UFRNET
Terms & Conditions
Purpose:
- Clarify the District's position as to the acceptable use of its technology.
- Enable the users of the UFRNET to read and understand the conditions for its use.
- Articulate the educational goals of UFRNET.
Viewpoint
New technologies are shifting the ways that information may be accessed, communicated, and transferred. Those changes may also alter instruction and student learning. Upper Freehold Regional School District (UFRSD) offers students access to the electronic information highway and the Internet. We call this service UFRNET.
We believe this computer technology will help propel today's schools into the information age by allowing students and staff to access and use information sources from distant computers, communicate and share information with individuals or groups of other students and staff, and significantly expand their knowledge base. The Internet is a tool for life-long learning and only begins to open the door to many advanced tools which will blossom in the future.
Along with access to computers, people and information from all over the world, comes the availability of materials that may not be considered appropriate in the classroom. However, on a global network it is impossible to control all materials. Ultimately, the school staff, parents and guardians of minors are responsible for supervising use and conveying the standards that students should follow when using media and information sources. UFRSD supports and respects each family's right to decide whether or not to allow their child access to UFRNET. If you do not wish your child to have access to UFRNET, you must complete the UFRNET Denial Form (click to download the form).
The Upper Freehold Regional Schools provides computer equipment, computer services, and Internet access to its students and staff for educational purposes only. The purpose of providing technology resources is to improve learning and teaching through research, collaboration, dissemination, and the use of global communication resources.
No Warranties
The UFRSD does not make warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, for the service it is providing. The District will not be responsible for any damages a user suffers. This includes loss of data resulting from delays, no-deliveries, miss-deliveries, or service interruptions caused by the District's negligence or by the user's errors or omissions. Use of any information obtained via the Internet is at the user's own risk. The District specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through its services. All users need to consider the source of any information they obtain, and consider how valid that information may be.
Rules and Responsibilities
Students are responsible for good behavior on school computer networks just as they are in a classroom or school hallway. Communications on the network are often public in nature. General school rules for behavior and communications apply.
UFRNET is provided for students to conduct research and communicate with others in relation to schoolwork. Access to network services is given to students in grades two through twelve. Access is a privilege, not a right. Therefore, based upon the acceptable use guidelines outlined in this document, the system administrators may close an account at any time. The administration may deny, revoke, or suspend specific user accounts for cause.
Individual users of the UFRNET are responsible for their use of the network. The use of their account must be in support of education and research and must be consistent with academic expectations of UFRSD. Use of other organizations' networks or computing resources must comply with the rules appropriate for that network. Transmission of any material in violation of U.S. or state regulations including, threatening, obscene, or copyrighted materials is prohibited. Use for commercial activities by for-profit organizations, product promotion, political lobbying, or illegal activities is strictly prohibited. The system administrators are employees of the Upper Freehold Regional School District and reserve the right to monitor all activity on network facilities.
Because of the complex association between so many government agencies and networks, the end user of these networks must adhere to strict guidelines. They are provided here so that staff, community, student users and the parents/guardians of students are aware of their responsibilities. The District may modify these rules at any time by publishing modified rule(s) on the system. The use of UFRNET indicates that you have read the terms and conditions carefully, understand their significance, and agree to abide by established rules of this policy.
Information Content and Uses of the System
The user agrees not to publish on or over the system any information which violates or infringes upon the rights of any other person or any information which would be abusive, profane or sexually offensive to an average person, or which, without the approval of the system administrators, contains any advertising or any solicitation of other members to use goods or services. The user agrees not to use the facilities and capabilities of the system to conduct any business or solicit the performance of any activity which is prohibited by law.
Because Upper Freehold Regional Schools provides, through connection to the Internet, access to other computer systems around the world, students and their parents understand that the District and system administrators have no control over content. While most of the content available on the Internet is innocuous and much of it a valuable educational resource, some objectionable material exists. The District will provide student access to Internet resources only in supervised environments and has taken steps to lock out objectionable areas, but potential dangers remain. Students and their parents/guardians are advised that some systems may contain defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, racially offensive, or otherwise illegal material. The Upper Freehold Regional Schools and the system administrators do not condone the use of such materials and do not permit usage of such materials in the school environment. Parents of minors having accounts on the system should be aware of the existence of such materials and monitor any future home usage of the District's resources. Students knowingly bringing such materials in the school environment will be dealt with according to the discipline policies of the District and such activities may result in termination of such students' accounts on the network.
Online Conduct
Any action by a member that is determined by a system administrator to constitute an inappropriate use of network resources or to improperly restrict or inhibit other members from using and enjoying those resources is strictly prohibited and may result in termination of an offending member's account and possible disciplinary action. The user specifically agrees not to submit, publish, or display any defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, racially offensive, or otherwise illegal material; nor shall a user encourage the use, sale, or distribution of controlled substances. Transmission of material, information or software in violation of any local, state or federal law is also prohibited and is a breach of the Terms and Conditions of the Acceptable Use Policy.
Users and their parents/guardians specifically agree to indemnify the Upper Freehold Regional Schools and the system administrators for any losses, costs, or damages, including reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the District relating to, or arising out of any breach of this section (Online Conduct) by the user.
Network resources are to be used by the user for his/her personal use only; commercial uses are strictly prohibited.
Software Libraries
Software is provided to students as a curricular resource. No student may install, upload, or download software. Any software having the purpose of damaging other members' accounts or the District network (e.g., computer viruses) is specifically prohibited. The system administrators, at their sole discretion, further reserve the right to immediately terminate the account or take other action consistent with the District's discipline code of a member who misuses the software libraries: other disciplinary action may follow such termination.
Copyrighted Material
Copyrighted material must not be placed on any system connected to the network without the author's permission. Only the owner(s) or persons they specifically authorize may upload copyrighted material to the system. Copying commercial software is a violation of copyright law.
Public Posting Areas (Message Boards/Usenet Groups)
UseNet messages are posted from systems connected to the Internet around the world and the Upper Freehold Regional Schools system administrators have no control of the content of messages posted from these other systems. To best utilize system resources, the system administrators will determine which UseNet groups are most applicable to the curricular needs of the school district and will carry these groups on the local system. The system administrators, at their sole discretion, may remove messages posted locally that are deemed to be unacceptable or in violation of the Terms and Conditions of the Acceptable Use Policy.
Electronic Mail
Electronic mail ("Mail") is a semi-private electronic exchange between individuals using UFRNET. All contracted employees of the district and students in grades five through twelve will receive the privilege of district provided email. For staff, messages received by the system are retained on the system until deleted by the recipient. For students, messages received by the system are retained on the system for three weeks and then deleted by the technology department. A canceled Upper Freehold Regional account will not retain its mail. Members are expected to remove old messages in a timely fashion and the system administrators may remove such messages if not attended to regularly by the member. The system administrators will not intentionally inspect the contents of mail, or disclose such contents to others, unless required to do so by law or policies of the Upper Freehold Regional Schools, or to investigate complaints regarding mail which is alleged to contain defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, racially offensive, or otherwise illegal material. Upper Freehold Regional Schools reserve the right to cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation concerning or relating to any mail transmitted on the Upper Freehold Regional Schools network.
Disk Usage
The system administrators reserve the right to set quotas for disk usage on the system. A member who exceeds his quota will be advised to delete files to return to compliance. A member who remains in non-compliance of disk space quotas after seven (7) days of notification will have their files removed by a system administrator.
Security
Security on any computer system is a high priority, especially when the system involves many users. If a member feels that he can identify a security problem on the system, the member must notify a system administrator or e-mail [email protected]. The member should not reveal the problem to any others. Members may not let others use their account or password. Passwords to the system should not be easily discernible by others, nor should they be words which could be found in a dictionary. Attempts to log in to the system using either member's account or as a system administrator will result in termination of the account. Members should immediately notify a system administrator at [email protected] if a password is lost or stolen, or if they have reason to believe that someone has obtained unauthorized access to their account. Any member identified as a security risk will have his account terminated and be subject to other disciplinary action.
Virtual Private Network (VPN) Policy
Introduction
In an effort to increase the security of UFRSD information technology systems, off campus access to many information technology resources has been limited. UFRSD offers Virtual Private Network (VPN) access for approved faculty/staff (hereinafter users) who need access to information technology systems that are not available to users from off-campus networks. Exceptions to the approved list of users will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The Superintendent and Director of Information Technology will approve the list of users.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection to UFRSD's internal network. UFRSD's VPN server is designed to provide secure/encrypted access to network resources on the UFRSD Network.
Policy
VPN gateways will be set up and managed only by UFRSD Office of Information Technology Networking Services Group.
Approved users laptops (owned by the district) will be configured with the VPN client software by technicians at UFRSD Information Technology division.
Only VPN client software that is approved by and/or distributed by the Office of Information Technology networking services may be used to connect to the UFRSD VPN concentrators.
VPN provides secure access into the UFRSD Network. VPN does not, by itself, provide Internet connectivity. Users are responsible for providing their own Internet service via dial-up (not supported), cable modem, DSL, or other means to be able to use UFRSD's VPN service.
It is the responsibility of the users with VPN privileges to ensure that unauthorized persons are not allowed access to UFRSD internal networks.
All computers connected to UFRSD's internal networks via VPN or any other technology must use the most up-to-date anti-virus software approved by UFRSD.
VPN users will be automatically disconnected from UFRSD's network after thirty minutes of inactivity. The user must then logon again to reconnect to the network. Pings or other artificial network processes should not be used to keep the connection open.
Only one active VPN connection is allowed per user and the VPN concentrator is limited to a total connection time of four hours per user in one session.
Only approved users with signatures from the Superintendent and/or the Director of Information Technology with specific requirements for VPN access will be granted access to the resources.
Enforcement
Any user found to have violated this Acceptable Use Policy will be subject to loss of privileges or services, including but not necessarily limited to loss of VPN services.
(Click to download the VPN form.)
Vandalism
Vandalism will result in cancellation of system privileges and other disciplinary measures outlined in the District's discipline code. Network vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy data of another user, the system, or any of the agencies or other networks that are connected to the Internet backbone or of doing intentional damage to hardware or software resident on the system. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses.
Printing
The printing facilities of the Upper Freehold Regional Schools network should be used judiciously. Unnecessary printing is a drain of the capacity of the networks, adds expense, and shortens the life of equipment. By developing on-screen proofreading skills and practicing proper use of cut and past techniques, users can and should conserve printing resources and help the system run more efficiently.
Network Etiquette
The user is expected to abide by the following network rules of etiquette. Failure to do so will result in possible suspension of privileges or other disciplinary measures.
- Students are not permitted to send mass emails to other users (one email to many people).
- Be polite. Do not write or send abusive messages.
- Use appropriate language. Do not swear, use vulgarities or any other inappropriate language.
- Transmission of obscene materials is prohibited. Sending or receiving offensive messages or pictures from any source will result in immediate suspension of privileges.
- No Hacking will be tolerated! Attempts to break through our or any other computer site will not be tolerated. Attempting to break into or go around any of our security measures is considered a major violation of school rules. This includes servers, workstations, networks and other people's resources. Hacking is like breaking and entering, except you are entering a computer system. This is considered illegal activity.
- No spamming will be tolerated! This is sending loads of messages to an individual that are either harassing or designed to overload their system.
- Masquerading - pretending to be someone else is forbidden. This includes sending out email in someone else's name as a joke.
- Offensive or sexually explicit material should not be displayed or collected using any of Upper Freehold Regional School's resources - this includes our computers and our Internet access.
- Public defamation or slander is illegal and not acceptable.
SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS
- Do not give out any personal information, including your home address or phone number or other information that will identify you to people on the Internet.
- If you must give a fax number or an address to receive something please use Upper Freehold Regional School's fax or address.
- It is reasonably easy for dishonest people to become anybody electronically - Please use caution.
USER ACCOUNTS
Accounts shall be used only by the authorized owner of the account for its intended purpose. Account owners are responsible for all activity under their account.
1. Students in grades two through twelve are granted an account and the use of UFRNET indicates that the student has read the terms and conditions carefully, understand their significance, and agree to abide by established rules of this policy.
a. The parent/guardian may submit the UFRNET Denial Form (click to download the form) if they do not wish the student to have access to UFRNET.
2. Students in grade one and below are not allowed individual accounts. They may participate in teacher supervised class activities involving the Internet.
3. Staff members may be granted an account for use on site provided they read and agree to follow the Acceptable Use Policy.