Academics » Student Code of Conduct

Student Code of Conduct

Southwest Virginia Healthcare Excellence Academy Lab School students are selected to participate in the program through a competitive application process. The program is free to participating students.  Students should expect to be challenged with a rigorous, dual enrollment curriculum and should be committed to:


  • Respecting and collaborating with diverse populations 
  • Conducting themselves in a manner that positively affects the learning community’s pursuit of its educational objectives, and
  • Being exemplary role models of the healthcare professions while observing and participating in reflective practices. 
 

Behavior


Students shall be held accountable for the student codes of conduct for their local school division, community college Code of Student Rights, Responsibility, and Conduct, Community College Technology Use Agreement, and SWVA-HEALS Expectations for Behavior.  SWVA-HEALS students shall be responsible for their actions traveling to campus, on-campus, and on community field experiences.  Any infractions of codes of conduct shall be referred to the student’s home-based high school administration for disciplinary action as designated by the local school division.  Parent/guardian(s) shall be notified as prescribed by the local school division. 


SWVA-HEALS Expectations for Behavior


The SWVA-HEALS students shall:


  1. Attend school and report to all classes regularly and on time. 
  2. Demonstrate respect for other students, faculty, and staff.
  3. Demonstrate respect for the property of Emory and Henry Health Sciences campus, the campus of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Virginia Highlands Community College, Wytheville Community College, and any other educational, community, or business property involved in SWVA-HEALS instructional activities. 
  4. Refrain from conduct that is disruptive to any SWVA-HEALS, VHCC, WCC, Linwood Holton Governor’s School class or activity. 
  5. Remain on the campus of Emory and Henry Health Sciences, the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, the Henderson Building, VHCC, WCC during the HEALS school hours.
  6. Abide by the acceptable technology and internet use policies of home-based schools, community colleges and Emory and Henry College.
  7. Refrain from abusive language, fighting, obscene conduct, public profanity, or stealing.
  8. Abide by regulations governing travel to and from SWVA-HEALS on school buses and/or private vehicles.
  9. Adhere to all campus safety expectations and common courtesy expectations.
  10. Not engage in a form of dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information or documents. 
  11. Not be in possession of illegal or dangerous weapons, look-alike weapons, or other instruments intended to inflict bodily harm. 
  12. Not be in possession of our alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.  
  13. Not intentionally misuse or damage any of the teleconferencing, internet, or learning management technology.
  14. Adhere to the loss/damaged textbook and/or other materials expectations and fees of their school divisions, Emory and Henry University, VHCC, WCC.
  15. Adhere to appropriate, professional dress that supports the campus or community learning activity for the day and is in compliance with their school division dress code.  
  16. Students need to appreciate the privilege of being able to learn from human bodies including those of deceased persons that have been donated for the purpose of helping students prepare for their field of study.  Proper respect and adherence to the rules of the Cadaver Lab must be followed at all times. 



Attendance


The SWVA-HEALS program is a rigorous academic program and thus requires that student absences be kept to a minimum. If a student knows in advance that they will be absent from HEALS for personal reasons or a base school academic activity, it is the student’s responsibility to connect with the instructor and obtain assignments prior to the absence. 


Absences, tardies, and early dismissals shall be reported daily to the base high school. School division attendance policies shall be in effect. A parent/guardian shall contact the site director if a student will be absent for an extended medical situation. A doctor’s excuse shall be required. The HEALS Governing Board will annually adopt the academic calendars used by Emory and Henry University and the respective community colleges. The academic-year calendar may be consistent with, but may not be exact, to the students’ local school division’s calendars. If a school division is open and HEALS is closed, a student shall be responsible for web-based instruction to be completed at the student’s base school. If a school division is closed and VHCC or WCC are open HEALS coursework will be moved to remote learning.



Transportation


SWVA-HEALS students shall follow the transportation expectations of their school divisions. All transportation issues shall be handled by the base high schools. School divisions provide transportation to HEALS. Local school division policy shall determine whether permission will be granted for students to drive to HEALS’ campuses or to be passengers in other students’ cars. School division buses shall be contracted for field experiences and transportation expectations shall be in effect.  


Transportation shall be provided for any student with a disability in the manner that is required of the base high school.  School divisions are responsible to ensure that all accommodations are provided for students with disabilities. 



Scholarship


SWVA-HEALS is a Lab School designed to provide a unique learning experience to high school students focusing on introducing students to healthcare career opportunities.  All students will receive a strong college preparatory education as they work toward an advanced studies diploma.  Students should expect a rigorous, dual enrollment curriculum.  


The SWVA-HEALS grading scale follows those of EHU, VHCC, WCC, and the Governor’s School.  It is a 10-point grading scale as follows:


A ……………………………………………90-100


B…………………………………………….80-89


C…………………………………………….70-79


D…………………………………………….60-69


F……………………………………………..59 and below



Academic Honesty


Academic honesty is essential to develop students’ full intellectual potential and self-worth. All HEALS students will be expected to maintain a high standard of honor in their coursework. Forms of dishonesty in coursework include: cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, deliberate interference with the integrity of the work of others, fabrication or falsification of data, as well as other forms of academic dishonesty. Each are considered serious offenses in college coursework for which disciplinary penalties can be imposed. HEALS students shall maintain a high standard of honesty in their coursework. Students shall not give or accept unauthorized assistance. Unauthorized assistance includes sharing oral and written information during examinations, tests, quizzes, homework assignments, and consulting written materials or copying another’s work without the instructor’s expressed permission. Cheating shall include, but is not limited to, copying, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, and unauthorized divulging of information. Plagiarism is defined as the presentation of someone else’s idea or words as one’s own. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which includes but is not limited to ChatGPT, large language model AI, and AI chatbots, is not allowed unless expressly permitted by the instructor.  The use of AI will be considered to be academic dishonesty and a violation of the SWVA HEALS Academic Code.  Falsification includes the intent to mislead, as well as forgery of any signatures. Lying or stealing violates the principles of integrity and respect for self, others, and property. Clear expectations for all coursework will be prescribed in the course syllabus provided by each instructor for each course. The assignments, due dates, and consequences for violating trust in the coursework will be detailed.



Responsibility for Accountability Proceedings


 (Including Request for Student Dismissal from HEALS) 


The Director of HEALS, or his/her designee, shall be responsible for reporting a student’s inappropriate behavior to the student’s base school administrator and for collaborating with that administrator on an appropriate disciplinary resolution. 


The HEALS director may request dismissal of the student from the HEALS program for the following: 


  • Code of Conduct violations.

 

  • Intentional misuse or damage of any of the Emory and Henry University, Virginia Highlands CC, Wytheville CC, Linwood Holton Governor’s School, or the Henderson Building properties, including teleconferencing, Internet, or web-based technology. 

  • Academic Dishonesty. 

The director’s request for a student’s dismissal will be submitted to the student’s base high school principal and the student’s parent/guardian. A meeting will be convened to review the request, based on due process, and to recommend appropriate action. 


SWVA HEALS students are responsible for their behavior and will be held accountable for inappropriate behaviors.  Disciplinary action may be taken for behaviors that are inconsistent with the expectations of the HEALS program or behaviors that violate the student’s home school Code of Conduct.  Students may be charged for behaviors that violate the Code of Virginia. 



Technology Use


Technology is an important instructional tool of SWVA-HEALS.  A student’s participation in SWVA-HEALS shall be contingent upon the ethical and appropriate use of the teleconferencing, networking, and web-based systems of the partners of the HEALS program.  These partners include: Emory and Henry University, Virginia Highlands Community College, Wytheville Community College, A. Linwood Holton Governor’s School, Bristol City Public Schools, Smyth County Public Schools, Washington County Public Schools, Wythe County Public Schools, and include the facilities of the Emory and Henry Health Science campus, the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, and the Wayne C. Henderson School of Appalachian Art. 


Students will be expected to adhere to the Technology Use Agreements established by their home school divisions and the participating colleges. 


Nondiscrimination Notice


The Southwest Virginia Healthcare Excellence Academy Lab School is an equal opportunity institution.  We do not discriminate according to race, ethnicity, color, ancestry, national origin, nationality, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, political affiliation, or handicapping condition.  No student at the SWVA-HEALS program shall, on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, ancestry, national origin, nationality, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, political affiliation, or handicapping condition, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity sponsored by this institution.


Student/Parent Signature Form


Each student and parent or guardian shall be expected to provide a signed and dated form indicating that they have read and understand the HEALS Student Expectations for Behavior. A copy of this signature form shall be kept on file at both HEALS and the student’s base high school file.