Overview
The UM Office of Pre-College Programs is committed to student excellence in all forms of learning. It is our hope to create and maintain a strong, educational environment where you feel safe and confident to participate and contribute to your fullest extent.
As a student admitted to the University of Mississippi, you are expected to follow the creed of the University. Access to the technology utilized by the University of Mississippi imposes certain responsibilities and obligations.
Appropriate use incorporates ethical and honest behavior and demonstrates respect for physical and intellectual property, system security protocols, and individuals’ rights to privacy and freedom from intimidation, harassment, and unwarranted annoyance.
Academic Honesty and Intellectual Property
Use Internet resources for authorized purposes only. Respect the work and creativity of the authors of materials seen on the Internet. Therefore, you must not copy files from the Internet for any use other than personal use, unless the professor or instructor explicitly states that the page may be copied indiscriminately.
Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to,
- Plagiarism,
- Fabrication of information or citations,
- Submitting work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor and securing written approval,
- Facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others,
- Unauthorized prior possession of examinations, or
- Tampering with the computer files and/or academic work of other students.
These actions are regarded as serious offenses and merit academic discipline. A student charged with academic dishonesty will be given oral or written notice of the charge by the instructor, and appropriate action will be determined by the administration.
Use only legal versions of copyrighted software in full compliance with licensing agreements. Respect the work and creativity of software developers by not downloading or duplicating licensed software. Students may download public domain programs and must pay for shareware programs at their own expense. Students assume the risk and must determine if the programs they seek to download are public domain, shareware, or licensed.
Civil and Respectful Community
Exercise responsible, ethical behavior. The Internet is a global network of information. In addition to useful scholarly information, you may find information that is inaccurate or plagiarized. Gatekeepers or systems of censorship are not in place on the Internet. Students are not permitted to intentionally access profane or offensive information.
Respect individual’s freedom from harassment. You are to protect the privacy of your classmates in the program. You must not publish any names, passwords, e-mail addresses or other information pertaining to other students. You must not use your college e-mail account or any other means to harass people who use the Internet, including teachers and other students. You must not seek to use the internet to gain access to private information about other individuals you meet through the program without their permission.
Respect all people even though they do not share your same viewpoints. Differences are good, they help us re-evaluate our own convictions and understand other perspectives. If you disagree with someone else’s point of view, listen or read carefully before responding, ask more questions to make sure that you understand what another has communicated, and disagree respectfully. The values of the UM Creed should guide your actions.
Use good etiquette when writing to your professors. Always use a salutation, be polite, and do not use all capital letters. Be brief but provide as much information as possible so your professor has sufficient context for your question. Checking email and replying promptly is your responsibility as a student.
Use good etiquette when attending group conferences such as Zoom, Google Hangouts, or any other virtual platform. It is important to make sure your microphone is muted during lectures or large meetings. Make space for everyone to participate. Do not use the chat feature to distract other students.
Report any academic dishonesty or misbehavior you know about. You will be helping protect the online UM community.
System Security Protocols and Personal Online Safety
Your failure to adhere to system safety protocols while on line threatens your safety and the safety of other students. The following actions violate security protocols and are prohibited:
- Using a login or password other than your own without permission
- Sharing conference codes with people who are not enrolled in the class
- Sharing personal information of your classmates such as phone numbers, physical or email addresses, social media contact with other people without the person in question’s authorization.
- Sharing or uploading offensive images and/or disrespectful language
- Using file data other than your own without permission
- Attempting to break into system operations of the network or servers
- Attempting to decode or circumvent security protocols
- Engaging in activity that exposes the system and residing information to any level of harm or danger
- Making illegal copies of software
- Engaging in any activity that does not comply with the University of Mississippi’s nondiscriminatory policy
Attendance
Students are expected to make responsible use of the opportunities afforded them by the program. Failure to meet attendance and participation requirements in a course may result in your dismissal from the program and loss of any scholarship associated with program participation.
Students who violate any part of this agreement or engage in any other activity that school authorities consider inappropriate will be subject to disciplinary action consistent with academic honesty policies and procedures. Discipline could include, but would not be limited to, immediate suspension or termination of Internet access for the course(s), and dismissal from the program.
Students dismissed from the program may have their scholarships rescinded and may be charged for full tuition payment, if applicable.