SSNT Policies and Procedures

Southern School of Natural Therapies Acceptable Use of the Internet/Intranet, Email and Computer Resources : Guidelines for Staff

These guidelines in conjunction with the Internet/Intranet and Email Policy are designed to provide staff with a clear understanding of the procedures and behaviours’ that support appropriate use of information and communication technologies at The Southern School of Natural Therapies. Contacting the Librarian can provide further information or clarification.

Staff Responsibilities:

The school computer technology and resources are provided for staff and students for curriculum and administrative purposes, to conduct research and to communicate with each other. As with students, staff are expected to use these resources for professional purposes. Staff need to conduct regular management of their email and delete any unnecessary email to conserve server space.

Staff Use:

The school computer technologies and email services must be used solely for school related activities.

Users need to assess the implications of any activity, as all email records are considered to be the property of the school.

Unacceptable Behaviours:

The following activities are prohibited for staff and students:

1. Sharing (without authorisation) confidential information about students or staff members.
2. Accessing, storing, publishing, mailing, displaying messages or material that is sexist, racist, abusive, rude, annoying, insulting, harassing, threatening, obscene. Gossip or derogatory personal comments are not acceptable or permitted.
3. Engaging in practices that threaten the schools’ technology (eg. loading files known to contain a virus or physically abusing the hardware).
4. Attempting to load software onto a school PC or Emac without authorisation. To ensure computer technology security, adherence to copyright laws and the purchase of suitable resources, the Principal must approve all software.
5. Copying and using files from other users without their permission.
6. Disclosing your password, or using others passwords.
7. Employing the schools’ technologies for commercial purposes, product advertising or political lobbying.
8. Using the schools’ resources to engage in activities that may bring dishonour/discredit to themselves and/or the school.
9. Violating regulations prescribed by the network provider, eg. Telstra.

Consequences for breaching these guidelines are outlined below, under Sanctions.

Email Guidelines:

The school technologies are provided for staff and students to conduct research and to communicate with each other.

Communications over the school computer technologies are often public in nature and therefore the general rules and standard for courtesy and conduct will apply.

Staff should note that:

• Email messages can be easily misconstrued and that email is neither private nor secret. Emails may sometimes be directed accidentally to a destination other than the one intended. Emails generated at the school are considered school property, and as such, are not considered private. The sender of the emails will be held responsible for its content.
• Mass mailing, chain letters etc. are prohibited as they clog the Email network, reduce productivity and may add an unnecessary costs to the school.

Email message etiquette

• All emails should follow normal standards of personal and professional courtesy and conduct
• Formal emails should employ the normal conventions and language used for letter writing, especially when addressed to persons and organizations outside the school.
• Users should avoid using all upper case as this can be interpreted as shouting.

External bound emails:

• Should not give the impression that they are representing, giving opinions or otherwise making statements on behalf of the school, unless appropriately authorised to do so.
• Should conclude with the sender’s name role/position within the school.
• Some communications will not be acceptable in email form. Any legal documents requiring signatures, for example.

Monitoring the School Mail Server:

• Monitoring of email will operate within the provision of State and Federal Legislation. Monitoring involves checking of logs of email activity to detect faults or possible breaches of the policy.
• Logs will be checked for maintenance purposes.
• It is expected that professionalism and integrity will be maintained.
• Accessing the contents of users email is only possible with permission of the Principal

Sanctions:

Sanctions will apply to staff who:

• Breach the Internet and Email Policy and the Acceptable Use Guidelines, in regard of their own use of computer technology resources.

Sanctions will involve disciplinary action by the Principal.

School Responsibilities:

The school assumes responsibility for:

• Developing and communication, to the school community the policy and guidelines for acceptable use of computer resources.
• Establishing appropriate procedures within this policy.
• Establishing procedures for user positively acknowledging receipt and understanding of the policy and guidelines.

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