An Acceptable Use Policy, or AUP, is a set of rules and standards that a user must agree to follow in order to be able to use a community computer network and the internet. The purpose of using an AUP in schools is to encourage responsible and appropriate behavior, and also minimize risk, when using the school’s computer system and the internet at school.
This analysis is of the Limestone County School System’s AUP. Though there is no direct link to this form, it can be found by entering the word “acceptable” in the search box at the following web address: www.lcsk12.org/Default.asp?PN=’AdvancedSearch’&Act='SearchNow'. All employees of the Limestone County School System must sign the Faculty and Staff AUP form which states that they have read, understand, and will abide by this AUP.
Upon reviewing their AUP, I find it to be somewhat typical and generic in form, though written fairly clearly. Some of the topics addressed in the Limestone County School System’s AUP are password privacy, copyrighted software, user misrepresentation, the use of computers for profit, malicious use of computers, antisocial behaviors on computers, the monitoring of computer use, electronic mail, non-employee and non-student use of computers, non-educational games, and disciplinary action employees are subject to.
One rule written in the Limestone County School System’s AUP might need to be clarified a bit, though. The rule states, “Intentionally wasting limited resources is prohibited.” I think an example inserted here would be most helpful. Since I was unable to reach the Directory of Information Technology for Limestone County Schools, I asked for clarification of this rule from a high school teacher within the system. Her example of wasting limited resources involved streaming live videos during the school day. Apparently, the teachers have been told to do this sort of activity on their computers before or after school and save it, so as to be able to replay it for their classes during the school day.
Also, a couple of the standards seem contradictory. The rule, “Use of the internet for personal activities is prohibited during school hours,” is followed by another rule that states, “Personal use of email is permitted as long as it does not violate the Limestone County School policy or adversely affect others.” The school system provides all employees with their own email within the network for educational and instructional purposes. Why, then, would it ever be necessary to check personal email at work? Personally, I just wouldn’t feel comfortable checking my personal email account at school, especially knowing that everything I do on my school computer is monitored.
To summarize my analysis, I would like to say that I agree wholeheartedly with a statement made in the section “Computer Use,” in the Limestone County School System’s AUP, and I cannot think of a better way to conclude this post: “All use of computers must be in support of education, research, or business applications consistent with the purpose of Limestone County Schools.”
