Personal Equipment Policy

IT Home

Technology is an integral component of education. The use of personal technology devices is allowed within the American School Foundation of Monterrey according to the following guidelines. This policy is intended to allow you to enjoy the freedom to use your own equipment here at the school in a sustainable manner for the school. This covers all types of technology equipment including but not limited to:

• telephones
• printers
• laptop computers
• cameras and video cameras
• USB memory
• wireless/network devices

Approval

The IT Department will need to approve personal equipment in order to determine if it is acceptable to be used in the building. This is especially true for network devices, telephones, answering machines, wireless devices, portable computers, printers, etc. Digital cameras and mp3 players do not need prior approval.

Liability

The school will not be liable for personal equipment brought by any staff member onto the school grounds. This includes damage and/or theft. The user accepts any liability incurred due to the possession of pirated software or inappropriate content. If a device will not function in our environment, the school will not be responsible for the cost or loss of function even if the device was approved by the IT Dept.

Support

The IT Department will support personal equipment if the equipment is being used to perform an employment-related function. This support will be on a lower priority basis. (i.e. We will support your laptop if you normally use your laptop in school for school related business. We will not support it if you are only bringing it when it is broken.) We will not provide consumable items (printer cartridges, batteries, etc.).

Example Devices

Some specific policies for certain devices are described below:

Laptop Computers (only for Laptop Buy-in or Regularly used at school)

Your computer must be prepared for the network by IT Dept. staff and must have anti-virus software before connecting to the network at ASFM. ASFM will not be liable for batteries, power adapters, theft, or wear and tear. The school will provide software for Laptop Buy-in Program computers but not for personal computers unless the owner is willing to give up his/her desktop computer (due to licensing agreements). All such software will be removed by ASFM at the end of employment term according to the regular checkout procedure. If you have a school desktop computer and you plan to use your personal laptop computer on the network, please completely shutdown your desktop computer first, then disconnect the network cable, then connect your laptop. In case of equipment failure, IT will perform a diagnosis. In the case of a hardware problem, the employee is responsible to take the computer to the original or local provider for servicing. In the case of a software problem that requires reformatting the hard drive, you could lose all of the data stored there including, but not limited to, applications, documents, settings, bookmarks, Stickies, music, movies, and photos. For this reason it is absolutely necessary that you keep all software installers for your personal applications and the associated license keys. It is also necessary that you be responsible for backing up important documents on a regular basis to avoid losing your hard work due to theft or failure of equipment. You can find more details about backups in the Laptop Back-up Policy.

Cameras

Most digital cameras and digital video cameras should work in our system without needing approval. Be careful about where you place the item during the day, and do not leave it in the school overnight.

Printers

USB printers should connect directly to the user’s computer. The printer should be available in the Printer Selection menu in the Print dialog box. If it is not, it is not supported by Mac OS-X or by the configuration that the school has, and the school will not be able to install it.

Wireless or other Network Devices

Staff members are not allowed to install these without prior approval and configuration. This regards all wireless devices such as, but not limited to, PDA’s, laptops, and handheld computers.

Telephones or Answering Machines

Staff members are not allowed to install these without prior approval and configuration. Phone lines at ASFM are digital and will burn standard telephones. Cordless phones can interfere with the wireless network setup.

I have read and agree abide by the above terms and conditions.

Name:	ID:
Signature:	Date: