Acceptable Use Policy

Cary Academy provides a broad range of network resources to students, employees and parents for the purposes of authorized academic, instructional, administrative and personal use.  The term network resources refers to all items owned or leased by Cary Academy, including desktop and portable computers; printers, scanners and other peripheral devices; servers; network and local storage; Internet services; and all other technology-related equipment and services.   As members of the Cary Academy community, students, parents and employees are expected to be responsible in their use of these resources in accordance with the guidelines outlined in this document.  These guidelines apply to any use of Cary Academy network resources, whether this use occurs on campus or off.

Beginning in the fall of 2006, all Cary Academy students will be issued tablet computers.  The tablets are owned by the school, but students will be able to take them home during the school year and vacations for their academic and personal use.  Operating, educational, and office software will be installed on each computer, and students may add software and peripheral devices, provided that these are licensed, do not interfere with the CA network, and meet Cary Academy’s guidelines for student conduct and respect.  If students are uncertain about the appropriateness of any software or peripheral devices they wish to install, they should first consult with the Information Services Helpdesk.

Who can use Cary Academy network resources and for what purpose?

Cary Academy maintains its network resources for use by the entire school community of students, parents, faculty, and staff.  Network access is restricted to those who have active accounts issued by the Cary Academy Information Services staff.  Accounts can be revoked at any time. We also provide free limited wireless internet access for registered Cary Academy visitors and guests. Please visit the technology web site at http://www.caryacademy.org/technology for more information on this and other subjects.

All members of the Cary Academy community are granted free and equal access to as many network services as the education program and technology allow. Users are encouraged to explore the Internet and other resources for academic gain.  Cary Academy periodically monitors the installed systems and the accounts used by Cary Academy students, parents, and employees to ensure reasonable, efficient, lawful and safe use.

Cary Academy believes in treating its students, parents, and employees with respect and in turn expects that these students, parents, and employees treat one another with respect.  However, students, parents, and employees must be aware that information assets (computers and the information that users might store on them) belong to Cary Academy and that the Academy has the right to gain access for academic, security or disciplinary reasons, to any of those assets at any time.  Students, parents, and employees should not expect privacy with respect to any information contained therein.

External access

You are allowed access to Cary Academy’s Intranet (internal network) externally. External access to the Cary Academy network falls under the same guidelines listed here for school access.

If you access the Cary Academy Intranet from your home using your chosen internet service provider, you can expect to be prompted for your user name and password the first time you visit each of the Cary Academy web servers.  Potentially, you might have to enter this information multiple times if you visit different web servers.  While this authentication may seem inconvenient, it is required to keep our site secure.

User responsibilities

1.       The secure, lawful and respectful  use of  Cary Academy network resources is  a high priority.  To protect users from unwanted contact or harassment, Cary Academy community members are instructed not to give out to anyone any personal information pertaining to themselves or others. Computer account passwords are confidential; providing your user name and password to other persons, thereby allowing them to access the Cary Academy network, is prohibited.  Use of another person’s identity, account, user name or password or otherwise gaining unauthorized access to computing or network resources is also prohibited.  Students are not permitted to allow other students or friends to use their school-issued tablet computers.

2.       The network is a free and open forum for expression.  Considerate and respectful disagreement is welcome.  Harassing, insulting or attacking of others is not allowed.  Offensive speech is disrespectful of the rights of others; be polite in your message.

3.       In providing this service to the Cary Academy community, the school is aware that there are some areas on the Internet that have objectionable material.  Accessing or downloading this material is prohibited.  Viewing or transferring defamatory, demeaning,  inaccurate, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually explicit, threatening, racially offensive, or illegal material on the network is also prohibited. 

4.       Users are expected to adhere to copyright laws.  Transfer or use of copyrighted material without the express consent of the owner of the copyright is a violation of federal law.

5.       Deliberately or inadvertently spreading computer viruses is harmful to the network and is considered vandalism. 

6.       Passwords are provided for some of the online research resources (e.g. GaleNetÔ or eLibraryÔ) so that Cary Academy community members may access these externally.  To access these resources using these IDs and passwords, you must be currently enrolled or employed at Cary Academy or be a parent of a currently enrolled student at Cary Academy.  Distribution of this information to persons not currently enrolled or employed at Cary Academy or not a parent of a currently enrolled student at Cary Academy is not allowed.  Once you leave Cary Academy, you are not permitted to use these online research services with the IDs or passwords given to you by Cary Academy.

7.       Impersonation and anonymity are not permitted.  Users must take responsibility for their actions and words.  Impersonation of an adult, employee or a student in any setting, including online, is not permitted.

8.       It is important that all desktop computers on campus remain consistent and stable.  Students should not change desktop computer settings or add software to desktop computers unless otherwise authorized.

9.       Students  may install additional licensed/appropriate software on tablet computers only if the software does not interfere with settings and programs required for academic use. Please consult Information Services Helpdesk if not sure.

10.   Students are not allowed to run software during class without the express permission of the teacher.

11. With the exception of public sporting events, students are not permitted to audio or video record conversations or other activities without the permission of the participants

12.   Network-based storage is limited to school-related files only; you are encouraged to delete any inactive files that you might have stored on the network.  To ensure deletion of inactive files, the System Administrator will periodically purge these.  If possible, advance notice will be given before purges occur.  For further information on how to maintain academic and personal data, perform backups, and carry out all other storage-related tasks, go to the technology page of Cary Academy Intranet web site. http://web1.caryacademy.org/technology

13.   Using Cary Academy’s computers or networks for commercial purposes is not allowed.

14.   As a federally tax-exempt nonprofit organization, Cary Academy must not participate in campaign activity for or against political candidates or any lobbying activities.  Therefore, any use of the CA network for such activities is prohibited, including links to other internet sites from the Cary Academy Intranet or from the school’s external web site.

15.   All Cary Academy students, faculty, staff, and parents are representatives of the school.  Exemplary behavior is expected on “virtual” field trips and when visiting locations on the Internet. 

16.   Cary Academy email distribution lists are for school business only, never for commercial or personal purposes and never for solicitations unrelated to the academy.

17.   Students, faculty, staff and parents may not copy Cary Academy school software. Copying school-owned software programs is considered theft.

18.   The installation and/or use of any Internet-based file sharing programs is explicitly prohibited. File-sharing programs like LimeWire, Kazaa, e-Donkey and others are generally designed to facilitate the illegal sharing of copyrighted material. Individuals with legitimate, school-related needs to use such a program may seek approval from the Director of Information Services.

19.   Students are not allowed to play computer games on campus unless granted explicit permission from a faculty member.

These guidelines are provided so that you are aware of the responsibilities that you are about to undertake.  Cary Academy’s goal in providing this technology is to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication.

The misuse of Cary Academy’s network resources is not only a violation of major school rules regarding honesty, respect for others, and upholding the good name of the school, but can also be a violation of state and federal laws.  Failure to abide by the provisions of the school’s acceptable use policy will result in disciplinary action, up to and including suspension or dismissal from school.