Student Handbook.

1. Code of Conduct & Netiquette

InnoDI is a global community of professionals, researchers, and innovators. To maintain a productive, inclusive, and professional academic environment, all students must adhere to the following standards of behavior during all synchronous and asynchronous activities:

1.1 Videoconferencing & Live Sessions (Virtual Residencies)

Synchronous interaction is a vital component of InnoDI's hybrid pedagogy. During live sessions, workshops, and virtual residencies, students must comply with the following:

• Camera Requirement: Webcams must remain turned ON during the entire duration of the session. This encourages active presence and community engagement. Exceptions must be approved in advance by the course instructor.
• Background & Environment: Students must join from a quiet, well-lit, and professional space. Joining sessions from bed, or while in cluttered or highly distracting spaces, is prohibited. Virtual backgrounds should be professional and neutral if used.
• Professional Dress Code: Students are expected to dress in appropriate business-casual attire, reflecting the professional standard of a graduate-level institution.
• Microphone Protocol: Microphones must remain muted by default to suppress ambient noise. Use the "Raise Hand" feature to ask questions, and unmute only when recognized by the moderator or professor.

1.2 Asynchronous Communication, Forums & Peer Review

Our collaborative LMS features discussion boards, project spaces, and peer review systems. The following rules govern these spaces:

• Netiquette: All written communication must be respectful, clear, and professional. Avoid typing in all capital letters (perceived as shouting), and refrain from using overly informal language or slang.
• Constructive Criticism: In peer review assignments, feedback must target the ideas, code, or design work objectively. Personal attacks, ad hominem criticisms, or dismissive remarks are strictly forbidden.
• Prohibited Content: Harassment, cyberbullying, hate speech, discriminatory statements (based on race, gender, religion, national origin, or disability), and the dissemination of non-academic material are subject to immediate disciplinary action.

1.3 Professional Responsiveness

• Platform Check-in: Students must log into the InnoDI dashboard at least once every 24 hours to monitor course announcements, feedback, and inbox notifications.
• Communication Deadlines: When contacted by administrative staff or faculty regarding academic or compliance matters, students are required to respond within 48 business hours.
• Copyright Integrity: Sharing or uploading course materials, slides, lecture transcripts, or proprietary software resources outside the InnoDI platform is a violation of intellectual property and will result in immediate suspension.

2. AI Policy & Anti-Plagiarism Pact

InnoDI is a forward-looking digital institution that embraces artificial intelligence as an essential professional tool. However, the integration of AI must not compromise original critical thinking, academic rigor, or personal accountability. Our pedagogical model is built upon the **AI Academic Integrity Framework**:

2.1 Permissible AI Tools & Assistance

Students are encouraged to utilize AI assistants (such as LLMs and code generation models) for the following activities:

• Brainstorming design concepts, architectural strategies, or spatial analysis frameworks.
• Debugging syntax errors in Python, LeafletJS, or WebGL environments.
• Refining and polishing original text for clarity, grammatical correctness, and professional tone.
• Translating technical documentation and terminology.

2.2 Impermissible AI Use & Academic Fraud

The following actions constitute academic fraud and plagiarism:

• Submitting essays, research reviews, code blocks, or project reports that are generated entirely by an AI assistant without original contribution or prompt documentation.
• Using AI assistants to solve proctored exams, quizzes, or final assessments in real-time.
• Representing AI-generated text, figures, or designs as one's own original creative or intellectual output.

2.3 Mandatory AI Interaction Log (AI_LOG.md)

For all written reports, design portfolios, and programming labs, students must submit a companion file named AI_LOG.md (or include a dedicated section in their code documentation) detailing their AI usage. This log must contain:

• Prompts Applied: A transcript of the key prompts used during the research and development phase.
• Model Suggestion vs. Human Curation: An explanation of how the AI outputs were evaluated, modified, or corrected by the student.
• Critical Reasoning: A paragraph justifying the final decisions, demonstrating the student's own intellectual agency and understanding.

Note on Evaluation: Faculty grading rubrics at InnoDI do not assess the quantity of the final output. Instead, grading is heavily weighted on curation, critical reasoning, architectural logic, and spatial problem-solving. A functional codebase that cannot be critically explained by the student will receive a failing grade.

2.4 Progressive Sanction Matrix

Violation of the AI Academic Integrity Framework will lead to the following progressive sanctions:

• First Infraction: An official warning is logged. The student must redo the assignment under strict conditions, with the maximum attainable score capped at 50%.
• Second Infraction: A grade of zero (0) is recorded for the module component, and the case is referred to the Academic Disciplinary Committee. The student may face suspension from the course.
• Third Infraction: Permanent expulsion from the university. A permanent note of academic misconduct is appended to the student's transcripts.

3. Technical Requirements & Proctoring

As a 100% online institution (FOAD), students must possess and maintain the necessary technical infrastructure to complete their academic work and participate in secure evaluations.

3.1 Minimum Hardware Specifications

• Processor: Intel Core i5 / AMD Ryzen 5 or Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) minimum.
• Memory (RAM): 8 GB minimum (16 GB is highly recommended for courses involving 3D rendering, GIS analysis, and big data computations).
• Storage: At least 50 GB of free hard disk space. Solid State Drives (SSD) are preferred.
• Peripherals: An integrated or external HD webcam (minimum 720p resolution), a working microphone, and stereo speakers/headphones.

3.2 Software & Connectivity

• Web Browser: Latest version of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge.
• Operating System: Windows 10/11, macOS Monterey (or newer), or a major Linux distribution.
• Development Environment: Git (and a GitHub account), Python 3.10+, QGIS, and specialized software as detailed in individual course syllabus files.
• Internet Broadband: A stable internet connection with a minimum download speed of 10 Mbps and an upload speed of 5 Mbps. A wired Ethernet connection is recommended during exam sessions.

3.3 Secure Remote Proctoring Protocol

To preserve the value of InnoDI credentials, all mid-term and final examinations are monitored using automated, secure remote proctoring software. By registering for examinations, students consent to the following parameters:

• Identity Verification: Biometric facial recognition matching against the student's official identity card before the exam begins.
• Continuous Monitoring: Real-time recording of the webcam feed, audio input, and screen activity during the test.
• Room Scan: The proctoring system may prompt the student to perform a slow 360-degree scan of their physical environment using their webcam to ensure no secondary screens, unauthorized books, or external helpers are present.
• Testing Rules: The student must remain alone in a quiet room, facing the camera directly. Eyes must remain on the screen; looking away repeatedly will trigger a warning flag. No secondary monitors or tablets may remain connected.

4. Grievance & Appeals Process

InnoDI is committed to procedural fairness, objectivity, and transparency. Students have the legal right to contest academic decisions or report non-academic grievances through the following structured processes:

4.1 Academic Appeals (Grade Disputes)

If a student believes a grade has been calculated in error or that an assessment rubric was misapplied, they must follow these steps:

• Step 1: Informal Dispute (Within 7 Calendar Days): The student must contact the course instructor directly via the LMS to discuss the grade. Most grading discrepancies are resolved at this stage.
• Step 2: Formal Appeal Ticket (Within 14 Calendar Days): If the issue is not resolved informally, the student may submit a formal Academic Appeal Ticket through their dashboard. The ticket must contain the graded work, the rubric, and a detailed written justification. The appeal is routed to the Department Chair.
• Step 3: Academic Board Review (Within 30 Calendar Days): If the student contests the Department Chair's ruling, the appeal is forwarded to the Academic Committee. The Committee reviews the proctoring logs, assignment history, and rubrics, and issues a final, binding decision. No further appeals are permitted.

4.2 Proctoring Infraction Appeals

If a student's exam is flagged for a proctoring violation (e.g., suspected cheating, unauthorized assistance), the student will receive a notification detailing the flag. The student has 5 business days to submit a written explanation to the Registrar's Office. The Registrar will review the webcam and screen recordings before confirming or dismissing the infraction.

4.3 Non-Academic Grievances & Harassment

Reports of administrative issues, harassment, discrimination, or technical service failures must be submitted to the Student Ombudsperson at innodi@sounny.com. All reports are handled with absolute confidentiality and investigated within 10 business days.

5. Graduation & Micro-Credential Policies

InnoDI awards degrees based on the demonstration of absolute competency. Our academic structure is aligned with the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) and is built on modular progress.

5.1 ECTS Credit Workload

A standard Master of Science (MSc) degree at InnoDI consists of 120 ECTS credits, spread across 4 semesters. One (1) ECTS credit represents approximately 25 to 30 hours of student workload, comprising:

• Asynchronous course readings, instructional videos, and interactive simulations (approx. 40% of time).
• Practical coding labs, spatial analysis design, and homework deliverables (approx. 40% of time).
• Live webinars, group projects, and synchronous office hours (approx. 20% of time).

5.2 Mastery-Based Progression (The 100% Mastery Rule)

To ensure high standards of employability, InnoDI enforces a strict mastery-based system:

• Module Unlocking: A student cannot unlock or begin Module $N+1$ until they have achieved a score of **100%** on the final assessment of Module $N$.
• Iterative Learning: Students may retake assessments, debug code, and resubmit lab projects as many times as necessary to reach 100% mastery. The system provides detailed automated feedback to assist the learning process.

5.3 Stacking Micro-Credentials (Blockchain Badging)

Upon achieving 100% mastery of a module, the system immediately issues a digital, blockchain-verified micro-credential badge. These badges can be shared on professional networks (LinkedIn) immediately, allowing students to demonstrate skills to employers before full degree completion.

5.4 Capstone Project & Thesis Defense (Projet de Fin d'Études)

Semester 4 is dedicated entirely to the Projet de Fin d'Études (PFE), worth 30 ECTS. To graduate, students must:

• Complete a substantial, industry-aligned project solving a real-world technical or spatial challenge.
• Submit a 15,000-word written thesis detailing their methodology, research, and implementation.
• Defend their thesis in a virtual oral examination before a 3-member jury (consisting of two permanent InnoDI faculty members and one external industry expert). The defense requires a passing score of at least 12/20.

5.5 Financial Clearance

A student will not be approved for graduation, and no official transcripts, diplomas, or certificates will be issued, until all outstanding tuition, administrative fees, and technology charges are cleared in the Student Accounts registry.