The Atlanta College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ("ACLAS," "we," "us," or "our"), an online private university registered in the United States, is committed to fostering a respectful, ethical, and professional learning environment for all students enrolled in our Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Master of Computer Science (MCS), and non-degree certificate programs.
This Code of Conduct ("Code") establishes the standards of behavior expected of all students, whether enrolled or prospective, as well as participants in our affiliate programs and users of our Services (collectively, the "ACLAS Community").
The Services include our websites (aclas.college, aclas.edu.gr, aclas.edu.gl), student portals, online educational programs, payment systems, certificate verification functions, and related offerings.
ACLAS provides electronic degrees and certificates by default; physical documents are an optional paid service for graduates.
By engaging with ACLAS’s Services, you agree to abide by this Code, which complements our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, Refund Policy, Cookie Policy, and Disclaimer.
Violations of this Code may result in disciplinary actions, including warnings, suspension, termination of enrollment, revocation of degrees or certificates, legal action including international litigation and claims for damages, and publication on our Non-Compliance List, as described in Section 7.
This Code ensures that all members of the ACLAS Community uphold the values of academic integrity, respect, and professionalism.
1. Scope and Applicability
This Code applies to all members of the ACLAS Community, including:
- Enrolled Students: Individuals registered in BBA, MBA, DBA, MCS, or certificate programs.
- Prospective Students: Applicants or those engaging with ACLAS during the admissions process.
- Affiliates: Participants in the ACLAS affiliate program.
- Users: Visitors to our websites or users of our Services, including certificate verification tools.
The Code governs conduct in all interactions with ACLAS, including online coursework, virtual classes, student portal activities, communications with faculty or staff, and participation in ACLAS-related platforms or services. It applies globally, as our programs are delivered online.
2. Standards of Conduct
ACLAS expects all members of the ACLAS Community to adhere to the following principles:
2.1 Academic Integrity
- Honesty: Submit original work for all assessments, examinations, or projects. Properly cite sources and avoid plagiarism, fabrication, or falsification of academic credentials or data.
- Compliance: Follow program-specific academic requirements, including deadlines, assessment criteria, and course completion standards.
- Fairness: Engage in assessments without cheating, unauthorized collaboration, or use of prohibited materials or tools, including inappropriate use of AI technologies (see Section 3.1).
2.2 Professionalism
- Respect: Communicate respectfully with faculty, staff, and peers in virtual classes, forums, emails, or other platforms, avoiding harassment, discrimination, or abusive language.
- Confidentiality: Protect the privacy of others by not sharing personal or academic information without consent, in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g) and our Privacy Policy.
- Responsibility: Provide accurate and truthful information during enrollment, payment, and academic interactions.
2.3 Ethical Use of Technology
- Authorized Access: Use only authorized accounts and credentials to access the student portal, course materials, or other Services. Do not share login details or attempt unauthorized access to systems.
- Compliance with Policies: Adhere to our Cookie Policy and Terms of Service regarding the use of cookies, tracking technologies, and system resources.
- Security: Refrain from introducing viruses, malware, or harmful code, or using automated tools (e.g., bots, scrapers) to extract data or disrupt Services.
- Technical Requirements: Maintain compatible devices and a stable internet connection (e.g., minimum 5 Mbps for video streaming, modern browser like Chrome or Firefox) to access Services, as outlined in the Terms of Service.
2.4 Compliance with Laws
- Legal Conduct: Engage in lawful behavior, respecting U.S. federal and state laws, as well as applicable international laws (e.g., GDPR for EEA residents, CCPA for California residents).
- Export Controls: Comply with U.S. export regulations (e.g., Export Administration Regulations, 15 C.F.R. Parts 730-774) when accessing or using Services in restricted jurisdictions.
3. Prohibited Actions
The following behaviors are strictly prohibited and may result in disciplinary action:
3.1 Academic Dishonesty
- Plagiarism: Copying or using others’ work without proper attribution, including text, code, or ideas from external sources or AI tools without acknowledgment.
- Cheating: Using unauthorized materials, aids, or collaboration during assessments, or misrepresenting your work or identity.
- Falsification: Submitting fabricated or falsified academic credentials, enrollment data, or documents (e.g., transcripts, resumes, identification) during the admissions or verification process.
- Improper Use of AI Tools: Using AI tools (e.g., chatbots, code generators) to complete assessments or examinations unless explicitly permitted by course guidelines. AI tools may be used for research or drafting with proper attribution, as specified by faculty.
3.2 Misconduct
- Harassment or Discrimination: Engaging in behavior that is threatening, abusive, discriminatory, or harassing based on race, gender, nationality, religion, disability, or other protected characteristics in virtual classes, forums, or communications.
- Disruptive Behavior: Interfering with the learning environment, including inappropriate or disruptive communications in virtual classes, forums, or emails.
- Defamation and Rumors: Publishing false, misleading, or defamatory statements about ACLAS, its staff, or community members, or spreading rumors that cause significant reputational harm to ACLAS, on social media, forums, or other platforms, as outlined in the Terms of Service (Section 6.3). Such actions may result in legal action, including international litigation and claims for damages.
- Abuse of Dispute Mechanisms: Filing baseless payment disputes, chargebacks, or refund requests after accessing course materials, using false reasons to request refunds, or attempting to obtain improper economic benefits through threat of dispute. Such actions constitute fraudulent activity and may result in immediate suspension of all services, credential revocation, and listing in the Academic Revocation Registry.
- Malicious Complaints: Submitting false or exaggerated complaints to regulatory bodies, payment processors, or other third parties with the intent to harm ACLAS's reputation or obtain unjustified refunds.
3.3 Unauthorized Use of Services
- System Abuse: Attempting to bypass security measures, hack systems, or access unauthorized areas of the student portal or websites.
- Content Misuse: Copying, distributing, or modifying course materials, videos, or intellectual property without written permission, as prohibited by the Terms of Service (Section 7).
- Fraudulent Activity: Engaging in chargeback fraud, frivolous refund demands, providing false payment information, or using illicit funds (e.g., proceeds from illegal activities, stolen credit cards, or laundered money) for tuition or other payments, as outlined in the Refund Policy (Section 5) and Terms of Service (Section 5.5). Such actions may result in legal action, including international litigation and claims for damages.
3.4 Non-Compliance with Policies
- Failure to Meet Academic Standards: Not completing required coursework, assessments, or program requirements within specified timelines.
- Violation of Other Policies: Breaching the Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, Refund Policy, Cookie Policy, or Disclaimer, including failure to comply with enrollment or verification processes.
4. Conduct in Virtual Learning Environments
As an online institution, ACLAS expects students to maintain professionalism in virtual settings, including:
- Virtual Classes: Participate respectfully in live or recorded sessions, adhering to instructor guidelines and avoiding disruptive behavior (e.g., inappropriate comments, background noise).
- Discussion Forums: Post constructive and relevant content, respecting diverse perspectives and avoiding offensive or off-topic remarks.
- Technical Etiquette: Ensure a stable internet connection and appropriate device setup to minimize disruptions during virtual interactions.
5. Disciplinary Process
ACLAS maintains a fair and transparent process for addressing violations of this Code. The disciplinary process includes the following steps:
5.1 Reporting Violations
- Violations may be reported by faculty, staff, students, or third parties via email to conduct@aclas.college or through the student portal’s reporting tool.
- Reports must include specific details of the alleged violation, including evidence (e.g., screenshots, documents) where applicable.
5.2 Investigation
- ACLAS will conduct a prompt and impartial investigation within 15 business days of receiving a report, led by the Office of Academic Integrity or a designated committee.
- The accused individual will be notified via email and given an opportunity to respond to the allegations within 5 business days.
5.3 Disciplinary Actions
- Warning: A formal notice outlining the violation and required corrective actions.
- Probation: Temporary restrictions on access to certain Services (e.g., course enrollment) with conditions for reinstatement.
- Suspension: Temporary removal from programs or Services, with no refunds issued, as per the Refund Policy.
- Termination of Enrollment: Permanent removal from ACLAS programs, with no refunds, as outlined in the Terms of Service (Section 11).
- Revocation of Credentials: Cancellation of degrees, certificates, or transcripts due to falsification, academic dishonesty, or severe conduct violations, as described in Section 7.
- Legal Action: Pursuit of legal remedies, including international litigation and claims for damages, for egregious violations such as fraud, use of illicit funds, or defamation causing significant reputational harm, as permitted by the Terms of Service (Section 15).
5.4 Appeals
- Individuals subject to disciplinary action may appeal within 15 business days of notification by submitting a written appeal to conduct@aclas.college, including a detailed statement and supporting evidence.
- Appeals will be reviewed by an independent panel within 15 business days, and the decision is final. A secondary review may be requested within 5 business days if new evidence is presented, at ACLAS’s discretion.
- Submission of an appeal does not pause disciplinary actions unless explicitly approved by ACLAS.
6. Academic and Conduct Requirements
To maintain enrollment and eligibility for degrees or certificates, students must:
- Meet Academic Standards: Achieve passing grades on assessments, examinations, or projects, and adhere to program-specific requirements, as outlined in the Terms of Service (Section 4).
- Comply with Conduct Policies: Adhere to this Code and all related ACLAS policies, ensuring ethical and professional behavior.
- Provide Accurate Information: Submit truthful and complete data during enrollment, payment, and verification processes, as required by the Privacy Policy (Section 1.1).
Failure to meet these requirements may result in disciplinary actions, including revocation of credentials, as detailed in Section 7.
7. Non-Compliance List and Credential Revocation
7.1 Grounds for Revocation
- Falsification of Academic Credentials or Enrollment Data: Providing fabricated or misleading information (e.g., forged transcripts, false work history) during admissions or verification.
- Academic Dishonesty: Engaging in plagiarism, cheating, unauthorized collaboration, or improper use of AI tools, as defined in Section 3.1.
- Failure to Meet Academic Standards: Not completing required coursework, assessments, or program-specific criteria.
- Conduct Policy Violations: Engaging in prohibited actions, such as harassment, system abuse, use of illicit funds, or defamation causing significant reputational harm, as outlined in Section 3.
7.2 Academic Revocation Registry
- Individuals whose credentials or enrollment are revoked due to the above grounds may be listed on a publicly accessible Academic Revocation Registry, maintained on our website (aclas.college/academic_revocation_registry).
- The registry includes masked data (e.g., initials, masked email, country, program, revocation reason, action taken) processed to minimize identifiability while maintaining transparency and credential integrity. This disclosure is based on our legitimate interests in fraud prevention, protecting the integrity of our credentials, and informing third-party verification queries, in compliance with applicable data protection laws including GDPR (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) and CCPA (Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.100 et seq.).
- The Academic Revocation Registry is updated periodically to reflect disciplinary actions and serves to maintain transparency, protect the integrity of ACLAS credentials, and inform legitimate verification requests from employers, educational institutions, and other third parties.
7.3 Notification and Appeal
- Affected individuals will be notified via email within 5 business days of a revocation decision, including the reason for revocation and instructions for appeal.
- Appeals must be submitted within 15 business days to conduct@aclas.college, with a detailed statement and supporting evidence. The appeal process follows Section 5.4.
- Revoked credentials are no longer valid for verification through our certificate verification tool, and third parties (e.g., employers) will be informed of the revocation status upon query.
8. Rights and Responsibilities
8.1 Student Rights
- Fair Treatment: All students are entitled to a fair and impartial disciplinary process, with the right to respond to allegations and appeal decisions.
- Privacy Protections: Personal and educational data are protected under FERPA, GDPR, and CCPA, as detailed in our Privacy Policy. Disciplinary actions involving data sharing (e.g., Non-Compliance List) comply with applicable privacy laws.
- Access to Resources: Students have access to academic support, technical assistance, and policy information via the student portal or by contacting info@aclas.college.
8.2 Student Responsibilities
- Compliance: Adhere to this Code, all ACLAS policies, and applicable laws.
- Accuracy: Provide truthful information during all interactions with ACLAS, including enrollment, assessments, and verification processes.
- Reporting: Promptly report suspected violations or security issues to conduct@aclas.college or info@aclas.college.
- Technical Maintenance: Ensure devices and internet connections meet minimum requirements for accessing Services (e.g., 5 Mbps for video streaming, modern browser).
8.3 ACLAS Responsibilities
- Transparency: Maintain clear and accessible policies, with updates communicated via email or the student portal. Notify affected individuals promptly of any legal actions pursued, including litigation or claims for damages.
- Fair Enforcement: Apply this Code consistently and fairly, with documented procedures for investigations and appeals.
- Data Protection: Safeguard student data in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable laws, including encryption and access controls.
9. Compliance with Applicable Laws
ACLAS is committed to compliance with the following laws, as applicable:
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g): Although ACLAS does not receive federal funding, we voluntarily comply with FERPA to protect student educational records. Students may request access to their records, request amendments for inaccuracies, or control disclosures of personally identifiable information within 45 days by contacting dpo@aclas.college. Requests for amendments must include specific details and supporting evidence; hearings, if needed, will be conducted virtually with an ACLAS official. For non-U.S. students, FERPA-like protections are extended, subject to compatibility with local laws (e.g., GDPR for EEA residents).
- GDPR (Regulation (EU) 2016/679): Ensures data protection for EEA residents, including explicit consent for non-essential cookies and data sharing, as outlined in the Privacy Policy (Section 4) and Cookie Policy (Section 5). Violations involving personal data may lead to legal action, including international litigation, to protect ACLAS’s rights and reputation.
- CCPA (Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.100 et seq.): Provides California residents with rights to access, delete, and opt out of data sharing, as described in the Privacy Policy (Section 5.3).
- CAN-SPAM Act (15 U.S.C. § 7701 et seq.): Governs marketing emails, with opt-out options provided, as noted in the Terms of Service (Section 10.3).
- U.S. Export Regulations (15 C.F.R. Parts 730-774): Restricts access to Services in certain jurisdictions, as referenced in the Terms of Service (Section 16).
Violations of this Code that cause significant harm to ACLAS, such as use of illicit funds or defamation, may result in legal action, including international litigation and claims for damages, to recover losses and protect institutional integrity, as permitted by applicable laws and the Terms of Service (Section 15).
10. Updates to This Code of Conduct
We may update this Code to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Updates will be posted on our website with a revised “Effective Date.” Significant changes (e.g., new conduct requirements or disciplinary procedures) will be communicated via email or a website banner. You can subscribe to policy update notifications via the student portal or by contacting info@aclas.college. Check this page regularly.
11. Contact Us
For inquiries or to report violations of this Code, contact:
- Atlanta College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Email: conduct@aclas.college
- Alternative Contact: info@aclas.college
- GDPR Inquiries: Data Protection Officer at dpo@aclas.college or GDPR EU representative, Emily Sarah Knight, at e.knight@aclas.college
- For assistance with this Code, including explanations in your native language, contact info@aclas.college.
EEA residents may lodge complaints with their local data protection authority.
12. Summary of Key Points
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Scope | Applies to all students, prospective students, affiliates, and users of ACLAS Services. Electronic credentials are default; physical documents are optional paid services. |
| Standards | Academic integrity, professionalism, ethical use of technology, compliance with laws, virtual learning conduct. |
| Prohibited Actions | Plagiarism, cheating, falsification, improper AI tool use, harassment, system abuse, use of illicit funds, defamation or rumors causing reputational harm, frivolous refund demands. |
| Disciplinary Process | Investigation within 15 business days, actions (warning, suspension, termination, revocation, legal action including international litigation), appeals within 15 business days with secondary review option. |
| Non-Compliance List | Desensitized data (e.g., initials, revocation reason) for revoked credentials, GDPR/CCPA compliant. |
| Rights | Fair treatment, privacy protections (FERPA, GDPR, CCPA), access to resources; responsibilities include compliance, accuracy, technical maintenance. |
| Contact | conduct@aclas.college, info@aclas.college, dpo@aclas.college, e.knight@aclas.college (EU representative); |
Last Updated: July 07, 2025