AACE Policies and Procedures

The AACE Handbook

General Policies

Student Responsibilities

Follow the learning center policies (See handbook)
Take an active part in planning, learning and achieving your goal(s)
Attend labs on a regular basis in order to meet goals in a timely manner
Communicate attendance with teachers call the office if you need to be absent
Respect the rights of other students; be considerate
Be honest; do not cheat

Student Rights

Evaluation for appropriate placement
Trained and qualified staff members eager to assist you in meeting your goals
A program of study designed to meet your educational needs
Educational materials that are at your level
Equal opportunity; no discrimination based on race, religion, nationality, sex, age, or disability
A suitable and accessible learning environment
Reasonable accommodations for learning and testing if you have documented disabilities
Confidential records shared only with your written consent

Accessibility

All activities offered by Augusta Adult and Community Education are held in accessible locations. Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request.

Cancelation Notice

Augusta Adult and Community Education reserves the right to cancel any course which fails to meet minimum enrollment requirements. Students are encouraged to register early to avoid this situation. We will give Instructors as much advance notice as possible if a class needs to be cancelled.
If a class is being held in a face to face setting, classes may be cancelled or asked to be moved online if there is a health risk for the general population.

Inclement Weather

If Augusta Schools are cancelled due to inclement weather, you will receive information via text (if you have opted in) regarding the educational plan for that day. Most classes will resume online unless that is not an option. Notice will be posted on our Facebook page, Augusta Adult Ed website, and Augusta Schools website. In addition, notification will be sent to local radio and TV stations (channels , 8, and 13). If weather becomes an issue throughout the day, please make sure to check in at one of the sites listed above.

Smoke Free Zones

ALL SCHOOLS IN AUGUSTA ARE SMOKE FREE ZONES.
This means there is NO SMOKING at Cony High School, Capital Area Technical Center or the Kennebec Learning Center.

Equal Opportunity

Augusta Adult and Community Education ensures equal employment, educational opportunities, and affirmative action, regardless of race, gender, color, national origin, religion, marital status, age, sexual orientation or disability, in accordance with all state and federal laws.

Class Participation-Attendance

Whether you are taking your classes as a hybrid or all online, students are expected to be prepared for class, be present in course discussions, complete group activities and actively engage in meaningful participation.

Students should schedule their classes based on how the classes will fit in with their other personal and professional obligations in order to maintain continuous access and active participation in their classes and complete their educational goals.

Active course participation is defined as:

Attending live class sessions either by

(a) being at the Kennebec Learning Center

(b) virtually through the Brightspace platform

Engaged participation in group activities

Participating in online discussions per the requirements listed in your class

Completing assignments within the published timelines in your class

Absence is defined as not actively engaging in course participation (defined above). However, we understand circumstances may arise that cause students to be absent from active course participation on either a preplanned or an emergency basis.

Students should also remain in contact with their Instructor and notify them of any situations which are preventing participation in a class.

Plagiarism

Honesty and integrity in a learner’s academic work is vital to their success. Plagiarism is defined by Merriam-Webster as, “to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (another's production) without crediting the source”-Merriam-Webster.com In other words, cheating. Any learner who plagiarizes will receive zero credit for their assignment and may be subject to other penalties depending on the severity of the incident.

Code of Conduct and Etiquette

CODE OF CONDUCT

Augusta Adult and Community Education provides a safe and welcoming atmosphere for our learners. Our expectation is that learners will do the same. To that end learners will:

Be respectful to their peers, instructors and the Augusta Adult Education Staff
Use language that is not offensive, profane or harassing in nature
Dress appropriately for online and in person classes/appointments: (clothing will be free of language or images that may be considered offensive and will not be revealing in nature)
Show up to class/appointments on time
Practice academic integrity (see plagiarism )
Assume responsibility for one’s own decisions and actions
Contribute to the well-being and welfare of others within the learning environment
Be considerate of the property of your peers and Augusta Adult and Community Education

ETIQUETTE

Online learning incorporates some different kinds of communication that should be a part of how a learner interacts in their online learning environment. This can be most important in online discussions, where body language, tone and other visual cues would not be present. To remain respectful in your online class learners will:

Avoid the use of strong or offensive language
Avoid using excessive exclamation or question marks
Avoid using all capital letters which can have the appearance of shouting to your peers
Stay on topic
Avoid sharing extremely personal information that does not pertain to the class discussion
Use caution with tone; sarcasm and off color humor may not be understood or offensive

COMPUTER AND INTERNET USE RULES

These rules implement Board policy IJNDB - Student Computer and Internet Use. The rules are intended to provide general guidelines and examples of prohibited uses but do not attempt to state all required or prohibited activities by users. Failure to comply with Board policy IJNDB and these rules may result in loss of computer and Internet access privileges, disciplinary action and/or legal action.

A. Computer Use is a Privilege, Not a Right

Student use of the school unit’s computers, networks and Internet Services are a privilege, not a right. Unacceptable use/activity may result in suspension or cancellation of privileges as well as additional disciplinary and/or legal action. The building principal shall have the final authority to decide whether a student’s privileges will be denied or revoked.

B. Acceptable Use

Student access to the school unit's computers, networks and Internet services are provided for educational purposes and research consistent with the school unit's educational mission, curriculum and instructional goals. The same rules and expectations govern student use of computers as apply to other student conduct and communications.

Students are further expected to comply with these rules and all specific instructions from the teacher or other supervising staff member/volunteer when accessing the school unit's computers, networks and Internet services.

D. No Expectation of Privacy

The school unit retains control, custody and supervision of all computers, networks and Internet services owned or leased by the school unit. The school unit reserves the right to monitor all computer and Internet activity by students. Students have no expectations of privacy in their use of school computers, including e-mail and stored files.

E. Compensation for Losses, Costs and/or Damages

The student and/or the student’s parent/guardian shall be responsible for compensating the school unit for any losses, costs or damages incurred by the school unit related to violations of policy IJNDB and/or these rules, including investigations of violations.

C. Prohibited Use

The user is responsible for his/her actions and activities involving school unit computers, networks and Internet services and for his/her computer files, passwords and accounts. Examples of unacceptable uses that are expressly prohibited include but are not limited to, the following:

1. Accessing Inappropriate Materials - Accessing, submitting, posting, publishing, forwarding, downloading, scanning or displaying materials that are defamatory, abusive, obscene, vulgar, sexually explicit, sexually suggestive, threatening, discriminatory, harassing and/or illegal;

2. Illegal Activities - Using the school unit's computers, networks and Internet services for any illegal activity or activity that violates other board policies, procedures and/or school rules;

3. Violating Copyrights - Copying or downloading copyrighted materials without the owner's permission;

4. Plagiarism - Representing as one's own work any materials obtained on the Internet (such as term papers, articles, etc). When Internet sources are used in student work, the author, publisher and web site must be identified;

5. Copying Software - Copying or downloading software without the express authorization of the system administrator. Unauthorized copying of software is illegal and may subject the copier to substantial civil and criminal penalties;

6. Non-School-Related Uses - Using the school unit’s computers, networks and Internet services for non-school-related purposes such as private financial gain, commercial, advertising or solicitation purposes, or for any other personal use;

7. Misuse of Passwords/Unauthorized Access- Sharing passwords, using other users’ passwords without permission and/or accessing other users’ accounts;

8. Malicious Use/Vandalism - Any malicious use, disruption or harm to the school unit’s computers, networks and Internet services, including but not limited to hacking activities and creation/uploading of computer viruses; and

9. Unauthorized Access to Chat Rooms/News Groups - Accessing chat rooms or news groups without specific authorization from the supervising teacher.

F. School Unit Assumes No Responsibility for Unauthorized

Charges, Costs or Illegal Use

The school unit assumes no responsibility for any unauthorized charges made by students including but not limited to credit card charges, long distance telephone charges, equipment and line costs, or for any illegal use of its computers such as copyright violations.

H. System Security

The security of the school unit’s computers, networks and Internet services is a high priority. Any user who identifies a security problem must notify the system administrator. The user shall not demonstrate the problem to others. Any user who attempts or causes a breach of system security shall have his/her privileges revoked and may be subject to additional disciplinary and/or legal action.

G. Student Security

A student shall not reveal his/her full name, address or telephone number on the Internet without prior permission from a supervising teacher. Students should never meet people they have contacted through the Internet without parental permission. Students should inform their supervising teacher if they access information or messages that are dangerous, inappropriate or make them uncomfortable in any way.

AUGUSTA SCHOOL DEPARTMENT POLICIES FOR

COMPUTER/INTERNET USE

The Augusta School Department provides computers, networks

and Internet access to support the educational mission of the

schools and to enhance the curriculum and learning opportunities for students and school staff.

The Board believes that the resources available through the Internet are of significant value in the learning process and preparing students for future success.

At the same time, the unregulated availability of information and communication on the Internet requires that schools establish reasonable controls for lawful, efficient and appropriate use of this technology.

Student use of school computers, networks and Internet services is a privilege not a right. Students are required to comply with this policy and the accompanying rules (IJNDB-R). Students who violate the policy and/or rules may have their computer privileges revoked and may also be subject to further disciplinary and/or legal action.

All Augusta School Department computers remain under the control, custody and supervision of the school unit. The school unit reserves the right to monitor all computer and Internet activity by students. Students have no expectations of privacy in their use of school computers.

The Augusta School Department utilizes filtering technology

designed to block materials that are obscene or harmful to minors, and child pornography.

While reasonable precautions will be taken to supervise student use of the Internet, the Augusta School Department cannot reasonably prevent all inappropriate uses, including access to objectionable materials and communication with persons outside of the school, in violation of Board policies/procedures and school rules.

The school unit is not responsible for the accuracy or

quality of information that students obtain through the Internet.

Students and parents shall be informed of this policy and the accompanying rules through handbooks, the school web site and/or other means selected by the Superintendent/designee.

The Superintendent shall be responsible for implementing this

policy and the accompanying rules, and for advising the Board of the need for any future amendments or revisions to the policy.

The Superintendent may develop additional administrative procedures/rules governing the day-to-day management and operations of the school unit’s computer system as long as they are consistent with the Board’s policy/rules.

The Superintendent may delegate specific responsibilities to building principals and others as he/she deems appropriate. Before a student is allowed to use school computers and Internet services, the student and the student’s parent/guardian must sign and return the Computer/Internet Access Acknowledgement (IJNDB-E). The signed acknowledgement will be retained by the school.

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