Updated 2/24/2023

CTY provides a unique opportunity for intellectually curious people from diverse backgrounds to come together in pursuit of academic challenge and growth, within a supportive environment built on respect, responsibility, and trust.

CTY expects the highest standards of behavior both in deportment and in dedication to academic pursuits. For purposes of this CTY Student Code of Conduct, a “student” is defined as any individual registered in one or more activities, programs, or courses offered by CTY. Students are expected to:

  • Adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty as set forth in CTY’s Academic Integrity Policy.
  • Strive to do the best work possible.
  • Respect individuals of all races, cultures, religions, genders, gender identities or expressions, ages, sexual orientations, abilities, and national origins.
  • Respect the ideas and property of others and ensure that those around them do the same.
  • Respect the boundaries of others, strictly avoiding unwanted touching.
  • Behave in a friendly, cooperative, safe, and responsible manner to all people in the CTY community and to people in host institutions and local communities facilitating CTY programs.
  • Strictly avoid any physical, verbal, or electronic conduct that threatens or results in physical or emotional harm to any person.
  • Attend all class sessions and any scheduled in-person or virtual events, including meals, social activities, and meetings.
  • Adhere to CTY’s Netiquette Rules.
  • Take responsibility for their own work and actions.
  • Cooperate with CTY staff supervision.

All members of the CTY community are expected to report suspected violations of the CTY Student Code of Conduct, Academic Integrity Policy, or Netiquette Rules to their instructor or the appropriate CTY staff member. CTY prohibits any retaliatory action for the good faith reporting of alleged misconduct under this Code, assisting another in making such a report, or participating in an investigation or resolution of such matters.

CTY may amend this Code from time to time. Nothing in this Code shall affect the inherent authority of CTY to take such actions as it deems appropriate to further the educational mission of CTY or to protect the safety and security of the CTY community.

Netiquette Rules

Netiquette Definition

Netiquette refers to rules for respectful online behavior and communication. Below, find CTY’s Netiquette guidelines and expectations. Students are expected to report violations of Netiquette rules to their instructor or the appropriate CTY staff member.

Netiquette for Digital Citizenship

  • Be respectful. Read and listen to your classmates’ posts and respond thoughtfully. Treat everyone in the CTY community with respect. Be on time to class meetings and actively participate.
  • Communicate clearly. Check spelling, grammar, and punctuation for best readability by others. Do not use all caps, texting, or instant messaging shortcuts.
  • Be kind. Be positive and kind in your discussion posts and other communications. Be careful with the tone of your speaking and writing; it’s harder for others to recognize your emotions when they can’t see and hear you. Reread your posts before sending to make sure they clearly communicate your ideas in a scholarly way.
  • Support a safe space. Your online classroom is a place of learning and growing. Stay on topic in discussions, use course information to support your arguments. Don’t judge others; you can disagree respectfully. Tell your instructor if you feel bullied or unsafe in this course. Do not send or forward inappropriate messages, photographs, or images.
  • Protect privacy. Protect your privacy and the privacy of your instructor and classmates. Do not share classmates’ posts or links to work spaces (such as Zoom) with others. Do not share personal information about you or your family with others.

Reasons for Dismissal

We cannot accommodate students who are unwilling or unable to meet stated expectations in CTY’s Code of Student Conduct, Academic Integrity Policy, and Netiquette Rules. A non-exhaustive list of possible reasons for dismissal is provided below.

Students may be dismissed from a CTY program for any of the following reasons:

  • Not attending to or participating in their academic work in a satisfactory manner.
  • Cheating, plagiarizing, or committing other acts of academic dishonesty.
  • Possessing or using tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, or related paraphernalia.
  • Engaging in the physical or emotional abuse of any person including bullying, hazing, harassing or defaming others, or in any action that threatens physical or emotional harm or endangers the physical or emotional well-being, health, or safety of any person, including self, whether in person or online.
  • Disrupting or interfering with the orderly functioning of any CTY program, business, or activity or with the performance of CTY staff or volunteer duties.
  • Sending inappropriate or pornographic messages or images to members of the CTY community.
  • Making, attempting to make, sharing, or distributing an audio or visual recording or photograph of any person(s) without the knowledge and consent of all such person(s).
  • Not cooperating with adult supervision.
  • Engaging in any conduct that is prohibited by the University's Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures, including sex-based harassment.
  • Engaging in any illegal conduct.
  • Failing to comply with the terms of any CTY directives, interim measures, or disciplinary sanctions/ corrective actions.
  • Retaliating against any person who raises a complaint or concern of conduct that is prohibited by CTY’s Code of Conduct.

Students may be dismissed from an in-person CTY program for any of these additional reasons:

  • Being in restricted areas of campus, or leaving campus, unaccompanied by a staff member.
  • Leaving their halls after lights-out.
  • Stealing or vandalizing property.
  • Keeping prescription or non-prescription medication in their possession (for limited exceptions, see Medical Information).

No tuition refunds will be made to students dismissed from the program. If a student damages property, the cost of repair or replacement will be added to the student’s account balance.

View Adjudication Procedures for Title IX Sexual Harassment Involving CTY Participants.

CTY Academic Integrity Policy

The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (“CTY”) is committed to academic excellence and integrity and responsible academic conduct. All students must adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity in all programs and services associated with CTY. These include standards of behavior in students’ academic work as well as their interactions with all CTY staff and other students.

Academic Honesty occurs when a student shares their original work, appropriately acknowledges using the ideas and/or work of others, and does not engage in any behavior that results in an unfair advantage or disadvantage for one’s self or any member of the CTY academic community.

Academic Dishonesty occurs when a student represents the work or ideas of another as their own, intentionally or unintentionally uses any unauthorized materials or devices to complete any academic exercise, or engages in any behavior that results in an unfair advantage or disadvantage for one’s self or any member of the CTY academic community.

Violations and Definitions

The following acts of Academic Dishonesty are violations of the CTY Academic Integrity Policy (“Policy”). These include acts that may still be in progress at the time of discovery or brought to our attention after the completion of a course or activity. Any violation of the Policy may have consequences for grades, course completion status, or an evaluation that a student is receiving or has received, and can affect a student’s future selection for, or participation in, CTY programs.

Cheating occurs when a student uses books, notes, or other aids not permitted by the instructor, or copies work from another student. Examples include, but are not limited to, failing to follow rules for online or in-person assignments and assessments (e.g., time-limits, closed-book, calculator, phone, or other mobile device use, etc.) or asking another student to provide answers on a non-collaborative assignment or assessment.

Plagiarism occurs when a student intentionally presents another’s work as their own or takes credit for someone else’s ideas. This includes using another’s words, phrases, code, theories, or ideas verbatim, as well as paraphrasing them, without acknowledging the source. Additionally, self-plagiarism occurs when a student submits the same or substantially similar work for multiple courses without permission. Fabrication occurs when a student misrepresents or makes up data, quotations, sources, or other information.

Facilitating Academic Dishonesty occurs when one student helps, asks, persuades, or pressures another student to cheat, plagiarize, fabricate, or engage in any form of academic dishonesty.

Procedures

An incident of Academic Dishonesty may be reported by CTY students or staff. Students are expected to report incidents of academic dishonesty to their instructor or the appropriate CTY staff member. Allegations of Academic Dishonesty are referred by staff to their direct supervisor.

For in-person and virtual programs, within a reasonable time frame of receiving a report of Academic Dishonesty, the direct supervisor investigates the reported incident and gathers additional information.

This initial assessment consists of gathering specific details from the CTY staff member who has raised the allegation and, if needed, discussing the circumstances and any evidence with the student and the student’s parent/guardian. The direct supervisor reports their findings to the program manager. The program manager makes an initial assessment that will be reviewed by the Academic Integrity Committee (“AIC”).

AIC Review

The AIC will consist of an ad hoc committee of three people appointed to adjudicate each case of Academic Dishonesty as it requires review—one academic representative from CTY virtual programs (Senior Program Officer for Teaching and Learning in Online Programs), one academic representative from CTY in-person programs (Assistant Director for Curriculum in Summer Programs), and one representative from the Strategic Leadership Group. The AIC considers the incident using the following procedure:

  • First, the program manager provides all of the information collected to date in the assessment.
  • Then, AIC reviews this information to determine whether additional evidence or interviews are needed. This determination and the collection of any additional materials is completed within a reasonable time frame of notification from a program manager.
  • Finally, AIC determines whether a violation has occurred.

There are two possible outcomes of the AIC’s review:

  • No violation has occurred. The situation is considered closed, and a letter (via email) is sent to the student and family indicating this decision.
  • A violation has occurred. The AIC chair discusses the committee’s findings and recommended consequences with the program director and provides a letter via email to the student and family detailing the committee’s decision and any sanctions.
    • Families are given one opportunity to appeal the decision to the Office of the Executive Director and respond within 48 hours of receiving the letter for in-person programs and within 7 days of receiving the letter for virtual programs.

Consequences

Consequences for violations of the CTY Academic Integrity Policy and the application of the consequences or sanctions depend upon the severity of the violation and the characteristics of the course, program, or service in which the student is or was participating. The following consequences may be imposed with no refund of tuition or academic course fees:

  • Zero credit on the assignment and/or a failing grade for the course (for courses that are eligible for a grade).
  • Dismissal from the program.
  • Ineligibility to enroll in future courses/programs for a specified time window.

Appeal

Families may appeal the decision of the AIC by submitting a written appeal to the Office of the Executive Director within 48 hours of the notification date for in person programs and within 7 days of the notification date for virtual programs. After reviewing the AIC’s complete documentation of the evidence and review process, along with all communications provided to the student and family, the Executive Director will make the following determinations:

  • Whether the case received fair treatment given the procedures followed.
  • Whether the consequences appear fair and appropriate to the severity of the violation.

The Executive Director then renders a final decision, which is provided in a letter to the family. No further appeals are permitted.