Student’s Code of Conduct
Students are expected to maintain themselves at all times in a manner befitting a professional institution. VIST encourages professionalism in all its constituents. Each student is expected to be an example of proper conduct. This includes the student’s attitude and actions during all phases of student’s academic life. The administration of VIST has the authority to take appropriate action or administrative disciplinary measures for the violation of this Code of Conduct.
All members of VIST have a responsibility to protect academic excellence and ensure that scholarly probity and standards of conduct are maintained. Furthermore, faculty and staff have the responsibility of coordinating and supervising students’ academic work in order to encourage honest and individual effort and taking appropriate action if instances of academic dishonesty are reported or discovered.
Upholding academic honesty is primarily the responsibility of each learner and VIST views any violation of academic probity (cheating, plagiarism, falsification, etc.) as a voluntary act for which there is no acceptable excuse.
- Academic Misconduct
Violations to the Code of Conduct can ultimately lead to the improper evaluation of assessment tasks leading to unjust attribution of grades or course status. Therefore, it is integral to monitor and evaluate any allegation of academic misconduct. Forms of violation can include, but are not limited to the following:
1. Unauthorized use of material or improper collaboration
<style=”text-align: justify; padding-left: 60px;”>2. Intended or unintended plagiarism
<style=”text-align: justify; padding-left: 60px;”>3. Submissions of the same work for multiple courses
<style=”text-align: justify; padding-left: 60px;”>4. Falsifying, purchasing or altering the work of others or representing others’ materials as one’s own work
<style=”text-align: justify; padding-left: 60px;”>5. Unauthorized access to or the theft of the work of others
- Non-Academic Misconduct
VIST students should remember that the following types of behaviours are prohibited and that being found guilty of engaging in them can serve as grounds for certain sanctions, including expulsion or the involvement of the local police department:
1. Illegal activities: Violation of any federal, state, and local laws.
<style=”text-align: justify; padding-left: 60px;”>2. Copyright infringement: Most printed materials, photographs, motion pictures, sound recordings, and computer software are protected by copyright. Copyrighted works may not be reproduced, distributed, performed, or adapted by students without the copyright owner’s permission.
<style=”text-align: justify; padding-left: 60px;”>3. Computer / Internet misuse: Some software products are protected by copyright laws. Students may not copy the institution’s software without permission of the copyright holder
<style=”text-align: justify; padding-left: 60px;”>4.Drug use: The manufacture, sale, dispensation, possession, or use of any controlled substances or illegal drug paraphernalia on institute premises or at institute sponsored events is considered an illegal activity and is prohibited on all institute property.
<style=”text-align: justify; padding-left: 60px;”>5. Alcohol consumption: The use, possession, or sale of any alcoholic beverage, regardless of its potency or lack thereof, is prohibited on all institute property.
<style=”text-align: justify; padding-left: 60px;”>6. Firearms possession: The use, possession, or sale of firearms or other weapons or any dangerous explosives or explosive elements or component parts on institute property is strictly prohibited.
<style=”text-align: justify; padding-left: 60px;”>7. Physical and psychological abuse: Any form of physical and/or psychological abuse, threat, or harassment of another person or fighting on institute property will result in sanctions. If the abuse is judged severe enough, the local police department may be consulted.
<style=”text-align: justify; padding-left: 60px;”>8. Property damage: Littering, defacing, destroying, stealing, or damaging institute property (or attempting to do so), initiation thereof, or causing such damage to be initiated is prohibited. Any false report, warning or threat of fire, explosion, or other emergency under the Institute’s jurisdiction is also prohibited.
<style=”text-align: justify; padding-left: 60px;”>9. Gambling: Gambling or holding a raffle or lottery at the institute without proper approval is forbidden.
<style=”text-align: justify; padding-left: 60px;”>10. Obscene language or conduct: Use of profanity and disorderly or obscene conduct is strictly prohibited.
The institute does not excuse any violation of its policies on the basis that the student was not aware of these policies and their subsequent penalties and sanctions.
Students are required to be in compliance with VIST’s current Policies, Regulations and Procedures. Any violation of Policies and Regulations established by VIST shall be addressed accordingly, which may result in disciplinary action, suspension or dismissal following appropriate hearing and appeal procedures. Any suspended or dismissed student shall be given the right to appeal the administrative decision.