Learner Code of Conduct

Nexford University in an effort to promote an atmosphere conducive to intellectual fulfillment, commits itself, the administration, faculty, and learners to the maintenance of the highest possible standards of academic integrity. Learners are required to conduct themselves with the same standards of behavior as are expected in the workplace and in the community at large. All members of the Nexford community have the responsibility and obligation to adhere to and uphold the standards of learner code of conduct outlined below:

Academic Honesty

Nexford University holds all learners, current and alumni, to the highest standards of academic integrity. The University expects them to submit work that is only theirs, to respect the intellectual property of other persons (both in and outside the university), to ensure ethical use of AI tools, and to refrain from collaborating with other learners on course assessments unless they are expressly permitted by course faculty to do so. Learners found to be in violation of the University’s academic standards, whether by committing acts of plagiarism, cheating, or inappropriate collaboration — as defined below — may be liable to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the University. Alumni found to have violated academic honesty standards will be liable to disciplinary action, including barring reenrollment to the University, a permanent hold of transcripts, or revocation of their degree from Nexford University. Escalated violations of academic honesty standards may be reviewed by the University Review Committee (URC). Learners are notified in writing of such reviews and allowed to respond to allegations. If permitted to continue in their programs, learners are instructed on any steps they need to take to align their practices with the University’s honesty standards.

Possible violations include, but are not limited to:

Plagiarism is defined as representing words, ideas, or other works of another individual or entity as your own without giving proper credit to the original author or source.

Cheating is defined as using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, study aids, or computer-related information.

Self-plagiarism is defined as submitting previously submitted course work that may or may not have received academic credit, without prior approval of faculty.

Poor scholastic achievement focuses on students not properly citing sources or following published citation criteria.

Colluding with another learner or learners, either in person or online, who are enrolled in or have completed a course, to share an assignment or project and/or to make revisions to the same graded assignment or project to deliberately disguise similarities.

Providing unauthorized help to another learner or learners by sharing coursework privately or publicly by uploading it to an online forum.

Using over 25% of AI-generated content. Learners must include citation for their AI-generated content used.

It can sometimes seem unclear where the line between proper and improper work is drawn. Learners can sometimes cross the line unintentionally with no intent to deceive. Yet, the University takes even unintentional transgressions very seriously. Nexford University expects learners to familiarize themselves with the fundamentals of honest academic practice, and to seek guidance from course faculty and/or Success Advisors any time they are uncertain whether their own work is in compliance with the University’s Academic Honesty Policy.

Computers, Mobile Devices, and Email

Learners are expected to regularly check the email address they provided during initial enrollment to the University for official communications and respond in a timely manner. If learners choose to set up email forwarding from their official University account to another account, they should be aware of potential risks such as dropped messages or emails being marked as spam. Learners are responsible for managing these risks, and the University is not liable for any consequences resulting from missed communications, including non-receipt of course materials, unsuccessful submission of academic work, or missed payments. For this reason, Nexford University strongly advises against email forwarding.

To ensure seamless access to Nexford’s online learning environment, learners should use personal, non-corporate devices. Corporate devices often have security restrictions that may block University platforms due to company-enforced firewall settings and IT policies. If a learner must use a corporate device, they are responsible for verifying access with their internal IT department. Nexford University cannot modify or request changes to corporate IT policies, and access issues on such devices remain the responsibility of the learner and their employer.

Drugs and Alcohol

Though Nexford University is a fully online institution, it remains committed to maintaining a drug- and alcohol-free environment. The University prohibits learners from interacting with faculty, staff, other Nexford community members, or any external parties in their capacity as learners while under the influence of illegal substances or alcohol.

The University is in full compliance with the requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 whereby all learners and employees are notified that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of a controlled substance by University learners or employees, on or off University premises, while conducting University business, is prohibited. Violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, and may have further legal consequences.

Fraud

The integrity of a Nexford degree hinges on the assurance that learners represent themselves truthfully at all times, vouching that the work they submit is their own, that any information they provide the University is accurate and up to date, and that in any dealings with others, these accurately and faithfully represent the University and its learner experiences. Any attempt to deceive, or to induce fraudulent representation by others is liable to be met with disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the University.

Intellectual Property

Nexford University respects and abides by all legally enforced intellectual property rights. The University provides online access to all course reading materials to learners at no additional charge. The University requires all community members to comply with all state and federal laws, including copyright laws, that pertain to intellectual property. To read about copyright laws and about Nexford University’s guidelines for the use of copyrighted materials, please refer to the US Copyright Office website. Unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material, including unlawful peer-to-peer file sharing, is a violation of the University policy. Violations of this policy may be met with disciplinary action, and possibly, with civil and/or criminal penalties as well.

Learner Identity Verification

Nexford University offers online courses, which fall under the US Department of Education’s definition of distance education, and this policy applies to all courses that are subject to the federal requirements for distance education, beginning with the application for admission and continuing through a learner’s graduation, transfer, or withdrawal from the University.

“The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) (Public Law 110-315), Federal Requirement 34 CFR §602.17(g), https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2011-title34-vol3/pdf/CFR-2011-title34-vol3-sec602-17.pdf requires institutions that offer distance education or correspondence education to have processes in place through which the institution establishes that the student who registers in a distance education or correspondence education course or program is the same student who participates in and completes the course or program and receives the academic credit. The agency meets this requirement if it:

(1) Requires institutions to verify the identity of a student who participates in class or coursework by using, at the option of the institution, methods such as:

(i.) A secure login and pass code;

(ii) Proctored examinations; and

(iii) New or other technologies and practices that are effective in verifying student identity;

and (2) Makes clear in writing that institutions must use processes that protect student privacy and notify students of any projected additional student charges associated with the verification of student identity at the time of registration or enrollment.”

Secure Login and Password

During the application for admission process, learner identity is vetted in accordance with standard practices. Learners are required to upload a valid copy of a government issued identification, as well as a passport-style photo, to the web-based application, which are then verified by Nexford University. Documents including, but not limited to, identification and prior transcripts, must be accurate and authentic originals and/or notarized copies of the originals. Any document learners are required to submit is uploaded directly into Nexford University’s database. Upon user verification, the learner is issued a University unique login and complex password which provides access to the learning management system.

24x7 Password Reset Tool

Network user account credentials are managed by authorized administrators at Nexford University. Learners also have the ability to reset their Nexford credentials using the Office 365 password reset tool.

Two-Factor Authentication

Nexford University has initiated the use of a two-factor authentication system to increase privacy and enhance security for learners accessing its systems. The University uses two-factor authentication to verify the identity of the learner who accesses the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) through the use of two independent means of evidence. The purpose of two-factor authentication is to protect the learner identity and ensure that the learner who enrolled into the academic program is the same person accessing the LMS.

Learning Management Course and User Data

Course registrations, including adds and drops, are populated in the learning management system automatically by the student information system each term; ensuring that only those with valid Nexford University user accounts may access the system and that users may only access courses for which they are enrolled.

Remote Proctoring Degree Program

Nexford University has established remote proctoring degree programs. The remote proctoring occurs within the degree programs at regular intervals. The remote proctoring application confirms the learner’s identity through ID verification at the beginning of the assessment. External devices, applications, and communication apps are locked from connecting to the learner’s computer for items other than the learning management system. During the assessment, the remote proctoring system continuously verifies the learner through the AI-enabled webcam video stream. The AI watches for gesture, gaze, and movement patterns that may suggest violations such as reading prohibited materials off-camera, while locking down browser options for on screen violations. If the AI- based system flags events, human proctors are notified and review events occurring during the test session in real-time. Learners receive real-time alerts to prevent minor attempts from becoming serious violations, in which the human proctor would notify the University for review and disciplinary actions to be addressed by the University Review Committee (URC). These actions could include but are not limited to resubmission of their government issued identification, a zero grade, an option to retake their assignment/test, and/or dismissal from the University.

Faculty

Nexford University Faculty hold academic responsibility for ensuring that learners comply with the policy. As technology and personal accountability are not absolute in determining a learner’s identity, faculty members are encouraged to engage in courses that use assignments and evaluations that support academic integrity. Changes in learner behavior such as sudden shifts in academic performance or changes in writing style or language used in discussion groups or email may indicate academic integrity problems. As best practices suggest, faculty should routinely ask learners to share in appropriate ways important ideas learned from texts and references, require research projects and paper assignments to be submitted in steps, and/or use http://Turnitin.com.

Nexford University Network Acceptable Use

All computer accounts issued by Nexford University are the sole property of the University. All account holders are responsible for the appropriate use of their accounts. Learners are expected to safeguard the integrity of their accounts by keeping their passwords secret and changing them on a regular basis, and by reporting any suspicious activity on their accounts to the University’s IT Help Desk. Any trespassing of learners’ personal accounts by other learners — unless expressly authorized by an officer of the University — is a violation of the University’s Code of Conduct. Depending on the circumstances of the violation (whether, for instance, the trespassers act alone, or account holders solicit trespass), both the trespassers and the account holders may be liable for disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the university. Nexford University prohibits the use of learner accounts for any illegal purposes, including sending threatening, obscene or harassing messages; disrupting other network users’ services or equipment, such as by distributing unsolicited advertising, propagating computer viruses, or using the network to enter other network-accessible computers without express authorization; selling services over the network without express authorization; selling access to the network, or excessive personal business. Other prohibitions include, but are not limited to, tampering with the University’s computer or communications hardware and software, altering the IP addresses of any Nexford device, intercepting or attempting to intercept emails or file transfers intended for another party, sending or attempting to send emails from another learner’s account (or, aliased, appearing to do so), and attempting to hack into University systems or the accounts of other users.

Online Etiquette

Learners are always expected to observe proper online etiquette. This includes, but is not limited to, posting, to any public forums or to any individuals, only content that is relevant and appropriate. Nexford University holds all of its community members to a high ethical standard of conduct. In the course of their studies, learners are liable to encounter others — peers, faculty, or staff — whose views differ from theirs. Such encounters deepen learners’ educational experience, providing them with opportunities to broaden their understanding of the world, deepen their grasp of specific issues, and sharpen their critical skills. Nexford encourages debate and open exchange of ideas. However, the University takes very seriously every learner’s right to pursue their education in a spirit of respect, support, and open inquiry, away from any concerns about intimidation.

Respectful Treatment of Others

Nexford University always expects all of its community members to treat each other with respect, refraining from any behavior that may be deemed offensive, discriminatory, threatening, bullying, embarrassing, or otherwise harassing of others. This expectation applies equally to learners’ interactions in the ‘classroom’ and outside of class, for instance, with Success Advisors or members of the University’s administrative staff. Disrespectful behavior, deemed severe enough to warrant the university’s intervention, may be met, initially, with a warning. Persistent or repeated instances of disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated by the University — in particular if such behavior harms another member of the community — and could be met with stricter sanctions, up to and including dismissal from the University.

Disciplinary Actions

Enforcement of the Code of Conduct is the responsibility of all faculty and staff. Evidence of violation of the Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action including, but limited to:

Failing grade on an assignment

Failing grade in a course

Written warning

Dismissal from the University

Repeated offenses or egregious violations of the Code of Conduct should be referred to the University Review Committee (URC).

Learners have the right to appeal any sanctions the University issues. To do so, they must work with a Success Advisor to assemble an appeal petition, which includes a personal statement and any supporting documentation the learner wishes to provide. Appeals should be sent to the URC (urc@nexford.edu) for review. The learner has the right to follow the complaint process if they disagree with the URC result of the appeal (see Complaints section).