Professional Behavior
Trainees are expected to demonstrate professional behavior in all courses and research experiences. Professional behaviors will be assessed as part of all courses and research experiences. The trainee’s Course Instructor, Research Mentor, Faculty Advisor, or other PhD RS Faculty member will document problems that arise in professional or ethical behavior and provide documentation to the Director/Associate Director.
Trainees are expected to adhere to the principles delineated in whatever Codes of Ethics are relevant to them as professionals.
As one of the components of professional and ethical behavior, academic integrity is a very serious matter. In academic matters, mutual responsibility between faculty and trainees requires cooperation and trust in maintaining the ideals and spirit of academic and professional integrity. Each trainee is responsible for doing their own work. Any trainee who witnesses or has reason to suspect an incident of cheating or plagiarism has an ethical and professional obligation to report it to a faculty member. Any trainee suspected of cheating or of failing to report academic dishonesty, will be reported to the Program Director/Associate Director and may be subject to disciplinary action as specified in the Institute Catalog.
All trainees and faculty will sign a form, acknowledging review of the “Policy on Academic Integrity,” as a condition of enrollment. For more information, see the “Academic Integrity” section under Trainees’ Rights and Responsibilities in the Institute Catalog.
10.3 Disciplinary Actions
When behaviors do not meet acceptable standards, depending on the nature and severity of the infraction and the setting within which it occurs, one or more of the following actions may be taken at the discretion of the Faculty of the Program.
In the academic setting, course faculty or the Research Mentor will notify the trainee about inappropriate behaviors with a written warning. If inappropriate behaviors are cited on subsequent occasions, faculty may choose to bring the issue to the attention of the Director, who will determine if the issue warrants Executive Committee review. If so, an Academic Review Committee can be appointed, which will be comprised of Executive Committee members and/or other IHP faculty. The Academic Review Committee may provide guidance for the trainee to improve professionalism and/or academic performance in the program; require certain remedial actions for the trainee to complete as a contingency to passing a course, exam, or continuing in the program; or terminate the trainee from the program due to unacceptable conduct or performance in academic or research lab settings.
A trainee may receive a lowered grade or a failing grade in a course if there is documentation of inappropriate professional behaviors or violations of professional conduct. The trainee will have an academic review meeting to determine the appropriateness of this grade lowering.
10.3.3 Termination of Trainee Enrollment
The Program may terminate a trainee because of unacceptable conduct, following due process, and written notification and documentation of the infraction. Trainees have the right to initiate grievance procedures for disciplinary action, according to the processes delineated in the Institute Catalog.
10.3.4 Further Information
Further information on guidelines for conduct and procedures related to disciplinary action are delineated in the Institute Catalog.
10.4 Laptop Computer Use during Class
The Institute has a policy requiring all trainees to have their own laptop computers. Trainees may bring their laptops to class and may be required to do so by the instructor. All use of laptops during class periods should be related to the in-class course activities. Use of laptops while in class for activities such as reading e-mail or accessing social media sites that are unrelated to class activities is considered a violation of professional behavior standards and may be subject to disciplinary action by the program.