Tabor Academy
Acceptable Use Policy
2008-2009

Purpose

          The computing services covered by this policy exist within four major categories: use of the Tabor Academy Network (TANET), use of the Internet, use of e-mail, and use of digital video and electronic gaming. The Tabor Academy Network (TANET) and Tabor Academy authorized Internet access exists primarily for educational purposes.  The purpose of the network and services associated with the Internet is to improve the school's ability to create and support teaching and learning opportunities within the context of the school's mission.  Use of the school's computer network and school authorized Internet access is a privilege, not a right, and activities that may be acceptable on your private account at home may not be acceptable when using your school-authorized service.

          The purpose of the Acceptable Use Policy is to help clarify what standards are used to determine whether or not activity constitutes acceptable use of Tabor Academy's Network and authorized Internet.  However, all the applicable standards necessary to determine acceptable use may not be specifically cited here. Nothing contained in this policy shall be construed to limit the discretion of the school and its administrators or faculty to regulate residential or academic policy. Please understand that our technological policies are evolving and there will undoubtedly be changes to this Acceptable Use Policy as we move forward.

Privacy

          The Tabor Academy Network resources and those resources associated with Tabor Academy's authorized Internet access, including all telephone and data lines, are the property of Tabor Academy.  While Tabor Academy respects the privacy of TANET and Internet users, it reserves the right to have access to, view or monitor any information or communication stored or transmitted over the Network or Internet.  In addition, Tabor Academy cannot guarantee the privacy of stored or transmitted material, and may be required by law to allow access to third parties responsible for investigating violation of and enforcing all school, state and federal guidelines governing Network and Internet use. Therefore, personal web postings of digital images or comments, as well as telephone messages left on students’ messaging system, may be monitored by a member of Tabor Academy’s administrative team.  

General Guidelines

          All members of the Tabor community who use the schools’ computing and information access resources must act responsibly.  Each student should read and understand the Acceptable Use Policy.  If you use the Tabor computing resources or facilities, you have the following responsibilities:

•         To use the school's computing facilities and information resources, including hardware, software, network and e-mail accounts, responsibly and appropriately.  Respect the rights of other computer users and honor all contractual and licensing agreements.

•         To use only those computers, network and e-mail accounts for which you have authorization.  Using another person's password without permission to access their network or Internet account is inappropriate.  In a similar fashion, using a computer already logged on in another person's name, accessing their files, or posing as that person in any document or communication is also inappropriate. 

•         To be responsible for the use of your account information and protect each account's password.  In other words, do not share computer or e-mail accounts.  If someone learns your password, you must change it. 

•         To report any unauthorized use of your accounts to your teacher, Technology Director, network administrator or to the Dean of Students.

•         To cooperate with the network administrator's requests for information regarding computing, account, and Internet activities.  All faculty and staff reserve the right to question computing activity, and the network administrator is authorized to access your network or e-mail files upon request.

•         To take reasonable and appropriate steps to ensure that all software, hardware and license agreements are faithfully executed on any system you operate.

Access

          Use of the computers in Hayden Library and the Academic Center is permitted during normal operating hours for those facilities.  Student use of these facilities is subordinate to classes scheduled in either library room during the academic day. The computers in the study area may be used throughout the day. Students may not use the computing facilities in the Lyndon North Graboys Technology Center without being accompanied by an instructor.  A student may connect their laptop to any designated data port in the north wing of the Hayden Library and study area at any time during normal operating hours as long as it does not interfere with class activity.  Any faculty or staff member may ask a student to log off or shut down any computer they feel is being used in an inappropriate manner. Access will be provided during Saturday class meetings subject to all the conditions and limitations described in this policy and agreement.  Students who possess notebook computers that are equipped with wireless network cards may connect wirelessly in the Academic Center, Hayden Library, and the new Ocean’s Lab.
           

Students who possess wireless cards for their computers from a cell phone provider must abide by the school's policy of stopping Internet access between the hours of 6:00AM and 11:00PM.

Dorm Connectivity

Students may have access to the Internet and web access to their email in their dorm rooms provided they have parental permission to do so. This privilege is provided by Tabor Academy and is subject to revocation if the student violates any portion of this policy and agreement, or if dorm faculty and instructors assess that the privilege interferes with the primary educational goals of the student, or is not consistent with the mission of the school.  Access to the Internet in the dorm room may occur between 6:00am and 11:00pm.

High Speed Internet Access – Connectivity will be established through the data port located next to the telephone jack. Student computers must be network ready. An RJ-45 network cable and a LAN compatible operating system is necessary for this method of connectivity. Students are responsible for their own RJ-45 Network cable.

Students wishing to receive this service must submit the required form, along with parental permission, over the summer or at registration. A connectivity fee of $250.00 per academic year will be assessed through the Business Office. An additional fee of $25 will also be assessed to students with PC computers, to cover the licensing for our Anti-Virus and Spy-Ware protection software. Incoming students who possess a PC, and wishes to receive Internet connectivity, will be assessed an additional configuration of $25. Once the Technology Department adds a student’s computer to the Tabor network, and installs the antivirus and spyware protection software, the data port in the student’s room will be activated. If either of these software programs is removed or the machine name is changed, the data port will be disconnected and a reconfiguration fee may be charged. Internet connectivity will be made available for use through the end of the school year. Students will have the option of signing on in the beginning of the school year, or the week preceding winter recess. Students who sign up for Internet service during the winter break will be assessed a connectivity fee of $125.00 for the remainder of the academic year, as well as any other fees for licensing and configuration.

Returning students with PC's, who previously had Internet connectivity will still need to have their computer reconfigured and added to our network. Once a computer is properly configured, it may be used on campus.

Day students with notebook computers may utilize the wireless connectivity on campus. There is no fee associated with said wireless use.

Technical support services provided by Tabor Academy’s Technology Department are limited to campus Internet connectivity. Tabor Academy computer technicians are not responsible for hardware or software problems that affect the computer’s ability to connect to our network. The Technology Department will not be responsible for repairing hardware/software problems on a student’s personal computer. Recommendations will be made to a student as far as other technical support services or repair technicians in our area.

          In addition to the stated regulations and guidelines of this Acceptable Use Policy, students who use this option of connectivity must abide by the following rules:

•  Data ports may not be shared in the dorm room. Only the student assigned to a specific data port may use that data port.

•  Any bandwidth sharing device or wireless signal repeater (i.e. Airport Express, routers, switches, hubs or wireless means) is not allowed.

•  Telephone/Modem Internet access is not allowed. Students who possess wireless cards for their computers from a cell phone provider must abide by the school's policy of stopping Internet access between the hours of 6:00AM and 11:00PM.

•  Any form of Instant Messaging, chatting or gaming during designated study hours is prohibited.

•  Illegally sharing music or video files over the network is prohibited.

Acceptable Uses

          The major purpose of supplying TANET, Internet and electronic mail, whether in academic facilities or in the dorm, is to enhance learning and communication for the members of the Tabor Academy community.  The use of appropriate software, personal or delivered over the TANET, for general or specified curricular purposes, is encouraged with permission.  Research on the Internet, the receipt and submission of assignments via e-mail, sending e-mail to teachers, experts in various fields of study, family and friends is encouraged.  Tabor Academy also permits use of these services for pursuing topics of personal interest or for entertainment, provided the activities fall within the guidelines specified in this document.  Tabor Academy understands and permits the use of dorm computing services for chatting, listening to audio CDs, instant messaging and the viewing of digital video. These non-educational uses of dorm computing are governed by the special rules and considerations described below.

Unacceptable Uses

Tabor Academy Network (TANET)

•         Users may not use the Tabor Academy network to access computer files not belonging to them, copy or transfer computer software which constitutes software piracy, violate copyright law, use the network for commercial activity or financial gain or use the network for any illegal purpose.

•         Gaming is prohibited on ANY Tabor-owned computer.

•         Chatting or Messaging is prohibited on ANY Tabor-owened computer. 

•         Downloading any program, application or plug-in on ANY Tabor-owned computer is prohibited.

•         Illegally downloading music, videos, games, programs, etc…. is prohibited when on the Tabor Network.

•         Altering the desktop appearance on ANY tabor-owned computer is prohibited.

•         Vandalizing, borrowing or stealing any equipment, wires, mice and keyboards is prohibited.

 Entering any unauthorixed elcetrical or data storgae room, and tampering with ANY network equipment is prohibited.

Internet & Electronic Mail

•   Students are prohibited from sending to members of the Tabor community or to people outside the Tabor community messages that are sexually explicit, profane, encourage or depict violent acts, contain gross depictions or language of intolerance.

•    All students and faculty email accounts have a storage capacity of 30mb. It is the responsibility of each person to maintain their own email box. Warning messages by the System Administrator begin when a mailbox reaches 22mb. Once a mailbox exceeds its capacity, email messages may no longer be sent nor received.

•    The forging of electronic mail is a fraudulent act and is an unacceptable act.

•    Tabor Academy's computing recourses may not be used for commercial purposes.

•    Using Tabor authorized Internet access for educational purposes is encouraged provided such use does not compromise the academic achievement of the student, violate the conditions of academic honesty, interfere with comfort and achievement of others, using it in a way that is adverse to our community standards, or place at risk the school community at large.

•    Emailing the faculty, student body or a specific student class via the established distribution lists may only be done with the consent of a faculty member or the Dean of Students. Students must send the email to a faculty member, who may then forward it to one of out global distribution lists. Students do not have permissions on the network to email global distribution lists.  

•     Web postings of digital images or comments, on any social-networking site, i.e. MySpace.com, Facebook.com, etc… of yourself or others, that may be viewed as inappropriate, offensive or derogatory by a student, faculty or administrator, is strictly prohibited.

•    Web postings that contain the name of a Tabor Academy employee or student, without appropriate consent, is strictly prohibited.
•     Tabor Academy is committed to the preservation of a safe and nurturing environment for its students. Providing unknown persons with your name and where to find you are unsafe!

•    Renaming playlists, songs, files or folders that are seen or accessible by other users, which may be viewed as inappropriate, offensive or derogatory by a student, faculty member or school administrator is strictly prohibited.

Digital Video/Digital Movies/Electronic Gaming

Students will be allowed to keep DVDs and Electronic Gaming Devices (Xbox, Play Station, Game Boy, etc...) in their rooms provided they abide by the Appropriate Use Policy guidelines governing their use.

•         Digital Movie viewing and Electronic Gaming during the academic week is prohibited. 

•         Digital Movies may be viewed, and Electronic Gaming Devices may be used on weekends, Friday after academic/athletic obligations through Sunday until the beginning of study hall.

•         Digital Movie viewing and Electronic Gaming Devices may not be used on Saturdays when class is in session, until all academic obligations are fulfilled. 

•         Violation of the policies listed above may result in disciplinary action ranging from a warning to revocation of computers and gaming devices.  Dorm faculty will monitor use and reserve the right to revoke privileges and/or collect all DVDs and/or equipment found in the possession of the violator.

•         Ultimately Digital Movie viewing and the use of Electronic Gaming Devices, and the policies that govern said use, are administered at the discretion of Tabor Academy.

•         Students for whom viewing and gaming privileges have been suspended or revoked may not view digital movies or play electronic games in another student's room. 

•         Television sets, projectors and VCRs are NOT permitted in student rooms.  Proctors may be granted use of their own television and VCR at the discretion of Tabor Academy.

Disciplinary Action

          Consequences for participating in unacceptable activities on TANET or the Internet, or violation of any portion of this policy and agreement regarding e-mail and digital video use may include, but are not limited to, any of the following: warnings, limitation or suspension of Network and Internet privileges including confiscation of hardware or DVDs/CD’s, school disciplinary action, parental contact, suspension or expulsion.  If state or federal laws are violated, Tabor Academy may notify the appropriate law enforcement agencies.