URBANA — On Friday, the Uni High faculty will discuss and offer input on the new mobile device policy created by the Student-Faculty Advisory Committee that aims to provide more freedom to students without affecting instructional time.

According to the proposed policy, students would be allowed to carry cell phones so long as the phones are silenced. Students would also be allowed to use their phones in the lounge in addition to continued use in stairwells.

However, the use of cell phones in the hallway would still be prohibited. Students must receive the teacher's permission to use a mobile device during class.

If the faculty approves of the new policy, it will take effect immediately.

"Teachers will be asked to approve making it a probationary until the end of the semester," Assistant Director Sue Kovacs said. "Then it will become probationary until June, after which we would make it policy."

After the first semester, SFAC will suggest improvements to the administration and faculty for future use of mobile devices.

If the new policy is successful, it will be included in the 2009-10 handbook.

The following is the text of the policy that faculty members will consider:

Mobile Device Policy

Students may have silenced mobile devices on their person. The use of communication features on cellular devices during instructional time, or in a disruptive manner in the school atmosphere, is prohibited.

Each teacher has the right to allow the use of mobile devices (e.g. cell phones, laptops, iPods, personal data assistants) during instructional time.

The use of cell phones in the hallway is prohibited, as it is considered a disruption to classes taking place. Nondisruptive cell phone use is allowed in the stairwells.

Students are permitted to use mobile devices, including cell phones, in the student lounge for the remainder of the first semester of 2008. This is a probationary period after which SFAC will make a recommendation to the administration and the faculty for future use of mobile devices.

Students may continue to use mobile devices in the stairwells of Uni.

The current policy is contained in the 2008-09 Uni High Student Handbook:

Pagers and Cell Phones (Adopted Jan. 17, 2002)

In order to maintain a quiet and orderly learning environment, students are not allowed to use or have turned on any electronic signaling and cellular radio-telecommunication devices while at University High School during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m and at University High School-sponsored activities unless authorized and approved by the administration or supervising faculty member. University High School expects students to exercise due care and common courtesy when using cell phones during extracurricular time. The only exception to this rule is as follows: Cell phones may be used during the day in the south and north stairwell and in a nondisruptive manner. Phones on during the school day in the school will be confiscated. If phones are used for academic dishonesty, they will be confiscated for the remainder of the year and the applicable rules for academic dishonesty will be in effect.

Electronic signaling devices include pocket — and all similar — electronic paging devices. Cellular radio telecommunication devices include but are not limited to personal digital assistant devices, laptop computers, walkie-talkies and devices that incorporate voice communication or can function as a cellular phone. The use of personal digital assistant devices and laptop computers for instructional purposes is generally permitted, but the administration and/or the classroom teacher may limit their use.

Students at University High School may store cellular phones (that are turned off) in their lockers. University High School is NOT responsible for a lost or stolen cell phone. During extracurricular events and activities (such as a concert, dance, or play), cell phones may be used only at the conclusion of the activity or extracurricular event under the direct supervision of the activity sponsor.