Student Code of Conduct

The Student Code of Conduct represents the standard of behavior required from all students. By choosing to participate in these courses, it is expected that students abide by the conduct standards. If it is determined that a student has violated the Code of Conduct or engaged in conduct inconsistent with these standards, the issue(s) in question will be addressed, and subsequent action will be taken.

Acceptable Conduct

1. Respectful Communication
   Always engage respectfully with instructors and peers. Use polite, professional language in discussions, emails, and all forms of communication. Discriminatory or offensive language is not tolerated.
2. Academic Integrity
   Uphold honesty in all academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or sharing answers during assessments is strictly prohibited. Always submit your own work and properly cite sources.
3. Active Participation
   Participate actively. Complete assignments on time, contribute to discussions, and stay engaged in group work.
4. Appropriate Use of Technology
   Use the online platform and course materials responsibly. Do not share login information, misuse resources, or access unauthorized materials. Maintain the privacy of classroom discussions and content.
5. Constructive Feedback
   Provide constructive, respectful feedback when engaging in peer reviews or discussions. Be open to receiving feedback in the same manner.
6. Professional Behavior
   Maintain professionalism in your online presence, including your profile and interaction with others. Avoid disruptive behavior, such as using inappropriate images or disrespectful comments.
7. Time Management
   Be responsible for managing your time effectively to meet deadlines and actively participate in class activities.

Adhering to this code fosters a positive, productive online learning environment for everyone.

Prohibited Conduct

• Use of inappropriate language
• Disruptive behavior
• Academic misconduct
• Inappropriate use of technology
• Harassment or attempted harassment
• Threats or attempted threats
• Stalking or attempting stalking
• Endangerment of others or self, or attempted endangerment of others or self
• Any other conduct deemed inappropriate, threatening, harassing, or in any way inconsistent with the Student Code of Conduct

NOTE: The organization retains sole discretion to make determinations related to student conduct, and nothing contained herein shall be interpreted to limit the organization’s discretion or to create due process rights for students. Decisions that result in disciplinary action or dismissal from courses are not appealable.

Academic Integrity Policy - Plagiarism 

TEL students are expected to produce original work and refrain from acts of plagiarism. 

Examples of plagiarism include but are not limited to the following: 

• Copying someone else’s work word-for-word
• Copying your own previously published or submitted work and presenting it as new (self-plagiarism)
• Adopting someone else’s ideas and presenting them as your own without proper attribution
• Using someone else’s original work without acknowledging or citing the source
• Utilizing Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) tools, such as ChatGPT, to complete assignments in an unauthorized manner

TEL instructors and instructional staff will use plagiarism detection software, professional expertise, and other means to check writing assignments for plagiarism.

Academic Integrity Policy - Appropriate Use of Technology 

TEL students are expected to use technology appropriately. Examples of the misuse of technology include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Bypassing or attempting to bypass proctoring services
• Using or attempting to use unauthorized technology devices for examinations 
• Providing or attempting to provide system credentials to an unauthorized person 
• Utilizing technology to share unauthorized information with other students, such as test questions and/or answers
• Utilizing assistive technology, such as A.I. tools, to complete assignments that will be submitted as the student's original work

TEL instructors and instructional staff will use A.I. detection software, professional expertise, and other means to check writing assignments for unauthorized use of A.I.  

What is the policy on using AI technology in my TEL Education courses?

What is AI Content Creation? 

AI, or Artificial Intelligence, uses Machine Learning skills to generate written content. Machine Learning has already been implemented in many tools students have access to on a daily basis. Predictive-text writing in emails, text messages, and Word documents use artificial intelligence to help complete a sentence, suggest a word, or finish a thought. 

Similarly, AI-generated content uses a prompt or input and predictive technology to pull resources and information from across the internet in order to generate a desired style of writing for essays, emails, lists, captions, analyses, lab reports, blog posts, etc.

TEL Education Acceptable AI Use Chart

AI Technology Use Violation: 

TEL Education students are held to the highest standard of academic honesty and integrity. They are, therefore, expected to turn in authentic and original works for all courses and all coursework necessary for completing the course. Student work samples are designed to demonstrate what a student knows, understands, and is able to explain in great detail using the information gleaned from the course material.

Students who choose to turn in written work created, written, assisted, or generated by artificial intelligence are choosing to turn in work written by someone other than themselves and are, therefore, in violation of the Academic Integrity Policy at TEL Education. Turning in assignments solely, or partially generated by AI technology is considered a plagiarism violation at TEL Education. TEL Education defines plagiarism as “using all or part of written or spoken works created by someone other than the student without citing resources, giving credit to other content creators for their words or ideas or attempting to claim ideas, thoughts, and/or words as their own.” The use of AI-created content is a plagiarism violation because the student is knowingly and willingly turning in an assignment created by someone other than themselves. 

The use of AI/GPT tools is not a substitute for critical thinking, analysis, and/or originality, which is expected in any assignment turned in for grading in a TEL Education course. 

As a result of this violation, students may receive the following: 

• A grade reduction for the assignment or examination 
• Earning a zero on the assignment or assessment 
• Dismissal from the course 
• Expelled from the TEL Education Course 
• Expulsion from the TEL Education Course 
• Any other disciplinary action deemed appropriate by TEL Education. 

Due to the nature of the TEL Education courses, all use of generative AI technology/chatbots while composing a written mastery assignment in a TEL Education course is strictly prohibited. Any violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion. Only content originally generated, composed, and written by the individual completing the TEL Education course will be submitted for grading. All other AI/GPT use is in violation of this acceptable use policy and will, therefore, be subject to the violation results listed above.

Academic Integrity Policy - Cheating 

TEL students are expected to refrain from acts of cheating. Examples of cheating include but are not limited to the following: 

• Accessing or attempting to access unauthorized course material 
• Providing or attempting to provide unauthorized course material(s) to another person 
• Using or attempting to use study aids during an academic exercise or examination unless explicitly authorized by the instructor 
• Copying or attempting to copy another person’s work 
• Allowing another person to copy or attempt to copy your work 
• Allowing someone else to complete your work 
• Completing or attempting to complete someone else’s work 

TEL Education students are expected to practice academic integrity. If it is determined that a student has failed to comply with the Academic Integrity Policy, the issue(s) in question will be addressed by TEL and subsequent action will be taken.