Academic Honesty Policy

Academic integrity is the hallmark of excellence and the foundation of higher education, which requires honesty in scholarship, research, and all course work. Students are expected at all times to submit their own work for all assignments, to present their own work and ideas in all discussions, and to properly cite original authors and others when referring to sources used. Students must succeed in their classes and courses without violating the Academic Honesty Policy.

To preserve the integrity of The Packaging School’s (TPS) courses and maintain the high quality of education, the Faculty and Administration must address any charge of a violation of the academic honesty policy. At each penalty level the case is reviewed by the School Director. The due process procedures include a formal request for inquiry and research to prove or disprove the charge. A proven violation carries academic penalties. Students who violate the Academic Honesty Policy will receive a warning on a first offense, will be placed on probation for a second offense, and enrollment will be cancelled from the institution on a third offense. If an egregious violation occurs, students may be immediately academically dismissed from their course. The School Director reserves the right to issue any penalty subject to the severity of the violation.

Academic Honesty Violations

1. Cheating – representing material, either written material or images, prepared by another, as my own work.
2. Fabrication – intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any data, information, or citation in an academic exercise.
3. Plagiarism – intentionally representing the words, ideas, images, or sequence of ideas of another as my own in a unit project or assignment, and failing to attribute quotations, paraphrases, or borrowed information from other sources.
4. Facilitating academic dishonesty – intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another student to commit an act of academic dishonesty.

TPS has the right, at its discretion, to review any exams/assignments that have already been graded and to change the grade if plagiarism is found. The result of the investigation may lead to the following disciplinary action that can include but is not limited to:

Warning

• Documented counseling by staff
• Revision and resubmission of work with possible grade penalty
• Submission of alternative assignment

Probation

• Documented counseling by staff
• Revision and resubmission of work with possible grade penalty
• Submission of alternative assignment
• Fail the assignment
• Dismissed from course, suspension from the institution

Dismissal

• Academic dismissal from TPS

Unauthorized Access to Official Packaging School Materials

Students may not take, attempt to take, or in any unauthorized manner gain access to, alter, or destroy any materials pertaining to the administration of the educational process (including exams, grade records, answer keys, etc.). Unauthorized access includes sharing one’s student user name and/or password with another person or organization who is not authorized or enrolled as a student and is grounds for dismissal from the course.

Misrepresentation, Falsification of Packaging School Records or Academic Work

Students will not knowingly provide false information when completing Packaging School forms or applications (including admissions forms, enrollment agreements, use of false or counterfeit transcripts, etc.) or in any work submitted for credit as part of a course.

Malicious/Intentional Misuse of Computer Facilities and/or Services Students are strictly prohibited from the malicious or intentional misuse of computer facilities and/or services. Violations of state and federal laws (including copyright violations, unauthorized access of systems, alteration/damage/destruction or attempted alteration/damage/destruction, use for profit, etc.) or TPS’s rules regarding computer usage (including account violations, damage or destruction of the system and/or its performance, unauthorized copying of electronic information, use of threatening or obscene language, etc.) will result in immediate disciplinary action, including and up to academic dismissal.

Grading Policies

Students’ progress throughout the program is monitored through the Learning Management System (LMS). Courses include multiple quizzes and a final exam, which assess students’ comprehension of the course learning objectives. Quizzes and exams are monitored to ensure at least an 80% pass rate. If a student does not make an 80%, they will have the option to retake the knowledge assessments at the end of each course. Student completion progress is presented with the completion of every lesson in the LMS. Grades are reported to students at the end of each course and a final grade is submitted upon completion of the final exam. Students are notified by email each week if they have outstanding course material that has not been completed. Transcripts are held digitally and are considered Permanent Records to be held indefinitely. Attendance in the Certificate of Packaging Science is recorded by each login session by the LMS and all engagement with the program is monitored. 

Grading Scale

0-79% = Fail

80-100% = Pass

Quizzes and knowledge checks may be retaken in the event of an unsatisfactory score. Students must pass all courses in order to receive the certificate of completion at the end of the program. 

Complaint/Grievance Policy

If students have complaints or general comments about the institution, they should reach out to student services. If students have complaints about a course situation, they should first attempt to resolve the situation with the instructor. If a resolution cannot be made with the instructor, or if the complaint is content specific, then the students may contact the academic director for mediation. Students with a financial complaint may contact the CEO. Students will be notified that their complaint has been reviewed within 7 days. The full procedure of addressing the complaint may take longer. 

Complaints are defined as: administrative issues, financial issues, technical issues, faculty performance, grading, program content, or program effectiveness/expectations,

If the complaint cannot be resolved at the school level through its complaint procedure, students may contact the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. The Packaging School cannot guarantee that the complaint will be reviewed in a timely manner. The form to contact the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education is available on the Commission’s web site by clicking here.