Student Code of Conduct and Shared Responsibility

Purpose

In this Code, Metavision Institute outlines standards of personal and professional behaviour and conduct as a guide for staff and prospective and enrolled students. All members of Metavision Institute’s scholarly community are entitled to be treated equitably and with respect. Metavision Institute is committed to providing a productive learning environment that is free of discrimination, vilification, harassment and abuse on the grounds of ethnicity, culture, race, colour, age, gender identity, religion, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, intersex status, marital or relationship status, parental status, pregnancy, and/or political beliefs.

Scope

This policy applies to all Metavision Institute learning environments, both online and on-campus, and to formal and informal interactions between students, between students and staff, and in work-integrated learning contexts.

Definitions

Bullying: harassing, offending, socially excluding someone or negatively affecting someone’s work or study repeatedly in an escalating process.

Discrimination: when a person acts unfavourably towards another person because of a characteristic they have or the person believes them to have. Discrimination is against the law. Sexual Harassment: unwelcome sexual behaviour that can occur in person to person or online interactions, which makes the recipient feel intimidated, offended or humiliated. Sexual harassment is against the law.

Vilification: behaviour that encourages hatred, ridicule, contempt or revulsion because of a person’s religion, beliefs, ethnicity, race or sexual identity. Vilification on racial, religious and sexual identity grounds is against the law.

Relevant TEQSA Threshold Standards

This policy aligns with Sections 2.2 Diversity and Equity, 2.3 Wellbeing and Equity, 2.4 Student Grievances and Complaints and 6.2 Corporate Monitoring and Accountability of the Higher Education Standards Framework 2015.

Policy

Expectations of Metavision Institute’s students

Metavision Institute’s students in on-campus and online learning environments are expected to:

• Attend their scheduled on-campus and online classes regularly and punctually and follow the reasonable directions of staff,
• Not use mobile phones, tablets and iPads during timetabled classes, except for the purpose of study,
• Identify and report any potential hazards from equipment, facilities, and the environment,
• Not smoke or use alcohol and/or illicit drugs while on-campus, attending online classes or posting on discussion forums in online classrooms,
• Use inclusive language,
• Behave with respect and courtesy towards other students, staff and visitors to the Metavision Institute;
• Follow all of Metavision Institute’s policies and procedures,
• Maintain confidentiality and privacy of client information and delete client audiovisual recordings from their recording devices once the recording has been uploaded to the Learning Management System, and
• Report any incident of discrimination, harassment, or bullying, whether directly experienced or witnessed, to the Academic Director.

Metavision Institute’s students are expected to refrain from behaviour that:

• Disrupts teaching and learning activities,
• Creates an atmosphere of hostility or anxiety through intimidation, ridicule, harassment or disrespect for others,
• Offends other staff and students,
• Contravenes Metavision Institute’s regulations, policies and procedures, or common standards of safety,
• Endangers or threatens the health, wellbeing or safety of others,
• Contravenes professional standards of conduct and/or policies and regulations of the Host Organisation providing work-integrated placements,
• Is disrespectful towards their clients or their Host Organisation, and/or
• Damages, defaces, destroys or gains unauthorised access to Metavision Institute’s property, stored electronic data, or staff members’ or other students’ property.

Implementation

Actions in relation to Inappropriate personal and professional behaviour Students who have been subject to inappropriate behaviours by another student or staff member are encouraged to report incidents to the Course Coordinator or Academic Director.

Metavision Institute’s staff members are to request students who demonstrate inappropriate personal or professional behaviour to cease the behaviour immediately, or support the complainant to do so directly. When students do not cease inappropriate behaviours as requested, staff are to request them to leave the campus or online class, and report the incident to the Academic Director.

In the case of a breach of this Code, or a serious risk to other students, staff and/or property, the police will be notified by the Academic Director or Executive Officer.

The Academic Director will determine the appropriate course of action in accordance with this Code and the Student Grievance, Complaints and Appeals Policy (Non-academic).

Responsibilities

The Academic Director is responsible for responding to reported breaches of this Code and for reporting incidents to the Governance Board, ensuring:

• New students are made aware of the Code during Orientation, and
• New staff are made aware of the Code in their induction.

When the Academic Director is the subject of a student complaint, the Executive Officer is responsible for responding to the complaint.

Staff members are responsible for intervening in any behaviour that breaches this Code and reporting breaches to the Academic Director.

Staff and students are jointly responsible for ensuring that disruptive and inappropriate behaviours do not occur at Metavision Institute. Following this Code ensures that all students have a professional, safe and productive environment in which to pursue their study.