Part of a quality online program during this time is supporting students in developing the skills and habits necessary in order to be successful in the global digital society they will enter as adults.

ONLINE CODE OF CONDUCT

Introduction   

Access to Bay Area Writing Project (BAWP) Youth Program data and information, and access to accounts, systems, and applications, is based on your need for access and your consent to use that access appropriately. These services are integral to the operation of our remote summer offerings, and security and privacy laws and other UC Regents policies protect much of the information. 

Therefore, before you can be granted access, you must read and agree to follow these acceptable usage standards, and must accept responsibility to preserve the security and confidentiality of information that you access, in any form, including oral, print, or electronic formats. Read the information below carefully. It sets out user responsibilities.  

Passwords  

Students and parents will all be issued usernames and passwords to be used in accessing their courses and program‐provided online accounts. Students and parents are required to keep any and all of their login information private.  

Passwords should never be shared with other BAWP Youth Program students or with any individuals outside of BAWP.  

This information is used to identify a student or parent online and to help in the tracking of student progress. Students or parents who suspect that their login information has been accidentally compromised should contact BAWP immediately (bawp@berkeley.edu) to request a change of password.  

E‐Mail Accounts  

BAWP Youth Program e‐mail accounts are to be used for program‐related communication only. All BAWP Youth Program‐related communication will be communicated via e‐mail. Students and parents are required to check their e‐mail account on a regular basis for important communications from BAWP or from BAWP Youth Program teachers. Students or parents should report any problems receiving communication with their e‐mail account to the BAWP office or the BAWP Youth Program teacher.

Internet Safety  

BAWP Youth Programs provide a secure, password‐protected online learning environment for students. All course materials are located within this system. At times, teachers will provide students links to appropriate internet sites for students to do additional research or exploration. At no time will any BAWP Youth Program teacher or staff member direct students to an internet site with sexually explicit or other inappropriate internet content. Students should only access internet sites that are approved by BAWP Youth Programs. Parents need to be vigilant in monitoring their child’s internet use. 

BAWP Youth Programs recommend that parents that are providing a home computer for their student to use set parental controls on any account for their home computer to provide internet protection for times when parents may not be working directly with their student. 

Some practices that can help keep students safe when working online include: 

1. keeping student work areas in a public area of the home where their internet use can be more easily monitored, 
2. talking with your child about the importance of keeping their personal information private, 
3. to only visit internet sites approved by BAWP Youth Programs, 
4. make use of internet filtering and other programs that track student access to the internet so that parents can periodically review their child’s web surfing habits. 

Students or parents who have concerns about internet sites that are required for BAWP Youth Programs should contact the BAWP office or the BAWP Youth Program teacher to report the issue for prompt response.  

Submission or Posting of Inappropriate Content  

Students are not allowed to submit, post, write about, or otherwise promote any inappropriate content in any of their BAWP Youth Program courses. This includes drug‐related content, sexually explicit content, or anything that violates laws or the generally accepted standards of appropriateness for minors. 

Use of Language and Images  

Students must not use vulgar, obscene, abusive or demeaning language, writing, pictures, signs or acts in written or oral communications, including email, discussion board, virtual classroom, student websites, or in photographs. Students are prohibited from posting content from or links to suggestive, lewd or otherwise inappropriate websites.  

Personal Respect  

BAWP Youth Program administrators, instructors and students know that personal respect is the foundation of learning. Language, comments, or images that show a lack of respect for individuals or groups will lead directly to removal from the virtual classroom. Bullying in any shape or form will not be tolerated in BAWP Youth Programs. Repeat offenses with behaviors that show a lack of respect may result in a student being removed from the virtual classroom for the rest of the course or session.  

Virtual Classroom Conduct  

In order for a virtual classroom session to be educationally effective for students, all students should abide by a standard set of rules. 

The following rules govern student conduct in the virtual classroom:  

1. Students’ written and oral communications must be free of vulgar, belittling, or offensive language.  
2. Students must abide by rules established by the BAWP Youth Programs course instructor.  
3. Students must comply with usage instructions communicated orally or in writing by the BAWP Youth Programs instructor.  
4. Students who violate the virtual classroom rules of conduct will be warned by the BAWP Youth Programs instructor to correct their behavior. 
   1. If the student does not comply with the instructor’s instructions, he/she will be removed from the virtual classroom for the rest of the session.  

Defiance  

Students should follow the requests of BAWP Youth Program teachers and staff; failure to do so is defiance toward BAWP Youth Program personnel or rules. Defiance is defined as defying instructions of BAWP Youth Program personnel, the bold resistance of BAWP Youth Program authority, and/or contemptuous behavior or attitude that is manifested by breaking of BAWP Youth Program rules. Acts of defiance may result in removal from the virtual classroom.  

Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying  

No one should be subjected to harassment during BAWP Youth Programs for any reason. Therefore, it is BAWP Youth Program policy that all students will deal with all persons in ways which convey respect and dignity. Harassment in the form of name‐calling, taunting, gestures, intimidation, conduct, jokes, pictures, slurs or ridicules are prohibited. Such conduct referencing or directed at an individual or group that demeans that person/group on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, creed, age, disability or other extraneous factors is prohibited and shall be grounds for removal from the virtual classroom.  

BAWP Youth Programs have a zero tolerance policy towards intimidation, harassment, bullying and/or fighting. Intimidation, harassment, bullying, fighting and racial and/or sexual harassment are violent acts against others. These behaviors cannot be tolerated, and the consequence is to be barred from interactions with others. BAWP Youth Programs will promptly and thoroughly investigate reports of harassment and bullying, whether of a physical or of a nonphysical form. If it is determined that either has occurred, the organization will act appropriately within the discipline codes of the organization and will take reasonable action to end bullying.  

Usage Responsibilities

The following points detail your responsibilities as you access, use, or handle information or information technology during BAWP Youth Programs.  

Secure Usage  

Be mindful that different computer systems and applications provide different levels of protection for information, and seek advice on supplemental security measures, if necessary. For example, a mobile laptop provides inherently less protection than a desktop computer in a locked room.  

Respect information and system security procedures (i.e., never attempt to circumvent or “go around” security processes). Make appropriate use of the tools provided (e.g., virus detection, training, etc.) to uphold the security of BAWP Youth Programs systems and applications, and the confidentiality of information stored on them. For your own safety, take steps to understand “phishing attacks,” computer viruses, and other destructive software, and take steps to protect your accounts from such threats (e.g., never reply to emails asking for account passwords or passphrases, never open unsolicited email attachments, never click unknown links, use virus scanning software, etc.). Secure unattended computers (e.g., log off, lock, or otherwise make inaccessible), even if you will only be away from the computer for a moment.  

Legal Usage  

1. Respect and comply with all BAWP Youth Program copyrights and license agreements.
   1. University and Bay Area Writing Project Teacher Consultants own all right(s), title, and interest in and to materials and information, including but not limited to course materials, images, text, data, illustrations, photos, audio, video, codes, logos, marketing plans, digital text, research, technical information, know-how, trade secrets, processes, algorithms, code, software, the derivatives thereof, and the selection, coordination and arrangement of such materials that is or was conceived, created, or developed prior to, or independent of the BAWP Youth Programs whether they are protected by copyrights, trademarks, service marks, patents, or other proprietary rights, either owned by University or licensed to the University by other parties who own such intellectual property. 
   2. As to any child/children who are enrolled in a course operated by the BAWP, I agree that BAWP (including its staff, employees and agents) can take and use photos, video and audio recordings of the child/children named in this registration for the limited purposes of marketing the Camp which may be publicly available on the internet, without compensational obligation, and I hereby release BAWP (including its staff, employees and agents) from any Claims resulting from their use of photos, videos and audio recordings.
   3. BAWP Youth Programs agree that writer participants will own all rights, titles and interests (including copyright rights) resulting/emerging from lessons and assignments.
2. Never use your access to information to harass, libel, or defame others.  
3. Never damage equipment, software, or data belonging to others. 
4. Never make unauthorized use of computer accounts, access codes, or devices. 
5. Never monitor or disrupt the communications of others, except in the legitimate scope of your assigned BAWP Youth Program duties or tasks. 
6. Report unauthorized access to, inadequate protection of, and inappropriate use, disclosure, and/or disposal of information, immediately to the BAWP office.  

Ethical Usage  

Access institutional information only in the conduct of BAWP Youth Program business and in ways consistent with furthering the Bay Area Writing Project’s mission of education and public service.  

1. Use information in ways that foster the high ethical standards of the organization.  
2. Never use information to engage in academic, personal, or research misconduct.  
3. Never access or use institutional information (including public directory information) for your own personal gain or profit, or the personal gain or profit of others, without appropriate authorization.  
4. Respect the confidentiality and privacy of individuals whose records you may access.  
5. In the event of a server breach or system hacking all individuals using BAWP Youth Programs systems must continue to adhere to the code of conduct and report inappropriate content to the course teacher, the BAWP organization or a parent or guardian immediately. 

Facilitative Usage  

Never send mass email (i.e. unsolicited bulk email or spam) without appropriate approval.  Never send or respond to chain email. 

 Disciplinary Action  

Failure to comply with these standards will be dealt with seriously, and may result in disciplinary actions, including but not limited to withdrawal from BAWP Youth Programs.  

Assent  

To be entrusted with access to BAWP Youth Program data and information, and access to IT accounts, systems, and applications, new or continuing students and affiliates must accept these responsibilities and standards of acceptable use. By accepting these terms, you agree to follow these rules in all of your interactions. 

REQUIRED: Student Code of Conduct Agreement Form (fillable pdf)

OPTIONAL: Family Pledge (fillable pdf)