General User Policy

Greenburgh‑Graham UFSD

1 SOUTH BROADWAY

HASTINGS‑ON‑HUDSON, NY 10706

(914)478‑1106

COMPUTER ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

INTRODUCTION

Internet access is available to students, teachers and staff in the Greenburgh‑Graham UFSD (GGUFSD). The District's goal in providing such access is to promote educational excellence in the Graham School by facilitating resource sharing innovation, and communication. The District regards this access as a privilege, not a right.

The GGUFSD Computer Network is an electronic network with accesses to the Internet, an electronic highway connecting thousands of computers and millions of individual subscribers throughout the world. It provides access to electronic mail (e‑mail) communication, news from libraries and other research institutions, public domain and shareware of all types, and discussion groups on a variety of topics.

With access to computers and people all over the world also comes the availability of material that may not be considered to be of educational value in the context of the school setting. The GGUFSD has taken available precautions, which are limited, to filter access to objectionable materials. However, it is impossible to control access to all materials and information on the Internet.

Because we firmly believe that the valuable information and interaction available on this worldwide network far outweighs the possibility that users may procure material that is not consistent with the educational goals of the District, we have developed the following guidelines for acceptable use. In general, these guidelines require that end user, (students, faculty, community members and staff) utilize the Network in an efficient, ethical and legal manner. The failure of any user to comply with the District's Acceptable Use Policy may result in disciplinary action as well as suspension and/or revocation of access privileges, and/or legal action.

A user's signature on the attached legally binding CONTRACT AGREEMENT AND APPLICATION FOR A GGUFSD INTERNET ACCOUNT indicates that the user has carefully read and fully understands this Introduction and the Terms and Conditions of Acceptable Use that follow

GREENBURGH‑GRAHAM UFSD (GGUFSD) NETWORK

ACCEPTABLE COMPUTER USE POLICY

1.      A computer user’s account can only be used to research information in support of his or her role within GGUFSD.

2.      All computer, Internet and e-mail resources are the property of GGUFSD.  Users will follow the District’s policy and regulations for use

3.      Education and school-related business is the purpose of Internet, network and e-mail use in GGUSFD.

4.      Plagiarism constitutes a violation of the law and District policy

5.      All copyright laws, including those governing the copying of computer software, must be observed.

6.      Any use of the Internet, the network or e-mail for personal use, political lobbying, advertising, commercial or for-profit purposes or any illegal purpose is prohibited

7.      The District reserves the right to monitor use of the network.  A user has no expectation of privacy as to his or her communications or uses of the Internet.

8.      Anyone using the District’s technological resources is bound by the content of the Acceptable Use Policy.

9.      The District has a legal obligation to archive all correspondence, including electronic communication, for six years and may be requested by law to submit information regarding an individual’s communications and use of the network.

10.  All users must abide by the generally accepted rules of network propriety. The following represents a partial list of unacceptable uses of GGUFSD computers:

a.       Using the computer to transmit or view hate mail, harassment, profanity, obscenity, pornography, discriminatory remarks, misrepresentation, impersonation and other anti-social behaviors are prohibited

b.      Writing or sending messages meant to abuse, harass, intimidate with violence, defame, threaten others or destroy property.

c.       Not using appropriate language such as swearing or using vulgarities.

d.      Revealing any personal information or revealing the personal information of anyone else.

e.       Using the network in any way that might disrupt the use of the Network by others such as by creating or spreading viruses, degrading system performance, disrupting service or damaging files.

f.       Accessing someone else's account without written permission from that individual and a District Administrator.

g.       Using a non-student account, including staff, teachers or administrators.

11.  Users must immediately notify the system administrator if they believe they have identified a security problem. Users must not talk about this security problem, or demonstrate it to other users.

12.  Users must not attempt to login to the GGUFSD Network as a system administrator.

13.  Users must not vandalize any computer software, data of another user, data on the GGUFSD Network, or any information connected to the GGUFSD network.

14.  Users must not vandalize any computer hardware, hardware peripherals, furniture or materials in any of the computer rooms, classrooms or library.

15.  No user may give out or allow the use of personal network password(s). Users must not log‑on with any password or account other than their own.

16.  Users must not change, add or delete a preference file or system file at any time.

17.  Users must not attempt to gain unauthorized access to any files, resources, or computer or phone systems (including those of the District).

18.  Users may not access through the GGUFSD communications system any Internet Service Provider, other than the sole provider used by the GGUFSD, for the purpose of sending or receiving an e‑mail. Users may not access or use any web site that forwards e‑mail messages.

19.    Users must not use the Network to play or download games, movies or other forms of entertainment. 

If any of these rules are not adhered to, the user’s account can be inactivated, and will not be turned on until an administrator has authorized it.