Saint Thomas Academy Acceptable Use Policy

Saint Thomas Academy provides a wide range of computer resources, including the Internet, for students, teachers, administrators, support staff, and community members. These resources are provided to support the mission of the school. Users must abide by the policies stated in this Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). Failure to do so will result in loss of computer privileges. Students will also be subject to the school's discipline process with possible consequences as severe as expulsion.

Network users include all students, teachers, administrators, support staff, and community members who have access to the Internet via the World Wide Web and the Saint Thomas Academy-wide and local area network (WAN/LAN). Students may access the network while working on class projects in a supervised setting. This includes computers in the media center, classrooms, and the writing lab. Students must follow all rules contained within this policy at all times when using the WAN/LAN or the Internet. Students must also follow the direction of faculty and staff members supervising any area where networked resources can be accessed. Students who bring personal computers, laptop computers, or personal digital assistants to school are subject to the guidelines of this Acceptable Use Policy. Failure to comply may result in confiscation of the personal equipment.

SECURITY AND SAFETY
Users will accept the responsibility for keeping inappropriate files from entering the school via the Internet. These include all pornographic material, gambling material, games, material dangerous to the health and safety of students and staff, or files dangers to the integrity of the LAN/WAN.

Users will demonstrate their legal responsibilities by not transmitting any material in violation of United States, Minnesota, or Saint Thomas Academy laws or regulations. This includes, but is not limited to: copyrighted materials; threatening, harassing, or obscene material, pornographic material, or material protected by trade secret.

If a user identifies a security problem on the Internet or the Saint Thomas Academy LAN/WAN, he/she is responsible for notifying a system administrator. Users should not demonstrate the problem to other users. Users should not use another individual's account. Security on any computer system is a high priority, especially when the system involves many users.

Students are to use computer resources for academic purposes only unless they have been given permission otherwise by a teacher, administrator, or staff member.

Users may not conduct commercial activities for profit, advertise products, or conduct political lobbying on the network.

Users may access home telecommunications accounts from school for academic purposes only. In doing so, they must exercise all the responsibilities of this Acceptable Use Policy.

No use of this network shall serve to disrupt its use for other individuals or for connecting networks.

PROPERTY
Users must respect others' privacy and intellectual property. Any traffic from this network that traverses another network is also subject to that network's Acceptable Use Policy.

Users are responsible for citing sources and giving credit to authors during the research process. All communications and information accessible via the network should be assumed to be private property.

Users will honor the legal rights of software producers, network providers, copyright, and license agreements.

COURTESY or E-MAIL NETIQUETTE
Users may encounter web sites asking for comments or a reply. Great caution should be used in supplying personal information to any web site. When sending electronic mail, postings, or messages use of appropriate language is required. School rules regarding harassment apply to electronic communication.

POLICY VIOLATIONS
Consequences for violations of this Acceptable Use Policy are as follows:

Any violation of the network responsibilities will result in a cancellation of network privileges and may result in disciplinary action. The network administrators will deem what is appropriate use, and their decision is final. Also, the network administrators may deny access at any time as required. The administration, faculty, and staff of Saint Thomas Academy may request the network administrators to deny, revoke, or suspend specific user privileges. Any user identified as a security risk or having a history of problems with other computer systems may be denied access to the Internet.

Tampering with computer security systems and/or applications and/or comments will be considered vandalism, destruction, and defacement of school property (see school handbook).

Vandalism will result in cancellation of privileges and disciplinary action. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy data of another user, the Internet, or other networks that are connected to the Saint Thomas Academy network. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses.

Saint Thomas Academy makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the services it is providing. Saint Thomas Academy will not be responsible for any loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, mis-deliveries, or service interruptions.


January 2005