KANKAKEE AREA CAREER CENTER

 

STUDENT AND STAFF INTERNET USE POLICY

(Supplement To The Student Handbook)

 

 

OVERVIEW

 

The Internet provides students and teachers of the Kankakee Area Career Center access to vast resources to enhance instruction and learning.  It should not be taught as a separate curriculum area by itself.  It should, however, be integrated into the existing curriculum providing new instructional techniques for all courses at the career center.  The Internet offers vast amounts of up-to-date information that is difficult to provide by other sources.  It makes the libraries of the world accessible to the students.  It allows individuals to communicate with experts in their field of study.

 

The Internet is an electronic highway connecting thousands of computers all over the world with millions of individual subscribers.  Teachers and students have access to the following:

 

1.       Electronic Mail (E-Mail) with people all over the world.  However, all E-Mail is to be limited

to only situations that relate to the particular course or career center in general.

 

2.       Information and news from libraries, government agencies, such as NASA, research facilities, corporations, and a vast number of other agencies and facilities.

 

3.       Public domain software and shareware.

 

4.       Discussion groups relating to instructional areas; partners in the business, industry and academic areas.

 

5.       Direct sharing of information with other vocational schools around the world.

 

 

PHILOSOPHY

 

There is an increasing number of adults who are concerned about the appropriateness of some of the material available over the Internet.  While these concerns are justifiable, it is important not to discard the value that the Internet provides.

 

1.       Risk:  It is impossible to control all of the materials on the Internet.  Computer sites accessed via the Internet may contain material that is illegal, defamatory, obscene, inaccurate, or controversial.  With worldwide access to information, there is a risk that students may access material that may not be considered to be of educational value in the context of the career center setting.  KACC will run protective software to monitor student use.

 

2.       Users Responsible:  Internet users, like traditional library users are responsible for their actions in accessing available information, including but not limited to personal email,

web-sites, accounts, etc.

 

3.       Tranining:  Completion of a designated training session on usage and protocol on the Internet needs to be completed before Internet usage will be permitted.  The purpose of this is to provide correct usage of the equipment as well as proper conduct on the Internet.  The training will provide guidelines that are expected of a person using the career center faciliities.  Students will be required to pass an Internet test prior to usage.

 

ACCEPTABLE USE

 

The purpose of the Internet was and still is to support research and education in and among academic institutions in the United States by providing access to unique resources with the opportunity for colla-borative work.  The use of the school computers must support education and research that is consistant with the goals and objectives of the career center.  The career center expects legal, ethical, courteous, and efficient use of the Internet.  It is intended for limited educational purposes directly involving classroom activities, career development, professional development, or enrichment activities that have been pre-approved by the career center administration.

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1.       Privilege:  Use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right.

 

2.       Use of the System:  Use of a personal career center Internet account is voluntary on the part of the student or the staff member. However, it is hoped that all involved will realize the unlimited instructional and learning opportunities existing on the Internet.

 

3.       Account Privacy:  All career center account usage is subject to the perusal by career center administration or a designated facilitator to conduct virus scanning or investigate inappropriate use.  This may include random perusal, with or without cause.  At no time should users ex-pect that files stored or transmitted over school networks are guaranteed private.

 

4.       Publishing:  Part of the education process may include creation of items such as technical reports, graphics, class reports, or collaborative projects.  If these items produced for school projects or during school time are designated for publishing over the network, express permission for the career center to publish the information shall be assumed unless the career center is notified in writing by the user and/or parent/guardian.

 

5.       Parental Notification:  If a parent/guardian requests their career center student not be allowed Internet access, they must do so in writing to the principal’s office.

 

 

INAPPROPRIATE USE

 

Inappropriate use includes, but is not limited to, those uses that violate the law, that are specifically named as violations in this document or training material, that violate the rules of network etiquette or that hamper the integrity or security of this or any networks connected to the Internet.

 

1.       Violation of the Law:  Transmission of any material in violation of any international, U.S., or state law is prohibited.  This includes, but is not limited to: copyrighted material, threats, defamatory action, harassing or obscene material, or material protected by trade secret.

 

2.       Commercial Use:  Use for commercial, income-generating or “for-profit” activities, or product advertisement is only acceptable if it is part of an objective to teach students how businesses are established on the Internet.  However, personal business use is prohibited.

 

3.       Vandalism/Mischief:  Vandalism and mischief are prohibited.  Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy data of another user, the Internet or any networks that are connected to the Internet.  This includes, but is not limited to, the deliberate creation and/or propagation of computer viruses.  Any interferences with the work of other users without malicious intent is construed as mischief and is strictly prohibited.

 

4.       User ID Violations:  Once a User ID is issued, the user is responsible for all actions taken while using the User ID.  Sharing a User ID with another person is dangerous and prohibited.  At no time will anonymous messages be formed or transmitted.

 

5.       Electronic Mail Violations:  Forgery of electronic messages is prohibited.  Reading, deleting, copying, or modifying the electronic mail of other users is prohibited.  Also, checking personal email or opening inappropriate content is prohibited whether accidental or otherwise.

 

6.       File/Data Violations:  Deletion, examination, copying or modification of files and/or data belonging to other users is prohibited.

 

7.       System Interference/Alteration:  Attempts to exceed, evade or change resource quotas, including circumventing or disabling security software, are prohibited.  Causing intentional network congestion through mass consumption of network resources such as downloading, streaming data and other associated actions is prohibited.  Users will not intentionally participate in behavior that would affect other users from accessing the network.

 

8.       Financial Liability:  Resources should never be accessed that incur additional financial costs to the career center.  The user may be billed in such cases that are considered intentional.

 

9.       Personal Information:  At no time will personal information about the user or anyone else be formed or transmitted, including but not restricted to addresses, phone numbers, ages, and personal characteristics.

 

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10.   Intellectual Property:  It is the user’s responsibility to follow all copyright laws regarding the use, duplication, application, distribution and/or modification of intellectual property.  Another user’s intellectual property shall not be sent or used on the Internet without explicit permission from the creator.

 

11.   Restricted Areas:  Users will not access areas or services that are specifically restricted including chat rooms, posting on usernets, subscriptions to electronic mailing lists, inter-machine or linked games, and search engines, except those specifically designated for use by the career center administration.  Restricted areas such also included personal on-line banking sites, or personal for profit sites such as e-bay.  Access to these sites is prohibited.

 

12.   Assignment Notification:  It will be the responsibility of the classroom teacher to notify and restrict usage of students who have violated Internet policy.  Students shall be responsible for procuring alternate assignments to fulfill the requirements of their class.

 

13.   Political Lobbying:  Political lobbying activities are not allowed.

 

14.   Inappropriate Language:  Language that is obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, knowingly false, defamatory, prejudicial, discriminatory, threatening, or disrespectful are not to be used at any time.  Nor shall messages be formed or transmitted that intend to incite illegal or criminal activity, provide recruitment or participation in gang activity or encourage the use, sale, or distribution of controlled substances.

 

15.   Downloading:  Students will not be allowed to download software from the Internet unless expressly approved by their teacher.

 

 

CONSEQUENCES OF POLICY VIOLATION

 

An attempt to violate the provisions of this policy may result in revocation of the user’s Internet access privileges and/or account regardless of the success or failure of the attempt.  The career center administration shall be the final determinator of what is educationally appropriate for transmission over the network.  Consequences dependent upon the circumstances may warrant stronger discipline than punishment for offenses spelled out in the Student Handbook.  These instances will be handled one case at a time and eventually may bring cause to update the Student Handbook accordingly.

 

1.       Initial Determination:  Any career center Internet user or staff may make initial determination of policy violation and alert appropriate staff.

 

2.       Due Process:  Violators will be accorded due process rights in accordance with the Student Handbook policies in determination of alleged violation and consequences, but be denied Internet privileges during the period between alleged violation and the hearing(s).

 

3.       Final Determination:  The Principal will make the final determination of what the punishment shall be in accordance with the Internet guidelines and the Student Handbook policies.

 

4.       Revocation of Accounts:  The classroom teacher may deny, revoke or suspend a user’s account privilege at any time as required in accordance with Internet guidelines.  Reinstatement of Internet privileges will be in accordance with disciplinary policies.

 

5.       Additional Consequences:  Disciplinary action including suspension, expulsion and/or appropriate legal action may be taken.

 

6.       Further Action:  Any career center disciplinary actions do not preclude legal, criminal or civil actions.  Appropriate authorities will be contacted and given complete cooperation in the case of illegal or criminal activities.

 

7.       Indemnification:  Users and/or parent/guardian shall assume the financial responsibility for replacing or repairing intentionally damaged hardware or software.  The user and/or parent/guardian further shall indemnify the career center for any loss, costs or damages, including reasonable attorney fees, incurred by the career center relating to or arising out of any breach of authorized use of the Internet.

 

 

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8.       Specific Discipline for Inappropriate Use of the Internet:  The student will temporarily or permanently lose Internet privileges.  The student may also be disciplined according to the Student Handbook policies as follows:

 

a.       Violation of the Law – Student Handbook, Step D

b.       Commercial Use – Student Handbook, Step B

c.       Vandalism/Mischief – Student Handbook, Step C (possibly D if very serious)

d.       User ID – Student Handbook, Step A

e.       Electronic Mail Violations – Student Handbook, Step C

f.        File/Data Violations – Student Handbook, Step C

g.       System Interference/Altercation – Student Handbook, Step C

h.       Financial Liability – Student Handbook, Step B

i.         Personal Information – Student Handbook, Step B

j.        Intellectual Property – Student Handbook, Step C

k.       Restricted Areas – Student Handbook, Step B

l.         Assignment Notification – Student Handbook, Step A

m.     Political Lobbying – Student Handbook, Step A

n.       Inappropriate Language – Student Handbook, Step B

o.       Downloading (non-approved) – Student Handbook, Step A

 

SECURITY

 

1.       High Priority:  Security on any system is the highest priority, especially when the system involves many users.

 

2.       Reporting Security Problems:  If a user identifies a security problem on the Internet, the user must notify the teacher.  The security problem should not be shared with other users.

 

3.       Impersonation:  Attempts to log on to the Internet impersonating an official career center employee or any other person will result in cancellation of the Internet account privileges.

 

4.       Security Risks Denied Access:  Any user identified either as a security risk or having a history of violations with other computer systems may be denied access to the Internet through the career center facilities.

 

DISCLAIMER

 

The Kankakee Area Career Center makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied for the Internet facilities it is providing.  The career center will not be responsible for any damages suffered by users.  This includes loss of data resulting from delays, nondeliveries, misdirection, or service interruptions caused by the user’s negligence, error or omissions.  The career center is not responsible for phone/credit card bills or any other charges incurred by users.  Use of any information obtained via the Internet is at the user’s own risk and for the user’s own purpose.  The career center specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through it’s Internet facilities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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KANKAKEE AREA CAREER CENTER
INTERNET USE AGREEMENT

 

 

 

 

 

STUDENT ACCESS CONTRACT:  I understand and will voluntarily abide by the Kankakee Area Career Center Internet Use Policy.  I further understand that any violations of the career center Internet Use Policy is unethical and may constitute a criminal offense.  Should I commit any violation, my access privileges may be revoked.  I also understand that violations could result in discipline procedures in accordance with the Student Handbook policies.  The signature(s) on this document indicate that I understand the significance and voluntarily agree to comply fully with all the terms and conditions therein.

 

 

 

_______________________________      _______________________________      ____________

Student Name (Please Print)                    Student Signature                                   Date

 

 

 

 

 

PARENT OR GUARDIAN:  As the parent or guardian of this student, I have read the career center Internet Use Policy.  I understand that this access is designed for educational purposes.  I recognize that it is impossible for the career center to restrict access to all constroversial materials, and I will not hold the career center or any of its personnel responsible for materials acquired on the network.  Further, I accept responsibility for supervision if and when my student’s use of downloaded material is not in a school setting.  I also understand that certain violations of the Internet Use Policy could result in my student being disciplined in accordance with the Student Handbook policies.  I hereby give my permission to allow Internet access for my student.

 

 

 

_______________________________      _______________________________      ____________

Parent/Guardian Name (Please Print)       Parent/Guardian Signature                      Date

 

 

 

 

 

SPONSORING TEACHER:  I have read the Kankakee Area Career Center Internet Use Policy and agree to promote this agreement with the student.  I understand and will personally follow the Internet Use Policy.  Because the student may use the network for individual work, I cannot be held responsible for the student use of the network except for negligence.  As the sponsoring teacher, I agree to instruct the student on acceptable use of the network and proper network etiquette.  I agree to monitor the students’ use of the network very closely, handle any problems that occur in accordance with the Internet Use Policy and report via a discipline report any inappropriate student use of the network.

 

 

 

_______________________________      _______________________________      _____________

Teacher Name (Please Print)                   Teacher Signature                                  Date