Technology at Gann Academy

Purpose:
Gann Academy computers, network, and related technologies are for academic and school-related business purposes. This statement is the primary consideration in determining whether your use or the use of devices and/or applications is acceptable. The school’s computing environment should not be viewed as a home or personal computing environment with unlimited access and minimal restrictions.

Spirit:
In keeping with the school’s mission, the spirit of this policy is based on four principles: respect, privacy, sharing, and safety. Users are to be respectful of others, mindful of the shared resources, cooperative with problems and resolutions, appreciative of security and privacy concerns, ethical, and always thoughtful in the manner of presenting oneself in a digital environment. This policy is vital to the educational environment, its security, and the reliable function of the various systems for all users.

Scope:
The Academy’s Acceptable Use Policy applies to all authorized users who access the Gann Academy network or equipment using academy-owned or personally-owned equipment, including wireless devices.

Supervision
At Gann Academy, the use of the school’s technology resources is vital to the educational and business processes. State and Federal laws in addition to school rules that apply to one’s conduct generally apply to one’s conduct on the school network, the Internet, and in the use of email. “Because you can” does not mean that you should or are allowed to do some things.

In an effort to maintain the educational and business environment, all network activity is monitored through the use of specialized software, hardware, network logins, and supervision. In addition to these guidelines and school handbooks, Internet monitoring and filtering, email filtering, and reporting applications are employed to assist with enforcement of school rules and policies, the management of internal and external security risks, and to ensure the safety of our users, their work, and vital school data. Monitoring and filtering are not intended to restrict your appropriate needs nor do they remove your responsibility to abide by school rules and conduct expectations. As with any device or software that filters Internet sites and email there may be sites and mail filtered in error. Notify the Helpdesk to remedy the particular issue.

Use of the school’s computers and the network environment is a privilege that can be revoked if the user does not comply with Gann Academy’s policies, resulting in serious consequences to one’s studies and work.

Infractions of these policies may result in disciplinary action, including the loss of the right to use the school’s computing facilities, as outlined in the student and personnel handbooks.

Privacy
Privacy of your personal information is a reasonable expectation. The school makes every effort to provide for this through policies, expectations, and system strategies. The expectation of privacy, however, should never be assumed as it cannot be guaranteed. There may be occasions in which other factors have a clear priority, such as in the diagnosis and resolution of hardware or software problems and in regards to issues related to the conduct of users.

Devices/Storage
Computers, printers, wireless access points, and other resources that are connected to the school network are provided in the library, classrooms, labs, offices, and other areas for specific purposes. Only authorized persons should ever use a computer designated for administrative purposes.

Users must log out of school computers whenever they are finished using them and shutdown each night.

Personal devices connected to the network are not allowed without specific permission, compliance with Gann device standards, and configuration from the IT Department.

Files should be stored/saved to network or email directories only. These are backed up nightly. Files stored locally on machines will not be backed up and will be lost during scheduled maintenance.

Authorized persons – through FirstClass resource calendars and the Helpdesk Office – can checkout shared school resources such as digital cameras, video cameras, laptop carts, laptops, sound equipment, academic and lab space, etc. These resources must be signed out by faculty or staff only and are distributed on a first-come basis. Pick up and return is through the HelpDesk Office by the individual who borrowed the equipment.

User ID and Password
Your user ID and password are keys to accessing data about you and your work for school. In the wrong hands, your password and User ID can be used to impersonate you online and take unauthorized action in your name. It is against Gann Academy policy for anyone to disclose any password, including their own, or to have, use, or attempt to use any other person's password under any circumstances. If you believe that someone has learned of your password, you should inform the IT department immediately for a change.

Read the complete Acceptable Use Policy in PDF format.

Gann Academy Email Standards and Expectations

Gann Academy considers email an important means of communication and provides FirstClass accounts for all faculty, staff, and students, as well as some access for parents. It recognizes the importance of both well-worded messages and prompt replies where necessary to convey a professional image. Authorized Users must use good judgment in writing messages, in forwarding messages, and when using attachments. The following guidelines should be followed when using email.

Writing and sending email:

Email is considered formal communication. Users should review the content of their email communications prior to transmitting to make sure that the message is well structured and clear, has an appropriate subject line, and does not include information that might be misinterpreted by the recipient.

Appropriate subject lines are necessary to reduce the chances that a receiving mail server will tag your mail as spam. Use the subject line (short and descriptive) to summarize the content of the email to enable recipients to interpret and prioritize the message quickly. This also enables the sender and the recipient to locate archived messages speedily.

Messages should be checked for spelling, grammar, use of appropriate alphabet case, and punctuation.

Email should not be drafted in capital letters, as this is more difficult to read and may be
interpreted as shouting or yelling.

Care should be taken to use fonts, font colors, and font size that allow for easy reading.

Do not send duplicate messages to several conferences of the same readers. This only overwhelms readers and actually decreases the value of the message and the likelihood that the message will be read.

If you have permissions to send to global mail lists, there are special instructions to which you must adhere before using them. These lists are restricted in order to enforce the special instructions that address bulk email standards and help protect our Gann Internet address from being blacklisted. The lists and instructions can be access through specific FirstClass conferences.

Read the complete Email Standards and Expectations document in PDF format.

As authorized by the Electronic and Communications
Privacy Act of 1989, Title 18, United States Code 2510.

Information sent from, received on, or stored on the Gann Academy’s computers or network system is the property of Gann Academy. The school will, with proper concern for the right of privacy, have the authority to view the contents of these files or programs in the course of investigating and/or diagnosing problems or difficulties of any type.