acceptable Use Policy;

2)Using the Internet appropriately to transfer or store material;

3)Respecting the privacy of others;

4)Limiting printing of materials obtained through the Internet;

1)Withholding personal information from other individuals contacted through the Internet;

2)Notifying your teacher, Administrator or parent/guardian if any individual is trying to contact you for illicit or suspicious activities;

3)Courtesy and politeness in your electronic correspondence with others;

4)Always using appropriate language;

5)Exhibiting exemplary behavior on the network as a representative of your school and community;

6)Disconnecting from the Internet when you have finished using it.

Email

As with Internet information, those who use the Pinkerton e-mail system should not assume any level of ownership or privacy. All e-mail that exists on Pinkerton Academy computers and servers is the property of Pinkerton Academy and will be treated as such. All files and documents are subject to inspection and scrutiny by the Information Technology Department and administrators when deemed necessary. E-mail users at Pinkerton Academy will be held responsible for all information contained in their e-mail files and accounts.

Guidelines for e-mail, bulletin board, chat rooms, and instant messaging.

Students are discouraged from using all of the above Internet applications however, in the event that they do engage in these activities it is assumed that they will adhere to the following guidelines:
Students should not give out personal information such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, name and location of their school or home.
Students should tell their teacher right away if they come across any information that makes them feel uncomfortable.
Students should never arrange to meet someone they have “met” online.
Students should never send someone their picture or anything else containing personal information
Students should not respond to any message or bulletin board item or chat room conversation that is suggestive, obscene, belligerent, threatening, or harmful to minors.
Students should remember that people online might not be who they seem to be.
Students should remember that everything they read on line might not be true.

Privacy:

Pinkerton's Network is maintained and managed by the Network Manager. In order to insure the network’s availability and reliability in performing its educational mission, users have no reasonable expectation of privacy concerning any materials transferred to or stored on the Network. Pinkerton Academy owns the hardware; therefore, any documents or materials stored therein are considered Pinkerton Academy property.

Internet Log Retention Policy

Any logs or similar material produced by the network software are reviewed and deleted on a daily basis. Any interest in viewing these logs must be preceded by a written request to the Headmaster at least two (2) weeks in advance of the date desired. The Pinkerton Academy Business Office will determine what is fair compensation for this task and will bill the requesting party accordingly.

Acceptable Use Infractions

To absolve themselves from blame, students who discover vandalism or damage to computer hardware or software must notify a nearby faculty member immediately.

Policies and consequences that may result in disciplinary action are listed under the appropriate sections in the Student Handbook. Due to the potential drastic ramifications of abuse with computer systems, infractions listed below will be considered separately. Examples of violations in each category are not exclusively limited to this list.

All computer violations will be handled through normal administrative disciplinary channels except for security breaches and/or vandalism. In these two situations, the Headmaster will supervise the investigation.

Behaviors that may result in disciplinary action include, but are not limited to:

1) Involvement in any activity prohibited by law;

2) Use of profanity, vulgarities, obscenity or other language that may be deemed offensive or degrading to others.

3) Use of the network for financial and/or personal gain or for political lobbying except as expressly allowed during a school activity;

4) Intentional use of invasive software such as "viruses," "worms," or other detrimental activities;

5) Attempts to log-on to the network by posing as the Network Manager or any person other than yourself;

6) Attempts to change or remove any drivers or preset parameters;

7) Viewing, storing, or transferring obscene, sexually explicit or pornographic materials;

8) "Chain" type letters, hate mail, anonymous messages, threatening messages, harassment, racial, sexist, and discriminatory remarks or other antisocial behaviors;

9) Sharing of passwords or use of someone else's password;

10) Transferring, utilizing or storing of material in violation of copyright laws or license agreements;

11) Intentionally infringing upon the intellectual property rights of others in computer programs or electronic information including plagiarism and/or unauthorized use or reproduction:

a) Cheating - Submitting a computer generated file or document, either electronically or in hardcopy, which is either totally or in part the work or another person without a proper bibliographic citation;

b) Vandalism - Altering, deleting, or installing files, icons, or programs on the computer without instructions to do so. Altering or removing any parts of a computer system including cables attached to the computer, mouse, network, printer, or other peripherals. Running programs that install bugs or viruses or cause physical or logical damage to the computer network. Entering (hacking) parts of any network, system, program, or area where access has been denied . Modifying programs or the operating system without instructions to do so;

c) Stealing - Taking disks. Removing parts of any computer system including keyboard keys, mouse components, or cables. Copying copyrighted software;

12) Trespassing in another's files;

13) Storing or transferring any file to the hard drive unless specifically permitted to do so.

Violations of this Acceptable Use Policy may result in one or more of the following disciplinary actions:

1) Suspension or revocation of access privileges;

1) Exclusion from a class activity;

2) Removal from a course;

3) Student detention, suspension or expulsion;

4) Referral to appropriate legal authorities for possible criminal prosecution.

Listed below are ethical guidelines for computer use that we expect all Pinkerton Academy computer users to follow.

Ethical Guidelines for Computer Use

1) Respect others’ computer passwords.

2) Always ask permission to use another’s files.

3) Pay for any software to be used or copied.

4) Never attack anyone's reputation.

5) Do not steal anyone's computer programs, designs or ideas.

6) Be aware of the effect of your actions on networks and systems in all aspects of computer use.

7) Limit printing of educational materials.

8) Be considerate of others and their privacy in all aspects of computer use.

9) Exhibit exemplary behavior on the network as a representative of your school and community.

10) Leave computer parameters and programs the way you found them and disconnect from the Internet when you are finished

The following links will take you to the Pinkerton Academy website (http://www.mv.com/ipusers/pinkerton/index.htm) where you will find the following documents: