Rules and Policies

All students need to be respectful of each other and the learning environment at LaunchX.  This isn’t just in the classroom, but in any arena in which they represent themselves, their LaunchX startup, their team, or the LaunchX entity leading up to or throughout the program. This includes but is not limited to students treating one another with respect, ensuring the safety of the learning atmosphere, and representing themselves with integrity and honesty.  

Please read through the following sections of rules regarding behavior and policy expectations. Additional details will be provided in later LaunchX onboarding.

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COVID

In the unfortunate event of a positive case, if our residence partner or LaunchX team determines that the student’s COVID infection is too severe thus requiring further medical attention or family intervention, we reserve the right to dismiss the student.  The student and/or his/her parent or guardian are financially and legally responsible for making arrangements for the student to leave the premises within 24 hours of the positive test. They are officially dismissed from the program without the possibility of return. Tuition will not be reimbursed. For international attendees, we suggest identifying a designated pickup person (must be a legal adult) in advance of program attendance in case of emergency.

These measures are designed to prioritize the health and well-being of our LaunchX community while fostering a fun and enriching experience for all participants.

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Behavior 

LaunchX has a zero-tolerance policy with regard to the safety and respect of others, where a student may be dismissed from the program immediately without any probationary period or recourse if safety and respect standards are not met.  

LaunchX also has a zero-tolerance policy for any actions deemed illegal by relevant local, state, or federal laws, which will result in immediate dismissal of the student.

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Bullying Policy

LaunchX is committed to providing a safe and civil environment for students and team, free of harassment, bullying, or intimidation. This includes, but is not limited to, intentional engagement in verbal, written, or cyber communication that:

• Creates a threatening and/or otherwise intimidating environment for one or more students/team members; or
• Substantially disrupts the orderly operations of the program.

If a student has difficulty meeting these expectations, parents may be called upon to assist in addressing this behavior, though depending on the extent of the infraction, parents may not be consulted prior to a notice of removal. Further information on these policies is outlined in the Code of Conduct and Violation Procedures below.

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Prohibited Behavior Examples

Examples of prohibited behaviors include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Unexcused absence from class 
• Unexcused absence from a team meeting or mentor meeting
• Tardiness to class 
• Not being fully engaged and attentive in class

• Disengaged or unresponsive when called upon 
• General disruption
• Violation of classroom rules as outlined by the team
• Violation of the Confidentiality clause (outlined and highlighted in yellow below, a parent and the student asked to initial this section)
• Rudeness towards or ridicule of anyone
• Verbal or written intimidation 
• Leaving the residence hall without a team member
• Pranks and practical jokes with malicious intent or that pose a threat to safety
• Physical or verbal intimidation
• Sexual misconduct or sexual activity
• Misuse of prescription or over-the-counter medication
• Violation of local, state, or federal laws

A reminder that this list is not exhaustive of prohibited behaviors that may result in warnings, probation, or dismissal.

Exceptions to this policy include the zero tolerance policy with regards to alcohol, drugs, or the safety and respect of others, where a student will be asked to leave immediately without any probationary period. This includes but is not limited to, physical assault, the possession of illicit substances, firearms, or any other actions deemed illegal by relevant local, state, or federal laws and will result in immediate dismissal of the student.

In the rare situation that a student is dismissed from the program, there will not be a full or partial refund of program fees, and the student and/or his/her parent or guardian is financially and legally responsible for making arrangements for the student to leave the premises within 24 hours of dismissal notification. This includes arranging for alternative accommodations, travel, or other means for the student to depart the program. Students may not under any circumstances stay on the premises more than 24 hours after dismissal.  

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Dismissal Policies

Decisions regarding student discipline are the purview of LaunchX. The steps for disciplinary concerns will be as follows:

• Warning: Typically upon a first offense students will be issued a warning. This may include issues of absences, rule-breaking, or not meeting behavioral expectations. Warnings may result in loss of privileges.
• Probation: An additional offense will place the student on probation, or a more severe offense may result in a student being placed immediately on probation without the first step of a warning. The student will meet with their Instructor to assign the consequence, and the student will call the parent together with the Instructor to provide notification of his/her status, including the consequence that any additional infraction will result in removal from the program. 
• Dismissal: If the behavior does not improve or an additional offense is committed, the student will be asked to leave the program and will not receive a full or partial refund.  

In the rare situation that a student is dismissed from the program, there will not be a full or partial refund of program fees. This policy extends to illness-related dismissals as well. 

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Violation Procedures

If a student has reasonable grounds to believe that a policy violation has been committed, this should be reported to LaunchX team immediately. LaunchX team will acknowledge receipt of the report with the student who reported it and use discretion to investigate possible violations. LaunchX team will protect the privacy of the student who reported the violation and any potential students directly affected by the violation, except in the following scenarios required by law: 

1. Harm to Self. If there is reason to believe a student is in imminent danger of harming themself and/or is unwilling to cooperate, LaunchX may legally break confidentiality and contact the police or a crisis team. Our goal in these situations is always student safety, care, and appropriate support.
2. Harm to Others. If there is reason to believe the student is threatening physical violence against another person and/or there is reason to believe the student is a threat to the safety of another person, LaunchX may be required to take action (such as contacting the police, notifying the potential victim, securing hospitalization, or some combination of these actions) to ensure the affected person is protected.
3. Courts. LaunchX may be ordered to testify in legal proceedings and/or turn over records if lawfully issued by subpoenas and court orders.

Any LaunchX team that has reasonable grounds to believe that a policy violation has been committed should privately inform and engage in discussion with the accused student as soon as possible. The procedure is then as follows:

• If upon discussion, the team member concludes that no policy violation has been committed, the student will be informed and no further action will be taken unless new evidence is revealed. 
• If upon discussion, the team member believes that a policy violation has been committed, or if the student neglects to respond to or engage in discussion, the team member will document the incident and either: 
  
  • Implement a warning or probation status; or 
  • Escalate the issue to the Program Director with probation or dismissal. 

Note: Depending on the severity of the infraction, the majority of behavioral policy violations result in an initial warning, though some may result in probationary status or dismissal as outlined in the Code of Conduct. 

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Absences

Students are not permitted to sleep outside of the dorms during the LaunchX program.  This includes but is not limited to family vacations, weekend trips with other students, conferences, training, etc.

To ensure the safety of the student, students will be authorized to leave only with a preapproved adult listed on the leave consent form with advance 24-hour notice. The student must check in upon pick up and check in upon drop off, and must abide by all other residential guidelines. Details on student leave policies from campus will be provided via forms that parents and students must sign in the coming months. Any departure from the leave policies is a significant violation of safety protocol and may result in dismissal from the program.

Students are not permitted to miss class days during the program. 

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Performance Standards 

In order to remain on track, LaunchX students must maintain the following:

• Completion of course materials 
• Attendance 
• Participation
• Completion of startup assignments, including meeting specified revenue goals and executing on prototypes

Failure to engage meaningfully in academics can contribute to behavioral warnings, probation, or dismissal.

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Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure 

The safety and security of our students, speakers, and community are of the utmost importance as we offer this experience. This includes ensuring only those who are intended to have access are given access. This means that you agree to several things in connection with your participation in the program.

You agree, in connection with all of the materials related to the LaunchX Program, that you will not share any information whatsoever, including, but not limited to, the following: 

1. You will not take any unauthorized pictures or other recordings, still or moving, of any course materials shared during the program.  Please note that this means that you may not record any LaunchX materials or guest speaker materials for personal use, school use, or any purpose.  These materials are to be used solely for this program. This includes screenshots, photographs, screen recordings, AI-assisted transcription, or any other method of capturing or reproducing program content.
2. You will use discretion and uphold the LaunchX Code of Conduct regarding any communication, including images and likenesses, relating to LaunchX, your peers, and any LaunchX affiliates including, but not limited to, any press, on blogs, X (Twitter), Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram or any other social networks, static websites or the internet.
3. You acknowledge that there may be topics discussed during the program that are not intended to be shared outside of the LaunchX community and that these discussions are confidential. You understand and agree that in being given access to this content, you will uphold its confidentiality and that the dissemination of any such information shall constitute a breach of this confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement. 
4. You will not share program access details with anyone outside the LaunchX program. This includes, but is not limited to, Zoom or other video-conference links, meeting IDs, passwords, calendar invites, or copies of classroom materials (such as slides, recordings, worksheets, or internal documents). All such access and materials are provided solely for your personal use as a LaunchX student and may not be distributed, posted online, or shared with anyone who is not officially enrolled or authorized by LaunchX.

We take the safety of our students very seriously and thank you for your part in ensuring that we can continue to have such a robust community.

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Information Security & Ethical Use

Students are strictly prohibited from attempting to hack, gain unauthorized access to, or misuse any LaunchX systems, platforms, data, or materials. This includes, but is not limited to, attempting to access restricted areas or data (such as staff or mentor information), disrupting system functionality, tampering with data, or distributing internal content without explicit permission. Any such behavior will result in immediate disciplinary action, including potential removal from the program and notification of parents.

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Code of Conduct

LaunchX and its team and students have a responsibility to foster and preserve a culture of academic integrity. Activity or behavior that encourages or includes dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, or otherwise denigrating others through disruptive behavior is unacceptable, and team and students are prohibited from knowingly engaging in such behavior. These policies hold for students both in and out of the LaunchX course platform, classroom sessions, or facilitated sessions, and must be upheld throughout the entirety of the time both prior and throughout the duration of the time as a LaunchX student. The goal of LaunchX is to create an engaging, fun, and safe learning environment for everyone. We expect students to cooperate by behaving in a mature, responsible way and respecting the rights and dignity of others to help create a positive environment for all.

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Our Code of Conduct reflects the following core values:

Honesty

• Academics: Dishonesty or misrepresentation of a student’s academic work in or out of the learning environment is strictly prohibited. This includes plagiarism (i.e. representing the partial or full work of another as one’s own), and misrepresentation or falsification of information (i.e. citing interviews that never took place).
• Student Life: To promote an environment of trust and open communication, students are expected to be honest with each other and with the team. Team members are ready to listen and help when problems arise, but can only do so when students are willing to share their concerns.
• Relationship with LaunchX: Students may refer to the status of their relationship with LaunchX as a “LaunchX Student.”  Any representations or use of the LaunchX name or any of its partners, aside from listing oneself as a LaunchX student, requires prior written consent from LaunchX.

Offenses are deemed to have been committed if the offender should reasonably have known of their participation in academic misconduct including, but not limited to:

• Forging, altering, or otherwise falsifying any information or evidence required by LaunchX whether in print or electronic form;
• Circulating or otherwise making use of any forged, altered, or otherwise falsified information for one’s own benefit or to benefit another;
• Facilitating or engaging in plagiarism of any kind, defined as representing another person’s or organization’s idea(s), expression of idea(s), and/or work as one’s own.

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Respect

Students are to be respectful to others, to surrounding property, and to the learning environment. Acts including, but not limited to, bullying, vandalism, stealing, and disruptive conduct are prohibited.

In a learning environment, being respectful also means being considerate of how others might interpret the meaning of your words.  We ask that you be considerate in communicating with your peers – err on the side of caution and try to avoid potential misinterpretations or confusion, especially anything that could be seen as offensive or hurtful.  Similarly, when reading things from your peers or hearing them over a virtual platform, give them the benefit of the doubt first, and clarify what they say before assuming something hurtful if it could have been interpreted otherwise. 

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Responsibility

Students are responsible for their actions and attitudes. You are expected to come into the program with a positive and open attitude, and be sensitive to how your actions and attitudes can affect others.  We encourage you to look for every opportunity to grow as a leader, entrepreneur, and innovator.

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Safety

Students may not provide access to any LaunchX platforms or materials including, but not limited to, the course platform, classroom sessions, or any other LaunchX meetings, forums, or any other materials, to anyone.                             

This is for the safety and security of all LaunchX students.                       

Please note that LaunchX does not actively monitor nor participate in all conversations among students before and throughout the program.  It is up to the students to uphold the integrity and safety of the community and to proactively let any LaunchX team member know if this is ever in violation.

We require that mentors do not meet with students on a 1-on-1 basis with the exception of our Online Startup Experience where students may meet 1-on-1 virtually with their company or mentor.

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Other Policies

Image Rights

You agree as a condition of your enrollment that LaunchX may use your name, voice, likeness, image, appearance, or biographical information in, on, or in connection with any pictures, photographs, audio and video recordings, digital images, websites, advertising, brochures, or other media or publication without written consent.

This clause does not preclude you from asking for an instance of likeness to be removed, the request of which LaunchX will not unreasonably deny. You agree and acknowledge that LaunchX has no control or ownership over any other third party's usage of Student's image and likeness.

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Release from Liability

You hereby waive and release LaunchX, its directors, offers, employees, agents, representatives, and licensees from any Actions or liabilities under any legal or equitable theory during or after the Term of this agreement, arising out of LaunchX's, its directors', officers', employees', agents', representatives', and licensees' exercise of their rights in connection with any consented-to use of student likeness under the above paragraph.

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Indemnification

Students and their parent/guardian shall indemnify and hold LaunchX harmless from any loss or liability that arises as a result of student participation at LaunchX or any act or omission by LaunchX. Student/Parent hereby releases, acquits, and discharges LaunchX and its agents and employees from any liability arising from any circumstance including the negligence of LaunchX, its personnel, or any third party. Student/Parent agrees to hold LaunchX harmless from all claims, losses, expenses, and liabilities of every kind arising out of breach of any part of this agreement and any notices of infringement concerning presentation or materials included in the presentation. Student/Parent shall release LaunchX from any and all claims arising out of the use of the material. 

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Jurisdiction and Arbitration

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Commercial Arbitration Rules, and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

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Administration and Team

All students must adhere to any rules and instructions set by LaunchX administration and/or team members.

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Parent/Guardian Policies

Parents/Guardians are prohibited from contacting any students (besides their own child) of the program without express consent from LaunchX.  This is for the protection of both the parent/guardian as well as students. If there are any concerns relating to student behavior, the procedure is to contact LaunchX team for intervention, and LaunchX team will investigate the concern and respond accordingly.

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Force Majeure

LaunchX shall not be liable or responsible, nor be deemed to have defaulted under or breached this Agreement, for any failure or delay in fulfilling or performing any term of this Agreement when and to the extent such failure or delay is caused by or results from acts beyond the impacted Party’s (“Impacted Party”) reasonable control, including, without limitation, the following force majeure events (“Force Majeure Event(s)”) that frustrates the purpose of this Agreement: (a) acts of God; (b) flood, fire, earthquake or explosion; (c) war, invasion, hostilities (whether war is declared or not), terrorist threats or acts, riot or other civil unrest; (d) government order or law; (e) actions, embargoes or blockades in effect on or after the date of this Agreement; (f) action by any governmental authority; (g) national or regional emergency; (h) strikes, labor stoppages or slowdowns or other industrial disturbances; (i) epidemic, pandemic or similar influenza or bacterial infection (which is defined by the United States Center for Disease Control as virulent human influenza or infection that may cause global outbreak, or pandemic, or serious illness); (j) emergency state; (k) shortage of adequate medical supplies and equipment; (l) shortage of power or transportation facilities; and (m) other similar events beyond the reasonable control of the Impacted Party.

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Background Checks

LaunchX staff, administration, residential staff, and mentors will all undergo background checks as a condition of their work (either as an employee or volunteer) with the LaunchX program.

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Social Networking 

LaunchX policy is that team members and administration are not permitted to “friend” LaunchX students on Facebook, LinkedIn, or other social media outlets during the program. This is for the good of both students and the team to respect these professional boundaries. We ask that you refrain from sending “friend” requests to LaunchX personnel.

Accepting Agreement

You are accepting your/your child’s spot at LaunchX the assigned area specified in Mission Control. You understand and agree that –

• Program fees are due on the dates specified in the acceptance document. Failure to submit payments on time will result in your/your child’s spot being forfeited.  

• The program fee deposit is non-refundable. If you/your child is no longer able to attend LaunchX, any fees paid beyond the initial non-refundable deposit will be refunded, but the initial deposit amount will not.

• Students must exhibit acceptable conduct throughout the course of the program that is safe, legal, and respectful of the learning environment. 

• LaunchX expressly reserves the right to change policies at any time without notice to protect the integrity of the Program and the safety of all parties involved. You agree that any policy change does not result in any fee refund. 

You agree that you have read and agree to the dates, rules, and policies of LaunchX.  Students and the parent/guardian expressly acknowledge these terms and agree to be bound by these terms and policies.