1. Definition of Academic Integrity
Academic integrity means that all students are expected to submit work that is their own and to properly attribute any ideas, words, or work that are not original. This applies to all forms of academic work, including but not limited to:
- Homework assignments
- Quizzes and tests
- Essays, research papers, and other written assignments
- Group projects and presentations
- Lab reports and experiments
2. Prohibited Actions
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to:
- Cheating: Using unauthorized materials, copying from another student, or receiving unauthorized assistance during an exam, quiz, or other assignments.
- Plagiarism: Presenting someone else’s work, ideas, or words as your own without proper attribution. This includes copying from books, websites, or other students without citing the source.
- Falsification: Fabricating data, information, or citations in any academic work.
- Collusion: Unauthorized collaboration with others on individual assignments. While collaboration may be encouraged in group projects, students must clearly understand when they are expected to complete work independently.
- Misrepresentation: Lying or providing false information to teachers or administrators to gain an academic advantage, such as claiming an assignment was submitted when it was not.
3. Student Responsibilities
- Understanding Expectations:It is the student’s responsibility to understand the expectations for each assignment, including whether collaboration is allowed, how to properly cite sources, and what materials can be used during assessments.
- Seeking Help:If a student is unsure about whether something constitutes a violation of academic integrity, they should seek clarification from their teacher before proceeding.
- Original Work:Students are expected to submit work that is their own, reflects their understanding of the material, and demonstrates their effort.
- Proper Citation:When using ideas, words, or work from others, students must give proper credit to the original sources using the appropriate citation format as instructed by their teacher.
4. Consequences of Violating Academic Integrity
Violating academic integrity undermines the educational process and will not be tolerated. Consequences for violating this agreement may include, but are not limited to:
- Receiving a failing grade or zero on the assignment, test, or project.
- Requiring the student to complete an alternative assignment.
- Detention, suspension, or other disciplinary action depending on the severity of the violation.
- Permanent notation on the student’s academic record, which may affect college admissions or other future opportunities.
Students who violate academic integrity may also be required to meet with school administration, parents/guardians, and teachers to discuss the violation and appropriate consequences.
