Student Code of Conduct
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Academic Dishonesty is any attempt to obtain credit for course work other than by submitting original work created by the student. Forms of academic dishonesty include plagiarism, cheating, and multiple submissions of the same work. The consequences of academic dishonesty include receiving a failing grade for the assignment, receiving a failing grade for the course, or dismissal from the school.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the use of another person’s distinctive ideas or words without acknowledgment. The incorporation of another person’s work into one’s own requires appropriate identification and acknowledgment, regardless of the means of appropriation.
Cheating
Cheating involves the following: possession, communication, or use of information, materials, notes, study aids, or other devices that are not authorized by the instructor in any academic exercise or communication with another person during such an exercise.
PROHIBITED CONDUCT
Conduct that threatens the safety or security of the school community or substantially disrupts the functions or operation of the school is within the jurisdiction of this Student Code of Conduct regardless of whether the conduct occurs online or on/off campus.
Unacceptable conduct includes but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty.
- Allowing other persons to access the online Learning Management System using one’s school log-on credentials.
- Forgery, alteration, or misuse of school documents, records, or identification or knowingly furnishing false information to the school or any of its faculty or staff.
- Forgery or identity theft including but not limited to alteration or illegal usage of school documents, student records, and/or admissions applications.
- Misrepresenting or falsely using student identification, including misuse of Photo ID cards or posing as another individual.
- Conduct reflecting discredit on the professional ethical standards of the school.
- Harassment of any kind including, but not limited to, threats, bullying, spam messaging, and sexual harassment.
- Physical or mental abuse on or off campus of the person or property of any member of the campus or online community including, but not limited to, name-calling, belittling, or intimidation.
- Possession or usage of fireworks, explosives, dangerous chemicals, or deadly weapons on school property or at a school-sponsored function.
- Abusive behavior including, but not limited to, the use of profanity directed toward staff, faculty, students, guests, or visitors, or the act of sending, posting, or sharing false information about an individual.
- Obscene, lewd, or indecent behavior on campus or at a school-sponsored function.
- Hazing or false imprisonment.
- Possessing, distributing, manufacturing, or using illegal drugs or misusing legal pharmaceutical drugs on campus or at a school-sponsored event.
- Defacement, vandalism, tagging, or using graffiti on campus buildings or property.
- Engaging in arson, blocking emergency exits, or falsely activating the fire alarm system.
- Breaking into or unauthorized use of any campus facility or building.
- Theft of school property or assisting in storing or knowingly using stolen school property, as well as the non-return of school-owned equipment.
- Misuse of the computer system, including hacking into academic or student records, or knowingly sending computer bugs or viruses electronically.
- Disruption of the educational process, administrative process, or other school-sponsored event.
- Refusal to follow instructions given by school personnel that results or may result in bodily harm to oneself, other students, faculty, or staff, including but not limited to emergency evacuation and requests to disassemble and vacate premises.
- Violation of any published school rules and regulations now or later in effect.
POLICY PROHIBITING RECREATIONAL &
MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE
Although California state law allows the use of marijuana for medical and/or recreational purposes, marijuana is still illegal under federal law and categorized as an illicit substance (Drug Enforcement Agency Schedule I) under the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Amendments of 1989. The Los Angeles Film School (LAFS) receives federal funding for student financial aid. As such, LAFS must comply with federal law, including all current federal drug laws. The possession, use, and storage of marijuana is therefore prohibited on school property. Students are also prohibited from being under the influence of marijuana while attending classes or working on projects utilizing school equipment or facilities.
Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the school.
STUDENT DRESS CODE
Students are prohibited from wearing attire that is inappropriate and not normally in good taste while on campus, in a school setting, during class, or at school events. Minimum dress should cover the torso and upper legs and shoes must be worn at all times. No offensive or abusive language or images is permitted.
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS
The focus of any disciplinary proceedings is to determine if an individual is responsible or not responsible for violating the standards set forth in the Code of Conduct. Formal rules of evidence shall not be applicable in disciplinary hearings, and minor deviations from these policies and procedures shall not necessarily invalidate a decision or proceeding. Students may be accountable to both criminal and civil authorities and to the school for acts that constitute violations of the law and of this Code. Disciplinary proceedings may proceed even if criminal charges are still pending, and sanctions imposed by the school will not be subject to challenge on the grounds that criminal charges involving the same incident have been dismissed or reduced.
Process
Alleged violations of the Student Code of Conduct should be reported to the Office of Student Conduct who will be responsible for investigating the incident/conduct. One or several members of the Office of Student Conduct will conduct an investigation and meet with the student and any other individuals who were involved or who witnessed the alleged incident/conduct.
After completing the investigation, the Student Conduct Officer may:
- Find the student not responsible for the alleged incident/conduct
- Find the student responsible for the alleged incident/conduct but determine that informal counseling or a verbal warning is appropriate under the relevant facts and circumstances.
- Find the student responsible for the alleged incident/conduct and impose formal disciplinary sanctions.
- Refer the matter for a hearing before the Conduct Review Board (CRB). The student may be asked to attend a CRB hearing and provide testimony regarding the alleged incident/behavior. The student may present supporting documentation and the testimony of other witnesses, if any, during the CRB hearing. The CRB may conduct its own investigation into the alleged incident/behavior before or after the conduct hearing. The CRB will make a determination as to whether the student is responsible for the alleged incident/behavior and recommend what sanctions, if any, should be imposed.
Sanctions
During the disciplinary process, every attempt will be made to foster student learning through a system of appropriate and escalating consequences. Student may be subject to the following sanctions and penalties as part of the school disciplinary process:
Warning
Written notice that continued or repeated violations of school policies or regulations may be cause for further disciplinary action. A permanent record of the violation(s) will be retained in the student’s file.
Suspension
Termination of a student’s enrollment for a specified period of time, including an academic term or terms with reinstatement subject to specified conditions; further violations of school policies or violation of the terms of the suspension will normally result in permanent dismissal from the school.
Dismissal
Termination of student status at the school.
Restitution
Reimbursement for damage to or misappropriation of either school or private property may be imposed exclusively or in combination with other disciplinary actions. Such reimbursement may take the form of monetary payment or appropriate service to repair or otherwise compensate for damages.
Mandatory Sanctions
Suspension followed by a dismissal hearing, as well as police involvement, will be used for the following offenses:
- Possession of a weapon, including, but not limited to, firearms and knives
- Possession of illegal drugs or trafficking drugs or weapons
- Use of a weapon to cause bodily harm or to threaten serious harm
- Serious physical assault
- Sexual assault
Access to campus and/or LMS privileges may be temporarily suspended pending a conduct hearing.
Safety in Public Spaces Act Policy
The Los Angeles Film School’s (LAFS) Administrative center complies with all requirements of the Florida Safety in Public Spaces Act. LAFS provides restrooms that are designated for the exclusive use of males or females, as defined in that law.
As required by the Florida law, employees or students must use a restroom or changing facility that is consistent with their sex as defined by that law, or use a unisex restroom. Florida law does not recognize those who identify as neither male nor female, including non-binary individuals.
If a student or employee violates this policy, by entering a restroom is not designated for their sex and refuses to leave if asked, that person may be subject to discipline by the LAFS. Under the law and this policy, there are some exceptions.
A student or employee may enter a restroom or changing facility designated for the opposite sex¹ when:
- Chaperoning or assisting a child, elderly person or person with a disability;
- An emergency situation exists in which the health or safety of another person is at risk;
- Entering for custodial or maintenance purposes (provided the restroom is not in use) and
- the appropriately-designated restroom is out of order or under repair and the restroom of the opposite sex is empty.
If any person who is not a student or employee improperly enters a restroom or changing facility designated for the opposite sex on the LAFS’s premises and refuses to depart when asked to do so, LAFS will take all actions it deems appropriate given the circumstances.
Beginning July 1, 2024, a person may submit a complaint to the Florida Attorney General alleging that a covered entity failed to meet the minimum requirements for restrooms under the Florida Safety in Public Spaces Act.
LAFS reminds all employees and students of its policies prohibiting harassment and discrimination, as well as its policy prohibiting violence (which includes provoking a fight, fighting or threatening violence). Further, the LAFS’s policy prohibits treating a student or employee in a disrespectful manner. Please see the Employee Policy Manual and/or Florida Academic Catalog for more details.
LAFS will not tolerate any harassment, discrimination and/or violence against its employees or students, including based on gender identity or expression.
¹For non-binary individuals, “opposite sex” for these purposes means sex other than that which was assigned to the individual at birth.