Applicant Code of Conduct
Applicants are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner that demonstrates responsibility, integrity, honesty, respect, and good judgment. The Professional Code of Conduct provides a defined set of guidelines for applicant responsibilities and expected standards of performance and behavior.
Professional Code Of Conduct
- Act with honesty and integrity throughout the admissions process when interacting with school admissions officers, admissions committees, and CAS staff.
Each applicant is obligated to accurately represent themselves during the admissions process and to provide CAS and programs with accurate, honest, and complete information. Applicants must not falsify information, including but not limited to falsifying transcripts or letters of recommendation, plagiarizing personal statements, and misrepresenting academic and professional achievement. Applicants must identify themselves correctly to all admissions and CAS staff and should not inquire about an application claiming to be someone else.
- Communicate in a professional manner throughout the admissions process when interacting with CAS staff and the admissions staff at designated programs.
The applicant should use the highest professional courtesy when interacting with CAS and admissions staff. It is unacceptable for an applicant to disparage the competence, knowledge, qualifications, or services of faculty and staff involved in the admissions process. It is inappropriate to imply in word, gesture, or deed that an application has been poorly managed or the applicant was mistreated by a staff member without tangible evidence. Offensive or threatening comments via email or voicemail messages or any other form of verbal or nonverbal communication will not be tolerated. CAS and admissions staff reserve the right to terminate any conversation should the staff member feel threatened. The use of foul language will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
- Be responsible and accountable for my actions and personally manage and respond to all matters related to my application.
Applicants must demonstrate responsibility by taking ownership of all aspects related to the application process. Applicants are expected to review the application requirements of CAS and the requirements of the programs to which they apply. It is the applicant's responsibility to meet deadlines, provide information as requested, and follow the admissions process for each program to which they apply. Applicants are also responsible for promptly correcting any errors or omissions identified in their file and for responding to all notifications in a timely manner. If an applicant has a question about the admissions process after exhausting all available online and printed resources, the applicant should contact CAS or the appropriate program's admissions office directly for clarification. CAS and admissions staff will not discuss an application with an applicant's parent, spouse, relative, friend, or employer regardless of who submits the fee payment. The CAS fee payment does not relieve applicants of the obligation to properly submit all requested data and application materials by the deadline. Applicants who have not been accepted may consult program admissions staff to learn how they may correct deficiencies in their application or academic performance or seek to learn more about admissions criteria for schools to which they may apply but should remain respectful of decisions made by those involved in the admissions process.
Violation Policy
Misconduct, as defined in the Professional Code of Conduct, and all forms of dishonesty, will not be tolerated during the application process. Liaison will determine whether an applicant has violated the Professional Code of Conduct and will confirm if a violation has occurred and whether sanctions should be imposed. Sanctions imposed by the programs, Liaison, can include, but are not limited to:
- Revocation of application
- Sharing documented conduct violations with the CAS participating program(s) to which the applicant has applied to
- Sharing documented conduct violations with all CAS participating programs
Documented conduct violations may be communicated to all CAS participating programs as well as Liaison. Once an applicant receives written notification they have violated the Professional Code of Conduct and sanctions have been imposed, Liaison will provide an opportunity to appeal the decision. Such appeal must be submitted in writing to Liaison within 10 business days of the notification to the applicant of the determined violation and sanctions. The appeal will be reviewed by a panel comprised of members from Liaison and CAS. Once the appeal is reviewed by the panel, one of the following decisions will be made:
- Uphold the original sanctions
- Revise the sanctions
- Repeal some or all sanctions
Upon reaching the decision, the appeal panel will send its decision to the applicant by email and certified US mail. In the event the applicant wants to pursue a secondary appeal, they may resubmit their appeal with any additional supporting documentation. The secondary appeal will be reviewed by individual(s) from Liaison and CAS. This panel may either uphold or reverse the original decision regarding the sanctions to be imposed. The decision of the second review panel will be final. Any reversal of the violation will be communicated to all parties that may have been previously notified.