Student Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)

Introduction

Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview makes accessible for all students a variety of powerful computer and information technology facilities (referred to from now on as “the network”). These facilities are available in a number of computer laboratories, library facilities and classrooms throughout the College, and on a student’s laptop/desktop computer.

There is access to the Internet for student use. This contract sets out guidelines and expectations for student use of the facilities in general, with special emphasis being on Internet use.

Students will have access to the Internet through normal classroom activities where they will be supervised by subject teachers or through general research by qualified supervisors in either the Libraries or the nominated computer laboratories outside normal College hours.

Acceptable Use

The network and the associated Internet access have been established for the educational benefit of students: this includes classroom activities, private study and career development. To remain eligible as a user of these facilities use of them must be in support of, and consistent with, the educational objectives and the values of the College. 

Transmission of any material in violation of any Australian or state regulation is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, copyright materials, threatening or obscene material, or material protected by trade secret.  Use for commercial activities, product advertisement or for political lobbying is also not acceptable. 

Misuse comes in many forms, but may be viewed as any communication sent or received that indicates or suggests pornography, unethical or illegal solicitation, racism, sexism, bullying or inappropriate language. 

With Privilege Goes Responsibility

The use of the network, and Internet access, is a privilege for students and not a right. Inappropriate use, including any violation of these conditions and rules, may result in the removal of these privileges and/or disciplinary action. Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview, under this agreement, is delegated as the authority to determine what is appropriate use, and as such has the right to deny, revoke, suspend or ban any user at any time based on a determination of inappropriate use by the user. 

The College takes no responsibility for loss of data on student owned computers, and it is the student’s own responsibility to have adequate backups of data, programs and operating systems. 

Procedures for Use

Users shall not play games or use the resources for other non-academic activities. Students undertake not to set up gaming, mail, wireless networks, or any other type of server on the College network. Students undertake not to set up and/or use alternate internet connections, including wireless broadband.  Under certain conditions determined by the network managers (for example, boarding students with their own computer), permission may be given for use of the Internet facilities for games, but then only under close supervision. 

Monitoring

Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview reserves the right to review any material on user screens and server logs and to monitor file-server space, internet and email use in order for appropriate network managers and/or authorised staff to monitor the appropriateness of work carried out on the networks. This may include students showing supervising teachers the ‘history’ of their Internet usage before closing down or hard copy of downloaded information. 

Filtering software is used to limit access to undesirable sites, and all e-mail is scanned for inappropriate content in the same manner. 

On the 1st of each month, students are granted 1.5 GB Internet download for their use whilst connected to the College's network. Exceeding this limit may have access to the internet limited or prevented until the next 1.5 GB allocation. 

No student may connect their student-owned computer to the network via ethernet cable. One exception to this is that boarders using student-owned computers in the boarding houses may connect to the ethernet in the boarding house using the ethernet port allocated to them. 

Connection to the College’s wireless network for student-owned computers is expected to be available in various areas in the school starting late 2008 and connection of student-owned computers via wireless will make them subject to inspection at any time by the network managers and/or authorised staff. 

ICT Network Etiquette

All users are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Use appropriate language. Do not swear, use vulgarities or any other inappropriate language in Email or Internet use.
• Be polite – do not get abusive in your messages to others.
• Never reveal your personal or fellow students, address or phone number.
• Student’s individual e-mail addresses shall not be made public on the Internet
• Electronic mail (Email) is not private. Network managers and/or authorised staff of the system do have access to all mail, which may be viewed at any time, including instant messaging.
• Activities that would disrupt the use of the network by other users must be avoided.
• Any communications and information accessible from the network (Internet) should be assumed to be the property of those who put it on the network and should not be altered in any way.

Student owned Laptops & Desktop Computers

The College undertakes to, with all reasonable care, network student owned computers for boarders at the student(s)/parent(s) request. It is the user’s responsibility to also provide the network card and driver software, and when required, a licensed copy of the operating system CD. 

Under no circumstances will the College load or reload software owned by student, unless a completed and signed copy of the “Student Computer Service Request” form has been completed. The College will also not use illegal copies of software provided by the student whilst networking the computer, or reloading software. All copies supplied for this use must be the originals, or proof of ownership will be required for copied CD’s, DVD’s & floppy disks. 

The networking of the computer is subject to certain programs being installed on the computer. These currently include, but are not limited to, ZENWorks, Workstation Manager, ZEN Remote Control and DPMS Client. The College’s preferred Anti Virus package will also be installed. 

Internet Downloading & Software Installation 

Users will not under any circumstances install software, software patches or programme upgrades on the College's computers. The ICT Support Department will undertake all these tasks. 

Students are NOT, under any circumstances, to attempt to bypass the school proxy servers or any other school infrastructure designed to filter or control content. This includes privately owned systems. Breach of this condition will immediately revoke all rights to use of the network. NOTE: Network managers and/or authorised staff have rights to check students privately owned computer at any time to determine if users are in breach of this contract. 

Security

• Security on any computer system is a high priority, especially when the system involves a large network, such as ours. A user must never allow others to use his account. All users will be issued with an individual password. Users should protect their passwords to maintain their security and never divulge it to another user.
• Users must also be aware that they should take all reasonable steps to keep their account(s) secure, and under no circumstances, loan their student ID card to others.
• Attempts to log on to the network as a system administrator will result in immediate cancellation of privileges.
• Any user identified as a security risk may be denied access to the network by Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview
• If you identify a security problem on the network or Internet, you must notify the network manager. Do not demonstrate the problem to others.
• Users undertake not to “hack” the network system in any shape or form. This includes, but is not limited to, programs such as password catchers or crackers. Again, breach of this condition will immediately revoke all access rights.
• Students also undertake not to tamper with any hardware associated with the College’s network.

Vandalism and Harassment

Vandalism and/or harassment will result in the cancellation of user privileges.  It is the responsibility of all users to report all vandalism and/or harassment to the network manager immediately. 

Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm, modify or destroy data or equipment of the College or another user. This includes, but is not limited to, the up-loading or creation of computer viruses. 

Harassment is defined as the persistent annoyance of another user, or the interference with another user’s work and includes the sending of unwanted mail or using programmes to control another PC. 

Controversial Material 

Users may occasionally encounter material which is controversial and which users, parents, teachers or administrators may consider inappropriate or offensive. However, on the Internet it is not always possible to control the content of data and a user may accidentally discover controversial material. It is the user’s responsibility not to initiate access to such material. If controversial material is accessed accidentally, the student should advise his classroom supervisor or housemaster so that the ICT support Department can make efforts to prevent such accidental access. 

Copyright and Privacy 

The Copyright Amendment (Digital Agenda) Act (2000), and amendments to the Privacy Act (1988) which came into force in December 2001 require that certain guidelines must now be followed. The College’s Privacy Policy clearly states obligations and responsibilities.  Items relevant to these Acts include: 

• Student work must be approved by the relevant staff before any publication of data via the Intranet, Extranet or Internet;
• To comply with the relevant Acts, permission must be obtained from the parent/guardian and the student before publication of a students work or photograph can take place;
• To comply with copyright regulations, the principle of ‘fair dealing’ must be taken into account before using any material from the Internet or other printed or electronically recorded information
• With all reference material, all sources for such including that accessed from the Internet and/or e-mail, must be cited in the appropriate format in line with copyright protocols

Discipline

Students who do not adhere to the above agreement will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance to the Student Code of Conduct, which is published in the College Diary. These penalties which are applied in a logical and reasonable manner are listed here: 

 

Suspension is a serious disciplinary measure and will only be used when other measures have not produced a satisfactory response, and where in situations the Director of Students or Headmaster is satisfied urgent action is required. 

Permanent expulsion from the College is the most extreme sanction, and will only be used in unusual and extreme circumstances. Behaviour that may result in expulsion includes, but not restricted to, unauthorised deletion of files from the College’s computer network. 

Note: This contract may change from time to time. These changes are available to read each time you log into the network whilst on campus, and must be agreed to each time you do login by selecting the “I Agree” button.