19 Honor Code Infractions and Disciplinary Protocol

It is important for students and parents/guardians to understand that, while IUHPFL is a challenging program with high expectations of its participants, we also provide students with guidance and a strong support system so they can succeed. Students are invited to participate in the program precisely because instructors and administrative staff alike have determined that they have the skills and qualities required to a) benefit greatly from all that the program has to offer, b) strengthen and support their teammates, and c) be an enjoyable and helpful guest for their host family.

Instructors and host families understand that one of their primary roles in the program is to mentor and coach students and to give them encouragement and praise to help them succeed. They take pride in the fact that students return home with wonderful memories and stories to share, increased language and cultural proficiency, a deeper sense of self-confidence, broader horizons for their future plans, and friendships that will last for years to come!

It is also the responsibility of the instructors, in collaboration with the Director, to determine appropriate disciplinary responses when students engage in behaviors that defy the Honor Code.

When behaviors are unintentional and/or it is evident that the student is struggling to adapt, instructors will first attempt to better engage the student in the culture and group activities, oftentimes by creating an Engagement Plan with the student. However, in cases where the student’s actions are repeated, deliberate, and/or openly disrespectful, a disciplinary approach will be employed, which will include at least one of the following measures, depending on the severity of the behavior and the amount of time left in the program. Parents and guardians will be informed of these measures by the Director.

Behavior Plan

The Behavior Plan is often the first step of the disciplinary response and is used when the student’s actions and behaviors are clearly intentional but not egregious or dangerous. Even when a student is struggling, it is not acceptable for them to deliberately and repeatedly violate the Honor Code. A Behavior Plan is designed to help move them forward in a positive direction.

The Behavior Plan outlines the following:

• Specifics of the misconduct, including the instructors’ and the student’s points of view.
• Concrete suggestions for eliminating the behavior.
• Ways in which the instructor team will support and encourage the student’s growth and success in completing the requirements of the plan.
• Actions that the student will undertake to rectify the behavior.
• A date by which these actions will be completed.
• Consequences that will be carried out if Behavior Plan is not followed successfully, including an Incident Report.
• The instructors’ and student’s signatures.

The Behavior Plan will be shared with the Director, the U.S. family, and possibly the host family, if appropriate.

Incident Report

If the student decides not to complete the Behavior Plan or if the student knowingly violates a major tenet of the Honor Code, such as the No-Smart-Device Rule or No-Alcohol Rule, an Incident Report will be issued right away. At this point, the student cannot receive the IUHPFL Award of Excellence at the end of the program.

Although instructors prefer to implement an Engagement Plan or Behavior Plan as a first step in responding to a student’s actions or behavior, these measures are not always helpful or appropriate. In cases where behavior is intentionally harmful, disrespectful, or contrary to the major tenets of the Honor Code, an immediate Incident Report will be issued.

The Director will receive a copy of the Incident Report from the Instructors, share it with the parents/guardians via email, and request to discuss the matter with them as soon as possible. If the student’s behavior does not improve after the Incident Report, the Director will begin to discuss the option of an early return home with the parents/guardians.

Student is Sent Home

For cases involving ongoing, dangerous, or egregious acts that violate the Honor Code and affect the well-being and safety of an individual or the group, the best option is to send the student home to their U.S. family. This measure is not taken lightly and must be approved by the Director, who will inform the parents/guardians and help arrange for the student’s flight back to the U.S.

All expenses related to the student’s early dismissal from the program must be paid by the student’s parents/guardians as stated in the Payment Schedule and Terms Agreement signed by students and parents/guardians prior to departure. A student dismissed from the program will not receive the IUHPFL Diploma.

Alcohol and Substances

The IUHPFL Honor Code outlines a strict policy against alcohol and substance use. Participants are prohibited from consuming, purchasing, and receiving alcohol and substances during the program.

Although the Onsite Coordinators share the Honor Code with host families in their target languages, there still might be instances when a member of the family or a family friend doesn’t fully understand this rule. For example, if a family friend were to offer the student a glass of wine at an event or if the host family were to give the student a bottle of wine as a gift for their parents, the student must politely refuse it. If the student has any concerns along these lines, they must speak with their instructors right away, so this tenet of the Honor Code can be reiterated to the family.

Violations related to alcohol and substances are considered egregious and will merit an Incident Report and possibly an early return home. This policy applies to minors, as well as to students ages 18 and above.