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Policies

Code of Conduct

This Code of Conduct sets expectations for how participants engage with each other, with facilitators, and with the technical environments CVI provides.

The goal is a learning environment where people at different experience levels can ask questions, make mistakes, and practise safely.

Effective upon publication. Last updated upon publication

CyberVisionaries Institute provides cohort-based professional learning programs. CVI is not a certified postsecondary school and does not award college credit or academic degrees.

Purpose

CVI programs bring together people with different backgrounds, experience levels, and career histories. This Code of Conduct describes the behaviour that keeps that environment useful and safe for everyone in it.

Scope

This Code applies across:

  • virtual live sessions;
  • cohort platforms;
  • GitHub and other technical collaboration spaces;
  • mentorship;
  • CyberMondays;
  • Institute events;
  • direct communications with facilitators, mentors, and staff;
  • any CVI-managed online community.

Professional participation

Participants are expected to:

  • communicate professionally;
  • respect differing backgrounds and experience levels;
  • follow facilitator and platform instructions;
  • engage with sessions, labs, and feedback in good faith.

Respectful communication

Questions from beginners are expected and welcome. Disagreement about technical approaches is normal; dismissiveness, mockery, and personal criticism are not.

Harassment and discrimination

Participation must be free of harassment, threats, intimidation, and targeted hostility. Discriminatory conduct directed at a person or group has no place in a CVI space.

Privacy and confidentiality

Participants must protect private and confidential information, including anything another participant shares about their circumstances, employer, or work.

Credentials, private keys, tokens, personal data, and proprietary information must not be shared in CVI spaces.

Academic and professional integrity

Participants are expected to:

  • submit their own work unless collaboration is authorized;
  • identify outside sources and assistance where required;
  • represent their experience and results accurately.

AI-assisted tools may be used when permitted by the applicable assignment or facilitator. Participants remain responsible for understanding, verifying, and appropriately disclosing submitted work. Undisclosed submission of generated work is not acceptable where original work is required.

Responsible technology use

Technical environments are provided for authorized learning activities only:

  • use lab and cohort environments only for the activities they are provided for;
  • do not test, scan, exploit, or access systems without explicit authorization;
  • do not attempt to reach other participants' accounts, data, or environments.

Intellectual property

Course materials, labs, and templates are provided for participant learning. Participants must respect intellectual-property rights and must not redistribute CVI materials or third-party materials without permission.

Recording and screenshots

Participants must obtain permission before recording, photographing, or sharing screenshots of participants or private sessions. Where CVI records a session, participants are told in advance.

Safety and security

If something in a CVI space feels unsafe, participants should raise it. Situations involving an immediate risk of physical harm should be directed to the appropriate local emergency services first.

Reporting concerns

Concerns can be reported through Request Guidance using the Report a concern link on this page. Reports may be made by participants, mentors, facilitators, or guests.

Include what happened, where it happened, and when, so the Institute can review it properly.

Review and response

CVI reviews reported concerns and responds proportionately. This is a good-faith internal review, not a formal legal or judicial process.

Information is shared only as reasonably necessary to review and respond to the concern. CVI cannot guarantee confidentiality in all circumstances.

Possible actions

Depending on the circumstances, possible actions include:

  • informal guidance;
  • a written warning;
  • participation conditions;
  • removal from a session or community space;
  • temporary suspension;
  • removal from a Program;
  • other proportionate action.

Where participation ends for conduct reasons, the financial outcome is determined under the Refund & Withdrawal Policy, the accepted enrollment terms, and applicable law.

No retaliation

CVI does not permit retaliation against a person who raises a good-faith concern or participates in a review.

Questions

Questions about this Code of Conduct can be sent through Request Guidance. The Institute responds by email.

Questions about this policy

Send a question through Request Guidance and the Institute will respond by email.

Report a concern

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