Acceptable Technology Use Policy

 

Sample Acceptable Use Agreement for Internet and Other Electronic Resources

(courtesy of the Rochester School Department, Rochester, New Hampshire)

The [Name of Organization] recognizes the value of computer and other electronic resources to improve student learning and enhance the administration and operation of its schools. To this end, the [Governing Body Name] encourages the responsible use of computers; computer networks, including the Internet; and other electronic resources in support of the mission and goals of the [Name of Organization] and its schools.

Because the Internet is an unregulated, worldwide vehicle for communication, information available to staff and students is impossible to control. Therefore, the [Governing Body Name] adopts this policy governing the voluntary use of electronic resources and the Internet in order to provide guidance to individuals and groups obtaining access to these resources on [Name of Organization]-owned equipment or through [Name of Organization]-affiliated organizations.

[Name of Organization] Rights and Responsibilities

It is the policy of the [Name of Organization] to maintain an environment that promotes ethical and responsible conduct in all online network activities by staff and students. It shall be a violation of this policy for any employee, student, or other individual to engage in any activity that does not conform to the established purpose and general rules and policies of the network. Within this general policy, the [Name of Organization] recognizes its legal and ethical obligation to protect the well-being of students in its charge. To this end, the [Name of Organization] retains the following rights and recognizes the following obligations:

  1. To log network use and to monitor fileserver space utilization by users, and assume no responsibility or liability for files deleted due to violation of fileserver space allotments.
  2. To remove a user account on the network.
  3. To monitor the use of online activities. This may include real-time monitoring of network activity and/or maintaining a log of Internet activity for later review.
  4. To provide internal and external controls as appropriate and feasible. Such controls shall include the right to determine who will have access to [Name of Organization]-owned equipment and, specifically, to exclude those who do not abide by the [Name of Organization]'s acceptable use policy or other policies governing the use of school facilities, equipment, and materials. [Name of Organization] reserves the right to restrict online destinations through software or other means.
  5. To provide guidelines and make reasonable efforts to train staff and students in acceptable use and policies governing online communications.

Staff Responsibilities

  1. Staff members who supervise students, control electronic equipment, or otherwise have occasion to observe student use of said equipment online shall make reasonable efforts to monitor the use of this equipment to assure that it conforms to the mission and goals of the [Name of Organization].
  2. Staff should make reasonable efforts to become familiar with the Internet and its use so that effective monitoring, instruction, and assistance may be achieved.

User Responsibilities

  1. Use of the electronic media provided by the [Name of Organization] is a privilege that offers a wealth of information and resources for research. Where it is available, this resource is offered to staff, students, and other patrons at no cost. In order to maintain the privilege, users agree to learn and comply with all of the provisions of this policy.

Acceptable Use

  1. All use of the Internet must be in support of educational and research objectives consistent with the mission and objectives of the [Name of Organization].
  2. Proper codes of conduct in electronic communication must be used. In news groups, giving out personal information is inappropriate. When using e-mail, extreme caution must always be taken in revealing any information of a personal nature.
  3. Network accounts are to be used only by the authorized owner of the account for the authorized purpose.
  4. All communications and information accessible via the network should be assumed to be private property.
  5. Subscriptions to mailing lists and bulletin boards must be reported to the system administrator. Prior approval for such subscriptions is required for students and staff.
  6. Mailing list subscriptions will be monitored and maintained, and files will be deleted from the personal mail directories to avoid excessive use of fileserver hard-disk space.
  7. Exhibit exemplary behavior on the network as a representative of your school and community. Be polite!
  8. From time to time, the [Name of Organization] will make determinations on whether specific uses of the network are consistent with the acceptable use practice.

Unacceptable Use

  1. Giving out personal information about another person, including home address and phone number, is strictly prohibited.
  2. Any use of the network for commercial or for-profit purposes is prohibited.
  3. Excessive use of the network for personal business shall be cause for disciplinary action.
  4. Any use of the network for product advertisement or political lobbying is prohibited.
  5. Users shall not intentionally seek information on, obtain copies of, or modify files, other data, or passwords belonging to other users, or misrepresent other users on the network.
  6. No use of the network shall serve to disrupt the use of the network by others. Hardware and/or software shall not be destroyed, modified, or abused in any way.
  7. Malicious use of the network to develop programs that harass other users or infiltrate a computer or computing system and/or damage the software components of a computer or computing system is prohibited.
  8. Hate mail, chain letters, harassment, discriminatory remarks, and other antisocial behaviors are prohibited on the network.
  9. The unauthorized installation of any software, including shareware and freeware, for use on [Name of Organization] computers is prohibited.
  10. Use of the network to access or process pornographic material, inappropriate text files (as determined by the system administrator or building administrator), or files dangerous to the integrity of the local area network is prohibited.
  11. The [Name of Organization] network may not be used for downloading entertainment software or other files not related to the mission and objectives of the [Name of Organization] for transfer to a user's home computer, personal computer, or other media. This prohibition pertains to freeware, shareware, copyrighted commercial and non-commercial software, and all other forms of software and files not directly related to the instructional and administrative purposes of the [Name of Organization].
  12. Downloading, copying, otherwise duplicating, and/or distributing copyrighted materials without the specific written permission of the copyright owner is prohibited, except that duplication and/or distribution of materials for educational purposes is permitted when such duplication and/or distribution would fall within the Fair Use Doctrine of the United States Copyright Law (Title 17, USC).
  13. Use of the network for any unlawful purpose is prohibited.
  14. Use of profanity, obscenity, racist terms, or other language that may be offensive to another user is prohibited.
  15. Playing games is prohibited unless specifically authorized by a teacher for instructional purposes.
  16. Establishing network or Internet connections to live communications, including voice and/or video (relay chat), is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the system administrator.

Disclaimer

  1. The [Name of Organization] cannot be held accountable for the information that is retrieved via the network.
  2. Pursuant to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (18 USC 2510 et seq.), notice is hereby given that there are no facilities provided by this system for sending or receiving private or confidential electronic communications. System administrators have access to all mail and will monitor messages. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities will be reported to the appropriate authorities.
  3. The [Name of Organization] will not be responsible for any damages you may suffer, including loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, or service interruptions caused by our own negligence or your errors or omissions. Use of any information obtained is at your own risk.
  4. The [Education Agency Name] makes no warranties (expressed or implied) with respect to:
    • the content of any advice or information received by a user, or any costs or charges incurred as a result of seeing or accepting any information; and
    • any costs, liability, or damages caused by the way the user chooses to use his or her access to the network.
  5. The [Name of Organization] reserves the right to change its policies and rules at any time.

User Agreement (to be signed by all adult users and student users above grade 5)

I have read, understand, and will abide by the above Acceptable Use Policy when using computer and other electronic resources owned, leased, or operated by the [Name of Organization]. I further understand that any violation of the regulations above is unethical and may constitute a criminal offense. Should I commit any violation, my access privileges may be revoked, school disciplinary action may be taken, and/or appropriate legal action may be initiated.

_______________________________________________________________________
User Name (please print)

_______________________________________________________________________

User Signature Date

Parent Agreement (to be signed by parents of all student users under the age of eighteen)

As parent or guardian of [please print name of student] __________________________, I have read the Acceptable Use Policy. I understand that this access is designed for educational purposes. [Name of Organization] has taken reasonable steps to control access to the Internet, but cannot guarantee that all controversial information will be inaccessible to student users. I agree that I will not hold the [Name of Organization] responsible for materials acquired on the network. Further, I accept full responsibility for supervision if and when my child's use is not in a school setting. I hereby give permission for my child to use network resources, including the Internet, that are available through [Name of Organization].

_______________________________________________________________________
Parent Name (please print)

_______________________________________________________________________

Parent Signature Date
​

Source

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Retrived from https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2005/tech_suite/app_a.asp