Academic Integrity

As an editorial guide site for an academic-competition program, we hold ourselves to the same integrity standards we expect of students. This page documents our approach.

1 · Our editorial commitment

Everything on this site is held to the academic-integrity standards HOSA — and its university-admissions audience — expects of students. Specifically:

• Sources are cited. Every factual claim about HOSA, SKT-iHOSA, and the iHOSA program traces back to hosa.org, hosa.org.cn, webloom.cn, or the HOSA Rebrand Style Guide (2022). Quotations are verbatim from those sources.
• Editorial commentary is labeled. Where we offer interpretation, analysis, or recommendation, we frame it as such — not as authoritative HOSA pronouncement.
• Updates are timestamped. Each page shows when it was last reviewed. If you spot outdated information, contact us — we update within five business days.
• No fabricated stories. Alumni outcomes, success rates, and program statistics are described in general terms or quoted from official sources. We do not invent individual student stories or fake statistics to bolster appeal.

2 · No AI-generated misinformation

Where we use AI tools in editorial production (drafting, summarizing official sources, translating), the resulting content is verified against the original source. We do not publish AI-generated material that has not been fact-checked against authoritative sources.

3 · Image attribution

Images used on this site come from three categories:

1. HOSA International published imagery (hosa.org). Used under editorial fair-use with explicit attribution to the source URL.
2. SKT-iHOSA China published imagery (hosa.org.cn). Used similarly with attribution.
3. Originally-created design elements (color blocks, layouts) by this site’s operator.

We do not use stock photography styled to look like real students or AI-generated photos that imply identification of real individuals.

4 · Program integrity expectations for students

The HOSA program — and SKT-iHOSA China — operate on strict academic integrity expectations. Among other things:

• Original work. All submitted projects (BCE track), assessment responses (ATC / CCE), and presentation materials must be the student’s own. Copied work is grounds for disqualification.
• No collaboration on individual events. Individual track events (most of ATC / CCE) require independent work. Team events (HOSA Bowl, Medical Innovation) require collaboration within the registered team only.
• Honest reporting. Project outcomes, hours of community service, and similar reported information must reflect what actually occurred — not what would sound better.
• Citation discipline. Sources used in BCE projects, presentations, or research events must be cited. Fabricated citations are treated as cheating.

5 · Admissions / professional consequences

Academic-integrity violations during HOSA participation can have downstream consequences:

• Disqualification from the current event, season, or HOSA membership
• Withdrawal of HOSA-issued recognition (ACE Award, scholarships)
• Reporting to schools / districts where the conduct occurred
• For students applying to US universities, integrity violations are sometimes reportable on AMCAS, Common App, and similar admissions systems
• For students applying to professional healthcare programs, integrity violations are treated particularly seriously given the patient-safety context of healthcare professions

6 · Reporting concerns

If you observe academic-integrity concerns related to this site’s content (factual errors, missing citations, AI-generated content not verified) — or related to the HOSA program itself — please report through the WhatsApp channel on our Contact page or directly to the relevant HOSA official body.

7 · Our editorial team

Editorial team members of this site work under explicit academic-integrity commitments. Editors and advisors:

• Verify factual content against cited sources before publication
• Update outdated information within five business days of being notified
• Do not write or accept compensation for content that misrepresents HOSA or the iHOSA China program
• Do not coach students on academic-integrity violations (e.g., do not provide ghost-written assessment answers or BCE project material)

8 · Contact

Questions, concerns, or corrections regarding our editorial standards or HOSA academic integrity should be addressed via the WhatsApp channel on our Contact page.