Code of Conduct

Student Code of Conduct

All MedCerts students are expected to adhere to the standards and policies established by MedCerts. Failure to adhere to the Student Code of Conduct will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal or expulsion from MedCerts.

Students are expected to:

• Uphold and follow all codes of conduct, including this code and all rules applicable to class environments, MedCerts-sponsored activities, including off-campus activities.
• Obey all applicable MedCerts policies and procedures and all local, state, and federal laws.
• Respect the learning environment which includes, but is not limited to, participating and completing class assignments.
• Uphold and maintain academic and professional honesty and integrity.
• Be responsible for their behavior and respect the rights and dignity of others both within and outside the MedCerts community.
• Not share login credentials, curriculum, or any other course/program materials
• Not copy or reproduce course materials. All MedCerts online course content is copyrighted under the United States Copyright law.
• Maintain respectful written and verbal communication with MedCerts team members, instructors, and other students. Abuse of any form is not permitted.
• Not interfere with the educational opportunity of other prospective, current or alumni students.
• Refrain from soliciting, aiding, or inciting others to commit a violation of the student code of conduct.
• Not threaten to or carry out acts of mental or bodily harm to others.
• Not misuse or abuse any MedCerts equipment that is used or accessed throughout your training program. This includes, but is not limited to, hardware, software, and internet-based resources.
• Not knowingly falsify or provide misleading information.
• Not engage in acts of stalking, or any type of harassment, including but not limited to verbal, physical, or sexual, or race or gender discrimination, including gender identity.

Additional externship/clinical site expectations (if applicable):

• Adhere to the externship site’s work schedule, policies, and procedures. Violation of an externship site’s schedule, policies, or procedures, may be considered a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. 

Academic Misconduct, Academic Integrity, and Professional Behavior

1. Academic misconduct is defined as any activity that undermines the academic integrity of the institution.
2. Academic integrity is defined as the demonstration of honest and moral conduct in an academic environment.
3. Professional behavior is defined as consistent conduct and behavior that conveys respect for the dignity of MedCerts team members and students.

Academic integrity is expected of all students. Some programs may have additional student responsibilities associated with them based on additional standards and/or professional standards, as well as compliance with federal and state laws. MedCerts views any act of academic dishonesty or unprofessional behavior as a serious offense that may require disciplinary measures, up to and including dismissal or expulsion from MedCerts. Violations of academic integrity and professional behavior include, but are not limited to, the following acts:

1. Cheating: Unauthorized use of notes or study aids, or acquiring information from another student’s materials, on an examination; obtaining a copy of an examination or question from an exam prior to taking the exam; altering work with the intent to deceive another person to do one’s work and then submitting as one’s own work; allowing another person to take an examination in one’s name; submitting duplicate work for multiple assignments without proper citation is considered plagiarism.
2. Aiding cheating or other acts of dishonesty: Providing material or information to another student with the knowledge that this material or information will be used to deceive MedCerts staff.
3. Plagiarism: Presenting within one’s own work the ideas, representations, or words of another person without customary and proper acknowledgment of that person’s authorship in considered plagiarism. Students who are unsure of what constitutes plagiarism should consult with MedCerts. Claims of ignorance will not necessarily excuse the offense.
4. Data misrepresentations: Fabricating data; deliberately presenting in an assignment data that were not gathered in accordance with the assigned guidelines or are deliberately fabricated; or providing an inaccurate account of the method by which the data were gathered and generated.
5. Falsification of Academic Records or documents: Falsification of academic records or documents includes, but is not limited to, altering any documents affecting academic records; forging signatures or falsifying information of an official academic document such as a progress report, or any other official MedCerts letter or communication, will constitute academic dishonesty.
6. Unauthorized access to computerized academic or administrative records or systems. Unauthorized access to computerized academic or administrative records or systems means viewing or altering MedCerts’ records without authorization; copying or modifying MedCerts’ computer programs or systems without authorization; releasing or dispensing information gained through unauthorized access, or interfering with the use or availability of computer systems or information. Also, when MedCerts-sponsored activities are held at locations owned or managed by other institutions or organizations, the unauthorized use, viewing, copying, or altering of those institutions’ computer records, systems, or programs would similarly constitute a violation of academic integrity.
7. Unprofessional or inappropriate behavior within an externship experience: Conduct that in considered to be lewd, indecent, obscene, inappropriate, and/or non-compliant with professional standards; or a violation of clinical or other affiliated site expectations or guidelines; or a violation of federal or state laws.
8. All other MedCerts policies not listed related to academics: Violation of any other MedCerts polices.

Personal misconduct involving computers/technology

1. Unauthorized use of computers and technology. Theft of abuse of computer(s) and resources including, but not limited to:
   1. Unauthorized entry into a file, to use, read, or change the contents, or for any other purpose
   2. Unauthorized transfer of a file, including peer-to-peer file sharing
   3. Use of another individual’s identification and/or password
   4. Use of computer, network, or resources to interfere with the work of another student or MedCerts employee
   5. Use of computer, network, or resources to interfere with the work of normal operation of MedCerts’ computing system

MedCerts SCOC Last Revised 7/11/2024