Student Conduct

The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools

Student Conduct

Overview

Middle School students have increasing opportunities to assume responsibility for themselves as members of a community. This responsibility requires that students behave in ways that help create a climate of respect for the rights of others, including peers, teachers, and all members of the school community. The Middle School will work with students to help them understand the lessons that arise in becoming positive, contributing and thoughtful community members.

Faculty and staff will, at times, need to help students interpret broader behavioral expectations. Middle level educators see this as instruction and view the time spent on helping students understand their own behavior as an appropriate and natural part of middle school life. Indeed, we view this as an important part of our middle school curriculum and as teachable moments.

STUDENTS IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ARE ASKED TO UNDERSTAND AND ABIDE BY THE FOLLOWING BEHAVIORAL GUIDELINES:

Respect yourself, respect all other people and respect the space around you. Included in this guideline is the understanding that the school will not tolerate any acts of racial, ethnic, religious, or sexual harassment.

The faculty and staff of the school are responsible for the safety of all community members and need to enforce whatever measures are necessary and reasonable to insure the well being of the community. Included in this guideline is an enforcement of a policy that prohibits any instances of physical and emotional intimidation or fighting. Weapons, look-alike weapons, and toys resembling weapons may not be brought to school or to any school sponsored activities or events.

A school must by definition value academic honesty and expects its students to practice that value. There are to be no acts of cheating, plagiarism or forgery.

All members of the school community should contribute positively to the moral tone of the school.

Students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with these guidelines. The consequences of their choosing not to could lead to loss of privileges, suspension, and ultimately expulsion from the school. Discipline within a middle school is important, and high standards are set for the students. The goal is to help students learn to understand their own responsibility for themselves as part of their community. Educators at this level must teach these lessons; clear talk and follow through can be expected.

Parents of middle school students need to know that there are aspects of behavior and discipline that accompany "growing up." The school will deal directly with students and some situations will be viewed as the student�s business with the school. This is the time when we begin the process of helping students be more responsible for themselves. Serious and/or repeat violations of school expectations and serious concerns about student behavior will always be shared with parents. Parents will be called to assist us in correcting behaviors that make the school feel unsafe, people feel disrespected or when property is damaged. Students who refuse to be part of a community with these behavioral expectations will not be permitted to make school untenable for others.

Peer Mediation

The school uses peer mediation to resolve many conflicts between students. Mediation is a process in which people in conflict work together with the assistance of a third party to resolve the conflict. During peer mediation, the students in conflict meet face-to-face in the presence of trained peer mediators and an adult observer for a structured conversation. The structured conversation allows each student's point of view to be heard and the problem to be identified. The students in conflict and the peer mediators then identify a mutual-gain solution and write an enforceable agreement. Any member of the school community can make referrals for mediation. Peer mediators are trained throughout the school year. Nominations for peer mediators are solicited from parents, faculty and students. Self-nominations are welcome. The Dean of Students and Middle School Counselors administers the peer mediation program.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is unacceptable. Sexual harassment is unwanted sexual attention that makes a person uncomfortable or causes problems in school, work, or in social settings. Some examples are verbal slurs or abuse; suggestive, offensive, or derogatory comments; sexist remarks about someone's body, clothing, or sexual activity; insults of a sexual nature; requests or demands for sexual favors; catcalls or other suggestive or insulting sounds or gestures; unnecessary and unwanted physical contact; and physical assault.

Students who have complaints of sexual harassment should report them immediately to the dean of students, their counselor, or another trusted adult. Complaints will be considered confidential, and each complaint will be thoroughly investigated. If the evidence supports the allegation that sexual harassment has occurred, corrective action, including the possibility of dismissal will be taken.

Public Displays of Affection

When student couples are together in public they have a responsibility to others as well as to themselves to conduct themselves appropriately. Public displays of affection are unacceptable when they embarrass or make others uncomfortable. Examples of such behaviors include, but are not limited to, extended kissing or hugging, lying or sitting together inappropriately, and placing hands on each other in inappropriate ways.

Attire and Appearance

Attire and grooming are, within reasonable limits, matters of personal taste, however, a student's choice of clothing should not offend others nor should it be a distraction to the learning environment of school. Students who dress outside of these guidelines will be spoken to about their clothing, and asked to change clothes. If the student continues to come to school inappropriately dressed then parents will be contacted to assist in helping to change the student's behavior.

The list that follows is not meant to be all-inclusive, rather it is presented to help parents and students make appropriate decisions when selecting school clothes. The following types of clothing should not be worn to school: halter tops, tops with spaghetti straps, or tops that do not fully cover the midsection, short shorts, clothing that does not cover underwear, clothing that is too tight or torn, and clothing with offensive messages including references to the use of drugs and alcohol. Students are required to wear shoes at all times.

Nuisance Items

Students are not to bring computer games, beepers, laser pointers, and other electronic devices to school. Nor should they bring toys or items that would detract from the learning environment of the school. The school does not and will not assume responsibility for the protection of items that are not a necessary part of the learning environment and too often become the type of property that gets lost or taken. Teachers will confiscate these nuisance items if they are used during the school day and turn them over to the Dean of Students. Parents will be notified, and asked to retrieve these items.

Compact Disc, MP3 and Cassette Policy

The 1997-1998 Middle School Student Council proposed and the Middle School Administration passed the following amendment to the Nuisance Item Policy:

It is expected that the students of the Middle School will self-monitor these rules in order for the privileges to remain in effect during the school year.

Players may be used up until ten minutes before the start of the school day. They may not be used in either the library or in any office area.

Players may be used ten minutes after the close of the school day. Areas of use are limited to the Belfield lobby, High School Lobby, Middle School lobby or the Blaine lobby.

Players may be used on school sponsored athletic trips at the discretion of coaches.

Players are to be kept in lockers at all other times.

Players taken for infractions of the above guidelines will be turned in to the Middle School Office. The Dean or Principal will return the item to the student at the end of the school day, after the student comes to the office to pick-up the item.

The school will not be responsible for the loss, theft, or damage of any player, tapes or discs.

Abuse of the above guidelines may require a parent or guardian to pick-up the item(s).

Food

We share a common space with many different age groups and have a responsibility to keep our space clean and safe. Spilled food poses a physical hazard and a means of attracting bugs and other pests. Students are responsible for the cleaning and care of the cafeteria and will take turns overseeing this task. We ask that food be eaten only in the cafeteria, the Belfield lounge or in classrooms on the occasions when teachers have given their permission. Students carrying food from the cafeteria must keep the food sealed in its container.

Field Trip and Camp Behavior

Field trips are an important part of our school program. On occasions when students travel outside the building for a daytime visit or an overnight experience, they are representing the Laboratory Schools and should behave in ways consistent with the middle school guidelines and the Laboratory Schools Standards of Behavior.

Backpacks and Use of Lockers

To help students build organizational skills and to maintain safety in the hallways and classrooms, backpacks and other book bags are to be kept in student lockers during the school day. Students are expected to keep their lockers neat, unmarked and in good working order. We ask students not to give out their locker combinations and not to leave personal items of value, including money, in their lockers. It is important to not store food in lockers overnight. Students having locker problems should report them to the Facilities Office in UH 102.

Lost and Found

Articles that are found are brought to the lost and found box outside the Middle School Office. The secretary will return marked items to the owners. Twice a year - after the first semester and at the end of the school year in June - items remaining in the lost and found are given to charities.

Student use of Cellular Phones and School Telephones

Students may not carry or use cellular telephones during the school day or while attending school activities and trips. If it is necessary for a student to have a cellular phone, the phone must be turned off and kept in the student's locker during the school day.

Students may use the office phones to return a call from a parent or to make a call in an emergency situation. There are pay telephones in three areas of the school: in the cafeteria opposite the entrance to Gerstley Center; in the lobby at the west end of Belfield Hall; and just off Blaine lobby near the main stairwell. There are free phones for on campus calls located on the first floor of Blaine Hall beside the central stairway and in the high school near the library.

The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools' Computing Policy

Section A: Introduction

A.1 The Laboratory Schools view computers and computing resources as important educational tools for furthering its mission. Using these resources is a privilege, not a right. Like all privileges, a set of responsibilities accompanies its proper exercise. This policy outlines those responsibilities so those who use their privileges conscientiously can be protected from those who do not.

A.2 When computer users choose to violate the terms of this policy, they can expect sanctions to be imposed. These may include suspension of computer privileges, disciplinary review, suspension or expulsion from the school, termination of employment, and/or legal action. Computer users are responsible for:

Reporting Computing Policy violations to Laboratory School administrators

Cooperating with system administrators in investigations of system abuse

Behaving courteously, ethically, and legally even in the absence of reminders

Section B: Care of Computing Resources

B.1 The Laboratory Schools� computing resources are limited and valuable. Users are expected to be good stewards of the Schools� investment in computing resources.

B.2 Theft, vandalism, tampering, destruction, or disregard for the physical condition of computers or peripheral devices is a serious breach of discipline and will be treated that way. Users are expected to report others� abuse of computers and peripheral devices to school administrators without hesitation.

B.3 What this means to you:

You are to report promptly others' abuse of computers to school administrators.

You may not vandalize, steal, destroy or otherwise cause harm to school computing resources.

You may not engage in any behavior that creates a nuisance for other computer users or technical support staff by altering computer software preferences or configurations.

Section C: Software Piracy

C.1 Software piracy is defined as the installation and/or use of licensed software that has not been paid for. Software piracy is stealing and will not be tolerated in any form. Protected software may not be copied into, from, or by any Laboratory Schools� facility or system, except by license. This applies to copying software between computers within the school as well as copying software between school and home computers.

C.2 Anyone using illegal copies of software or distributing software illegally to others may have all computer privileges immediately suspended. As with any form of stealing, software piracy will be reviewed for additional disciplinary action.

C.3 Typically, a software purchase includes a single-user license. This means that the software may be loaded onto a single computer and used only on that computer. Making additional copies of that software to use on other computers is illegal. If the software is to be used on another computer, it must first be removed from the original computer.

C.4 The Schools often enter into a variety of software licensing agreements, some of which are quite complex. Users authorized to install software are expected to consult Information Systems or Computer Science staff when considering purchasing or installing software to certify that doing so will comply with vendor licensing agreements.

C.5 The Director of Information Technology is responsible for ensuring that the Laboratory Schools' computers are fully compliant with vendor licensing agreements. All school owned software licenses acquired by donations, departmental or grade level purchases, or promotional programs must be registered with the Director of Information Technology so they can be inventoried and a legal backup copy made. Information Systems staff may remove unregistered software from school computers until proper licensing can be verified. Personally owned software may not under any circumstances be installed on school computers. Similarly, school owned software may not be copied to personally owned computers. ¹

C.6 What this means to you:

You may not use or install on school computers any software not licensed by the Schools.

You may not take any licensed software from school to use at home or elsewhere1.

When software has been licensed by the Schools, you may not assume it is legal to make copies of it to install and/or use on other school computers.

You may not bring in any licensed software to sell or to lend to someone else, even if you are selling or lending the original disks.

Only authorized personnel may install software. All software installed on school computers must be licensed by the school and registered with the Director of Information Technology.

Section D: E-mail and Internet Access

D.1 The Laboratory Schools' network is connected to the Internet and thus allows access to millions of computers and computer users throughout the world. Unacceptable actions over the network will not be tolerated and will result in loss of the offending individual's network access.

D.2 As members of the University of Chicago networking community, all users of the Laboratory Schools' facilities are expected to read and abide by the University's computing policy. The University can choose to sever the Laboratory Schools' network connection if any Laboratory School user misuses the University's network or computing facilities.

D.3 Take responsibility for your actions. All e-mail and news postings must identify the sender clearly and accurately. Anonymous or pseudonymous electronic communications appear to dissociate you from responsibility for your actions and are rarely appropriate. Identifying yourself as another individual may constitute fraud and is prohibited. Any communications that would be improper or illegal on any other medium are equally so on the computer: libelous material, obscene or offensive messages, threats, etc.

D.4 Users must not send messages to unwilling recipients. They must never use school computing facilities for harassment, plagiarism, or other illegal or unethical activities.

The Laboratory Schools echoes the University's policy on freedom from harassment:

"Respect others' rights to freedom from harassment or intimidation. Do not send abusive or patently unwanted material to others; do not cause others' work to be disrupted by your actions."

D.5 Do not engage in actions that are politically damaging to the network. The Internet accesses a wide world of users; there is no guardian to filter material that may not be appropriate for students. Access to this material by students may cause the Laboratory School community to decide to terminate participation in the Internet, thus depriving others of a valuable tool. Anyone accessing inappropriate material will have all networking privileges taken away. Anyone distributing inappropriate materials over the network will have all networking privileges revoked and have further disciplinary action taken against them. "Appropriateness" will be determined by the Laboratory Schools� Administration. In general, if material gathered from other media is unsuitable for the school environment, the same material accessed via the Internet is equally unsuitable and thus prohibited.

D.6 Logging onto on-line chat groups (IRCs, etc.) is not allowed through the Laboratory Schools' network. The only exception is those chat groups set up specifically by the Laboratory Schools' network administrators for co-curricular student use.

D.7 What this means to you:

You may not e-mail or post news anonymously or using someone else's name.

You may not send unwanted material to others.

You may not use the network for any activity that is inappropriate in a school environment (where "inappropriate" is determined by the schools' administrators).

You may not log onto on-line chat groups except to those created by the Schools for co-curricular purposes.

Section E: Intellectual Property Rights

E.1 The Laboratory Schools' computing facilities shall not be used to violate copyright and other intellectual-property rights. Copies of copyright law can be found in Blaine and Rowley libraries. In cases where the law is unclear, such as regarding works published over the Internet, users should be conservative and assume that anything published on the Internet is copyrighted.

E. 2 Fair use laws regarding copyright apply; in general, a single copy made for personal uses falls within fair use laws, while multiple copies do not. However, the ready availability of image search engines and music sharing technologies creates the false impression that stealing is acceptable because it is easy to do. The Laboratory Schools condemns stealing in all its forms.

E.3 Computers and associated peripherals such as printers and scanners may not be used to create fraudulent or counterfeit documents, such as IDs, currency, tickets, legal documents, etc.

E. 4 What this means to you:

You may not copy files belonging to others without their permission.

You may not quote extensively from any source without proper attribution and permission.

You may not use the computers to create or alter IDs, currency, or other legal documents.

You may not make copies of copyrighted songs or albums, digital images, movies, or other artistic works unless explicitly permitted by fair use provisions of copyright law.

Section F: Commercial Activity

F.1 The Laboratory Schools' networks are not to be used for commercial purposes, such as marketing, reselling bandwidth, or business transactions between commercial organizations. Commercial advertising is forbidden. E-mail may not be used to broadcast non-commercial advertisements. Software written using the Laboratory Schools' computing facilities may fall under the University of Chicago's policy on inventions, discoveries and software, and may belong to the University. All questions regarding this policy should be directed to the Director of Special Projects in the Office of the Vice-President for Research.

F.2 What this means to you:

You may not use the network for commercial activity. If you are unsure of the definition of commercial activity, you must consult Laboratory School administrators.

If you are going to write software using Laboratory Schools' computers, file a disclosure with the University of Chicago first.

Section G: Shared Resources

G.1The computer network, computers, hard drives and all connected peripherals located at the Laboratory Schools are the property of the Laboratory Schools, including all data stored on those devices. Individuals using this computer system are subject to having all of their activities on this system monitored and recorded by the System Administrator in conjunction with school administrators.

G.2 Anyone using this system expressly consents to such monitoring and is advised that when such monitoring reveals possible evidence that is in violation of current Laboratory Schools' Computer Policy, system personnel may provide this evidence to school administrators.

G.3 Shared resources on the Laboratory School network include file servers and other computers on which users' work is stored. To protect private information, mechanisms exist to prevent unauthorized examination by others. Attempts to circumvent these mechanisms will be treated as violations of privacy and a breach of ethical standards.

G.4 Searching through directories and folders to find unprotected information is also prohibited. Information you have not been invited to use is not yours to access. Even if a user's files are unprotected, it is improper for another user to read them unless the owner has given permission. Any attempt to access another user's files by any means will result in immediate suspension of all computer privileges and further disciplinary actions.

G.5 Users are expected to safeguard their data, authorization codes, and passwords by choosing passwords difficult to guess and changing these passwords frequently. It is a violation of Laboratory Schools' computing policy to attempt to bypass password security features in any manner.

G.6 Technical support personnel at the Laboratory Schools may access other's files when necessary for the maintenance of computer systems. When performing this maintenance, every effort is made to ensure the privacy of a user's files.² However, the Laboratory Schools reserve the right to monitor any files kept in disk areas it provides users and to take action if software designed to breach security measures, including software to crack or capture passwords or break encryption protocols, is found. Action taken would include immediate suspension of all computing privileges.

G.7 Any attempt to deliberately degrade or disrupt system performance or to interfere with the work of others is a breach of Laboratory Schools� policy.

G.8 Limits may be set on certain computing resources such as disk storage space, printing access, bandwidth priority for specific applications, computer login time, etc. Users may not attempt to bypass these limitations.

G.9 The Laboratory Schools reserves the right to limit recreational computing as it sees fit. When so such limits are specified, the broader University policy applies:

"In general, University faculty, students, and staff may use University information technology�in connection with the University's core teaching, research, and service missions. Certain non-core uses that do not consume resources or interfere with other users also are acceptable."

G.10 Users may not use any other networking software on the Laboratory Schools' network.

G.11 What this means to you:

You may not read, modify, or otherwise use another user's files without specific permission.

You may not attempt to evade, disable or "crack" password or other security provisions put in place to protect other users' work.

Anyone using the computer network, computers, hard drives and all connected peripherals located at the Laboratory Schools expressly consents to having their activities monitored.

You may not attempt to bypass limits set on computing resources such as disk space, printing limits or other resource allocation parameters.

You may use only the networking software provided by the Laboratory Schools.

Section H: Computer Accounts

H.1 The Laboratory Schools provides computer accounts only to the Laboratory Schools community. These accounts may only be used by the individuals to whom the account is assigned. Users may not authorize anyone, including family members, to use their account(s) for any reason. Users are responsible for all activity on their accounts and must take all reasonable precautions, including password maintenance and file protection measures, to prevent use of their accounts by unauthorized persons.

H.2 Computer accounts provided to the University of Chicago community are not to be accessed by Laboratory School students. Students may not access accounts on the Laboratory Schools' or the University's computers that belong to other individuals, including family members.

H.3 An account is defined as access to functions requiring authentication as an individual user and not as a member of a group. For example:

Logging in to a server as "guest" or "anonymous" is usually acceptable.

Logging in with a personalized name and password is usually considered to be an account, and therefore, unacceptable.

Individuals can contact the System Administrator or any Computer Science Department member with questions regarding this definition or to clarify specific situations.

H.4 What this means to you:

You may not let anyone else (including family members) use your account. Sharing passwords with peers is a violation.

You may not use anyone else's account anywhere on the Laboratory Schools or University of Chicago network (including accounts belonging to family members).

The Computing Policy was last updated on June 11, 2003.
The Laboratory Schools reserve the right to amend this statement at any time with or without notice.

¹ Exceptions to this policy include instances in which the Microsoft Campus Agreement provides software licenses for home, work-related use. Similarly, some software licensing agreements permit teachers to install copies of software on personally-owned computers for work-related tasks. Users should consult the Information Systems web site to determine which software programs are eligible for home installation.

² User privacy is valued highly at the Schools, and significant effort is made to preserve it. However, users are advised that all data on school computers belongs to the Schools. Users cannot reasonably expect the same level of privacy as they would on a computer they own. It is inappropriate and inadvisable to store sensitive personal information on school computers.