Student Code of Conduct

Valar Institute requires all students to adhere to this Code of Conduct, which applies to conduct that occurs while you are a member of the Valar community, using the in-platform Network, and while you attend or participate in Valar-based activities (such as on-site Conferences, Summit events, and Student and Alumni Meet-Ups, whether virtually or in-person).  The Code of Conduct also applies to conduct outside of Valar-based activities that adversely affects Valar, the Quantic and Valar community, the Network, and/or the pursuit of Valar's objectives.  Each student is responsible for their conduct from the time of application for admission through the actual awarding of a degree, and while participating in Valar-based activities as an alumni. Conduct may occur before classes begin, throughout the program, after program completion, during break periods between course requirements (even if their conduct is not discovered until after a degree is awarded). The Code of Conduct applies to a student’s conduct even if the student withdraws from school while a disciplinary matter is pending. The Senior Director of Student Affairs shall decide whether the Student Code shall be applied to non-Valar-based activities, on a case-by-case basis, in their sole discretion.

Prohibited Conduct

Any student or alumni found to have committed or to have attempted to commit the following misconduct is subject to disciplinary sanctions:

  • Cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty
    • It is expected that all students complete SmartCases and Exams individually. For purposes of this policy, the term “cheating” includes, but is not limited to: (1) use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; (2) use of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; (3) the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of Quantic staff (4) engaging in any behavior specifically prohibited by an instructor in the course syllabus or class discussion; (5) soliciting written projects or case study solutions from other students or third-party sources. 
    • The term “plagiarism” includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials. Additionally, we consider submissions of work previously submitted by the student for a different purpose or project to be plagiarism ("self-plagiarism").
    • Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, distributing completed coursework to other students in the program without prior explicit approval from Quantic staff, or otherwise making Quantic or Valar coursework available publicly online.
  • Furnishing false information to any Valar official, staff member, or office, or engaging in deceptive, false, misleading, coercive, or fraudulent behavior.
  • Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any Quantic or Valar document, record, or instrument of identification.
  • Violating applicable laws or regulation.
  • Disrupting or obstructing teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, or other Quantic activities.
  • Using rude or disrespectful language towards Quantic or Valar students, faculty, and staff, or otherwise contributing to a hostile learning environment.
  • Engaging in threatening, harassing, violent, menacing, disorderly, stalking, vulgar, lewd, obscene, indecent, or defamatory behavior.
  • Collecting personal information from another student without explicit consent, such as making an audio or video record of a community member without knowledge or consent when such a recording is likely to cause injury or distress.
  • Theft, destruction, or defacement of the property of Quantic or another person, including distribution of files containing potentially damaging software or programs.
  • Promoting bigotry, racism, hatred, or harm against any group or individual.
  • Assault or sexual misconduct.
  • Conduct that violates Valar’s Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, Student Handbook, or other Valar policies or procedures.
  • Theft or abuse of Valar’s information technology or courseware resources, including but not limited to:
    • Unauthorized access to or use of the Network, Valar’s website, or other Quantic or Valar resources.
    • Use of another individual’s identification and/or password.
    • Use of information technology and Network resources to interfere with the work of another student, staff member or Valar official.
    • Use of information technology and Network resources to send obscene or abusive messages.
    • Access to or use of information technology and Network resources to interfere with, damage, disable, or impair normal operation of the system, platform, or website.
    • Falsification of digital records pertaining to academic performance or activities.
    • Publishing coursework solutions on third-party platforms.
    • Use of information technology and Network resources in violation of Valar’s policies or federal, state, or local laws or another’s legal rights (including intellectual property rights, rights of privacy, or publicity). Valar reserves the right to revoke an individual’s use of the Network or other information technology resources at any time with or without notice or cause. The Network is the sole property of Quantic. Use of the Network and emails or other electronic messages received or sent to Quantic is not guaranteed to be private as we maintain the right to monitor their use at any time with or without notice.

Procedure In Case of Violation

For the protection of the Quantic and Valar communities, students engaging in behavior that violates the Code of Conduct will be subject to immediate removal from Slack and/or live online or in-person events. Students may have their community privileges reinstated pending the outcome of the disciplinary process. Quantic reserves the right to suspend a student who is accused of violating the Code of Conduct pending an investigation. 

Any member of the Quantic or Valar community may file a complaint (“complainant”) against a student (“respondent”) for violations of the Code of Conduct. A complaint shall be prepared in writing and sent via email to complaints@valar.quantic.edu, addressed to the Senior Director of Student Affairs. A complaint should be submitted as soon as possible after the event takes place.  

The Senior Director of Student Affairs will first determine if the complaint, if true, would constitute a violation of the Code of Conduct.  If it would not, then the Senior Director of Student Affairs will notify the complainant that the complaint is dismissed. If the complaint, if true, would constitute a violation of the Code of Conduct, then the Senior Director of Student Affairs will initiate an investigation and notify the complainant and respondent in writing of the allegations and that an investigation has been initiated. The Senior Director of Student Affairs will convene a three member ad hoc Hearing Committee, consisting of Quantic staff and/or faculty, to investigate the allegations.  The complainant and respondent will both have an opportunity to be interviewed by the committee and provide evidence. 

After completion of the investigation, the Hearing Committee will determine whether the Code of Conduct was violated and the appropriate course of action. The Senior Director of Student Affairs will communicate the determination as to whether the Code of Conduct was violated and the corrective action, as applicable, to the student accused of violating the Code of Conduct and the community member who filed the complaint. Privacy will be respected, and information will only be shared on a need-to-know basis at the discretion of the Senior Director of Student Affairs. The Director’s decision is final, unless the student is removed from the program and seeks reinstatement, in which case the Appeals Process applies. 

In determining sanctions, several factors are taken into account including the severity of the infringement, intentionality, and whether there is a history of misconduct. A student who violates the Code of Conduct may be subject to the following actions, including but not limited to:

  • Revising and resubmitting an assignment;
  • Completion of an alternative assignment;
  • Receiving a zero for an assignment;
  • Permanent removal from cohort Slack room;
  • Removal from honors contention; 
  • Permanent exclusion from online and in-person events;
  • Removal from the Quantic or Valar program;
  • Refusal to grant the student in question an official Quantic or Valar degree or certificate;
  • Revocation of previously awarded Quantic or Valar degree.

If a Code of Conduct Hearing is deemed necessary, the respondent will be given the opportunity to select a hearing time based on the availability of the committee and the respondent. If the respondent neglects to schedule a hearing within the timeframe provided by the Senior Director of Student Affairs, a hearing date and time will be selected by the committee and the respondent will be expected to attend. The hearing will be conducted at the scheduled time, even if the respondent does not appear. Failure to appear without notification, may result in expulsion from the program.

Quantic disciplinary proceedings may be instituted against a student charged with conduct that potentially violates both the law and this Code of Conduct without regard to whether a legal proceeding is pending.  Proceedings under this Code of Conduct may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following civil or criminal proceedings off campus at the discretion of the Senior Director of Student Affairs.

Appeal Process

If a student is removed from the program due to conduct violations, he or she may appeal the decision at complaints@valar.quantic.edu within three days of the determination requesting reinstatement. Both the complainant and the respondent will have an opportunity to submit written statements to the Chief Academic Officer who will decide the appeal. The decision of the Chief Academic Officer is final and may not be further appealed.

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