United Kingdom and Ireland

Purpose and Scope 

Kaplan is committed to creating a study environment for its customers and staff that is safe and where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. All students should work hard to achieve their study goals and take responsibility for their learning. Kaplan aims for all students to have an enjoyable and successful time with us. The Code of Conduct explains how we expect students to behave on Kaplan premises (including schools, online learning environment, residences, and homestay) in relation to Kaplan staff, students, sponsors, agents or otherwise. If a student fails to achieve the standards outlined in the Code of Conduct their behaviour will be addressed through the Disciplinary Procedure.

Code of Conduct

We expect all students to –

• Attend all of their classes. 
• Be on time for classes. 
• Follow their teacher’s instructions. 
• Only use their phone in class when the teacher has given permission. 
• Stay in class during the lesson (visits to the toilet, meetings with staff members, getting coffee should be done in break time). 
• Try to speak English in class at all times. 
• Respect all other students and staff members (At Kaplan we are all equal and bullying or discrimination will not be tolerated). 
• Behave responsibly. 
• Take care of Kaplan equipment and buildings and of other students’ possessions. 
• Follow Kaplan’s IT/Wi Fi policies. 
• Ensure all work is their own. 
• Dress in a way that does not offend others. 
• Put all rubbish in a bin and tidy up after themselves. 
• Follow all visa rules. 
• Smoke only in the designated smoking areas and not outside the school. 
• Follow school rules on food/drink in the classroom. 
• Follow the code of conduct for residence or host family house rules (if staying in Kaplan accommodation). 
• Not be under the influence or in possession of illegal substances or alcohol on school premises.

We expect students studying online to –

• Put their camera on whenever possible. 
• Join break out rooms when requested to by the teacher. 
• Use their real name on zoom so that the teacher can identify who is in class. 
• Use the chat box correctly and not type anything which is not connected to the lesson or is offensive to other students. 
• Follow the general rules above if applicable. 
• Give their full attention to the lesson and not use their computer/phone for anything else during the lesson.

Disciplinary Procedure

If you fail to meet any of the standards of conduct: 

Verbal Warning 

• You will have a meeting with the department manager and/or school principal. 
• This will be kept on your student record. 
• If you are sponsored – your sponsor will be informed. 
• If you are under 18 – your parents will be informed. 
• If you came via an agency – your agent will be informed.

If, after you have received a verbal warning, you fail to meet any of the standards of conduct.

Written Warning

• You will have a meeting with the department manager and/or school principal. This will be followed up with a formal letter.
• Your sponsor/parents/agent will be informed where applicable.

If, after you have received a written warning, you fail to meet any of the standards of conduct.

Final Warning

• You will have a meeting with the school principal. We will explain that this is your last chance to improve and follow up with a formal letter. You must follow all school rules or you will be expelled.
• Your sponsor/parents/agent will be informed where applicable.

Expulsion

• You will be required to leave the school and will no longer be able to study at Kaplan.
• If you are on a visa we will inform UKVI and you will be required to leave the country.
• Your sponsor/parents/agent will be informed where applicable.

Gross Misconduct

A serious breach of this Code of Conduct may constitute gross misconduct and could lead to a disciplinary meeting being held and the student’s exclusion from study at Kaplan without any written warnings having been issued previously. 

Examples of what may be deemed to constitute gross misconduct include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Bullying
• Harassment
• Aggressive or threatening offensive behaviour or language 
• Fraud and deceit 
• Cheating and plagiarism 
• Theft 
• Intentional or reckless damage to Kaplan property or student property 
• Serious misuse of Kaplan property or equipment 
• Being under the influence of alcohol in a Kaplan school or in a Kaplan online lesson
• Being under the influence or in possession of illegal substances 
• Possession of drugs on Kaplan premises (school, homestay or residence) 
• A criminal offence 
• Breach of the Kaplan Wi-Fi Policy 
• Failure to meet student visa requirements 
• Smoking on Kaplan premises unless in a designated smoking area

North America

School Behavior Code of Conduct 

As a Kaplan student, you agree to abide by the student conduct rules and other policies while attending Kaplan. As part of  Kaplan’s commitment to our students’ success, we seek to provide a positive learning environment and expect students  to conduct themselves in a manner that is considerate of those around them. Inappropriate conduct includes but is not  limited to: (1) disruptions to the learning environment (i.e. use of profanity, harassment, mobile phone use in classrooms,  etc.); (2) deliberate destruction, misuse, or theft of Kaplan property or the property of fellow classmates; (3) violence or  threats of violence towards persons or property of students or Kaplan staff; (4) improper use of email or internet access;  and (5) failure to comply with local copyright or criminal laws forbidding the misappropriation, copying or alteration of  copyright‐protected materials; and (6) academic dishonesty, which is defined as cheating and plagiarizing*. 

*Students who are caught cheating on tests or quizzes, or using a resource not permitted during a test or quiz will receive  a mark of “0”. Plagiarism is the use of intellectual material produced by another person without acknowledging its source;  for example, copying from the works of others into your homework, essay, quizzes or tests and passing them off as your  own. Students who are caught plagiarizing will receive a mark of “0”. 

In addition you agree:

• To show respect to Kaplan students, staff and host families regardless of their race, nationality, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. Kaplan has a zero-tolerance policy regarding harassment and bullying; negative or offensive comments or actions towards others is not acceptable;
• To speak English while in the school;
• To be honest in your academic work; you will not copy answers from another student or present any work as  yours that you did not personally create;
• To follow the directions and rules of the school staff, including your instructor;
• To come to class with the necessary learning materials, including homework assignments, class supplies, etc.;
• To abide by the attendance policy;
• To stay in class during your lessons; visits to the toilet, meeting with Kaplan staff, getting food or drink, etc. should be done during break time;
• To respect Kaplan property by not writing in instructor‐provided materials (unless otherwise instructed) or destroying instructor‐provided materials, furniture, walls, equipment, etc.;
• To follow all posted signs/ rules in the school/ building;
• To follow Kapan’s wi-fi, IT and copyright policies;
• To clean up after yourself (i.e. wash your dishes, put all garbage in a trash can, etc.)
• To not use your cell phone/ laptop/ tablet (i.e. phone calls, texting, etc.) in the classroom unless the instructor allows;
• To smoke only in a designated smoking area (if one exists);  
• To not come to school intoxicated by alcohol or drugs; students may not bring alcohol or drugs onto school property;
• To follow your host family and residence rules (if applicable);
• To respect the public areas of the school (e.g. elevators, hallways, lobby, etc.) as well as other people in the building and/ or in the neighborhood by not running or shouting, by not crowding the elevators, stair wells or  lobby, and by using the elevator or escalator only in the direction indicated; and
• To not make threats, use threatening gestures or bring any instrument capable of causing harm to oneself or others at Kaplan, the campus, the accommodation or any Kaplan event.

If the above behavior requirements (or any others which are brought to your attention) are not followed, you may receive warnings which could result in expulsion from the school 
if  the behavior does not change.

If your behavior is violent, threatening, or illegal, you may be expelled from the school as KI has a zero‐tolerance policy in this regard.

Your success depends on mutual respect