Code of Conduct

Principles

This Code of Conduct has been formulated to provide a clear statement of the SydneyLearning’s expectations of students in respect of academic matters and personal behaviour.

SydneyLearning recognises and values the diversity of student experiences and expectations, and is committed to treating students, both academically and personally, in a fair and transparent manner. All students, in return, are required to comply with the requirements set down in this Code of Conduct.

SydneyLearning reaffirms its commitment to:

• high academic standards, intellectual rigour and a high quality education
• intellectual freedom and social responsibility
• recognition of the importance of ideas and the pursuit of critical and open inquiry
• tolerance, honesty and respect as the hallmarks of relationships throughout the community, and
• high standards of ethical behaviour.

Coverage

This Code of Conduct applies to all students of SydneyLearning, in respect of all actions and activities (including inaction or inactivity) relating to or impacting on SydneyLearning or its students and employees. It must be read in conjunction with the statutes, rules, and resolutions of SydneyLearning.

Definitions

In this Code of Conduct:

Student means all students of the SydneyLearning, including but not limited to those studying an accredited course, those in general professional development programs, attending public lectures or those part of customised corporate training.

Employee means all staff of SydneyLearning, including full-time, part-time or casual academic and general staff.

Personal conduct

All students must:

• treat all employees, honorary appointees, consultants, contractors, volunteers, any other members of the public and other students with respect, dignity, impartiality, courtesy and sensitivity
• maintain a cooperative and collaborative approach to inter-personal relationships
• act honestly and ethically in their dealings with SydneyLearning employees, consultants, contractors, volunteers, any other members of the public and other students
• respect the privacy of employees, consultants, contractors, volunteers, any other members of the public and other students
• ensure that they do not act in a manner that unnecessarily or unreasonably impedes the ability of employees, consultants, contractors, volunteers, any other members of the public and other students to carry out their study, research or work at SydneyLearning.
• ensure that they do not act in a manner that unnecessarily or unreasonably impedes the ability of employees, any other members of the public or other students to access or use the resources of SydneyLearning
• ensure that they do not become involved in or encourage discrimination against or harassment or bullying of employees, any other members of the public or other students.

Academic conduct

All students must:

• ensure that their enrolment and progress in their course is lawful and consistent with the statutes, rule and resolutions of SydneyLearning. It is a student’s responsibility to maintain current information in the student information system, and observe key dates and deadlines
• read all official correspondence from SydneyLearning, including email
• act ethically and honestly in the preparation, conduct, submission and publication of academic work, and during all forms of assessment, including formal examinations and informal tests
• avoid any activity or behaviour that would unfairly advantage or disadvantage another student academically
• use resources, including information and communication technology
• use resources, in a lawful and ethical manner and for SydneyLearning purposes only, unless express permission has been granted for private usage.

Assessments

All assessments completed as part of an award course at SydneyLearning must comply with SydneyLearning’s assessment guidelines as stated below:

• All assessments must be completed by the individual and be the product of their own research and/or practical work.
• Each student must submit their own individual work for assessment which must not be the product of any other student (past or present), or have previously been submitted for assessment to SydneyLearning or any other academic institution.
• Assessments must not be undertaken in groups unless explicitly indicated in the assessment requirements, or explicit written permission has been given by the academic staff issuing the assessment.
• All assessments must comply with the guidelines of Academic Honesty as stipulated below.

Academic Honesty

SydneyLearning is committed to academic excellence and high standards of ethical behaviour. As such, SydneyLearning requires all students and staff to act honestly, ethically and with integrity in their dealings with its employees, fellow students, members of the public and others.

Academic honesty is a core value of SydneyLearning and it is opposed to and will not tolerate Academic Dishonesty or Plagiarism.

It is the responsibility of all staff and students to:

• ensure that they do not commit or collude with another person to commit Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism;
• in the case of students and academic staff, report possible instances of Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism; and

All students are required to submit a signed statement of compliance with all work submitted for assessment, presentation or publication. A statement of compliance must be in the form of:

• an assessment cover sheet;
• an electronic form; or
• a written statement;

Where an instance of Plagiarism is identified SydneyLearning will take necessary action, which may result in:

• requiring the student to resubmit the work for assessment;
• requiring the student to undertake another form of assessment;
• requiring the student to undertake other remedial action;
• applying a fail grade to the work or part thereof; or
• applying a fail grade to the unit of study