Greens Farms Academy - AUP
	Greens Farms Academy Technology Acceptable Use Policy 2011-2012 Greens Farms Academy maintains and makes available to its students, faculty, and staff a wide array of technology to promote educational excellence and enhance learning at our school. Use of technology is a necessity in today’s world; however, that use demands responsibility on the part of the users. It is expected that all GFA students, faculty, and staff will adhere to the same code of conduct that governs all other aspects of life within the School’s jurisdiction. Technology resources are the property of Greens Farms Academy. GFA reserves the right to investigate, monitor, and access any information stored or transmitted over the network. Students and faculty are warned that any transmission of information including text, video and picture files may be reproduced indefinitely without the owner's knowledge or consent. Once information is sent, it is nearly impossible to retrieve. All technology devices such as laptops, iphones, smartphones, ipads, ereaders, that connect to the school's wireless network or phone network are governed by the school's acceptable use policy. Violations of the AUP will be subject to disciplinary action. For students, consequences for violation of the policy may include but are not limited to revocation of network access, suspension of computer use, detentions, suspensions or expulsion from school. The school’s jurisdiction also includes any and all activities by students’ off-campus electronic communication that has or may have an adverse impact on the school or faculty. For faculty, staff, and administration, violation of the policy may result in loss of employment. NETWORK No one may attempt to bypass any security system of the network. Passwords must be kept confidential and not shared. Users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their usernames and passwords and are responsible for activities that occur under the account. Users will immediately notify the technology department of any unauthorized use of their account or any other breach of security. Users will always log off or exit from your account at the end of use. Music files and any other large copyrighted files may not be downloaded or emailed through the school network. Limewire and other peer to peer sharing software is not allowed on school or student-owned computers. SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE No one may break copyright laws. If a program is added to a computer, it must have been purchased by the individual or the school. Unauthorized removal or duplication of any GFA licensed software is prohibited. Academic use of computers and the network takes precedence over all other activities. Microsoft Office is provided for student laptops as part of the GFA volume purchasing licensing program through Microsoft. This software must be removed from the student laptops upon the student's graduation or departure from the school.  After GFA imaging, software may not be deleted or changed. This includes log on credentials and virus protection. INTERNET The Internet is to be primarily used for academic research. Areas of the Internet that would be objectionable to parents or teachers are off limits to all students. Even though GFA has an Internet filtering system, it does not provide 100% blocking of objectionable sites. If an objectionable site is encountered accidentally, students must click out of that area immediately. Students should not ever give out personal information over the Internet. Chat rooms may be accessed only as part of a class assignment and only under that assigning teacher’s supervision. Game playing is not allowed during the academic day unless required and supervised by the teacher. SOCIAL NETWORKING Faculty and staff will not make their online profiles and information available to students or prospective students or accept friend invitations from current students. Faculty may set up closed forums that have been approved by the tech department on social networking sites such as Ning or Google groups for educational purposes. Faculty and staff who have contact with alumni through social networking sites are expected to maintain the same level of appropriateness they would display in the school setting. Postings that offend and cause embarrassment to others on websites, blogs or any other public or private internet forum or community are prohibited. Students under the age of 13 are prohibited from joining social networking sites such as Facebook. Exceptions are sites such as Ning, Edmodo, Google groups that are supervised by faculty for curriculum purposes. EMAIL Email messages that are anonymous or signed with a pseudonym may not be sent from the school network or from outside the school. Chain letters, spamming, and solicitations are prohibited. Students may not use address lists or reply all to email to an entire class, grade, school, or faculty unless approved by a faculty member. Because email is written, its tone is difficult to determine. Take care to write email that is not hurtful to the recipient or disrespectful of someone mentioned in it. Be aware that email can be forwarded to others. Instant messaging may only be used during free time and not during class or supervised study halls. PLAGIARISM Information distributed electronically should be treated the same way as print sources. Rules against plagiarism as cited in The Source do apply. All information must be properly documented. Students should seek advice from their teachers or the librarian about citing sources.