Integrity Policy - Plagiarism/Cheating Policy

The purpose of education is to develop students who are life-long learners; dishonesty undermines and inhibits this process. No form of plagiarism or cheating is acceptable. To ensure the academic integrity of all students at Northern Valley Regional High School, this honor code has been created to promote honesty and responsibility while fostering a community of trust. Northern Valley students have the right to expect academic integrity from their peers.

All students are required to sign the Northern Valley Regional High School Honor Code. This will occur on the first day of school. By signing the honor code, the student understands the sections below.

I. Defining Cheating

Cheating is defined as any intentional misrepresentation of one’s

self or one’s academic work.

Unless expressly allowed by the department, cheating includes but is not limited to:

  • Communicating with or copying from another student regarding an examination or assessment
  • Introducing any unauthorized materials (written, printed or blank) into a classroom or examination room or via an air server or “cloud” based resources, accessing links,bypassing safe exam browsers or sharing of devices
  • Introducing any electronically stored information into a classroom or examination room
  • Obtaining a copy of an unseen written examination prior to the date and time of its authorized release
  • Gaining access to unauthorized material relating to an assessment prior or during an assessment
  • Colluding with another person by submitting work done with another person as entirely one’s own work OR collaborating with another student in the completion of work which is intended to be submitted as that other student’s own work OR knowingly allowing another student to copy one’s own work to be submitted as that student’s work
  • Falsifying data by presenting data of lab reports, projects etc. as one’s own when this data is based on experimental work conducted by another party or obtained by unfair means
  • Assuming the identity of another person or having another person assume one’s own identity with the intention of deceiving or gaining unfair advantage.
  • Plagiarizing by passing off the writings and ideas of others as one’s own. Plagiarism includes buying, stealing or borrowing a paper, hiring someone to write a paper, copying from another source without citing, using a source too closely when paraphrasing, copying or building on someone’s ideas without citation.

II. Procedures

If it is determined by a teacher that an incident of cheating has occurred, the teacher will:

  • Discuss the incident with the student and review the consequences of cheating.
  • Contact the student’s parent or guardian.
  • Notify the assistant principal or principal with a student discipline form.
  • Attend a conference including the student, guidance counselor, supervisor, parent or guardian to discuss the incident and determine how best to help the student, if such a conference is necessary.

III. Consequences

  • Any act of academic misrepresentation will result in a zero for that assignment.
  • If a student is guilty of plagiarism, besides receiving a zero on the assignment, the student may be required to redo the assignment pursuant to the department policy. The corrected assignment will be graded and averaged with the previous zero.
  • Any personal/academic misrepresentation will be recorded on the student’s discipline record by the assistant principal or principal.

In addition to parent notification, the following will apply on an individual basis by the nature of the offense:

  • Disciplinary points will be assigned by the administrator on an incident by incident basis. An accumulation of points will result in detentions or in-school suspensions. Additional actions will result for second and third offenses.
  • Any student leader (e.g. captain, officer, editor, class representative) who violates these standards may be removed from that position for the remainder of the school year at the discretion of the principal. He/she will not receive transcript credit for that leadership position.
  • Any student caught cheating or plagiarizing may be prevented from being inducted into the National Honor Society. The Faculty Council may recommend the removal of a student currently in the National Honor Society who has been caught cheating. The principal will review all recommendations. If the recommendation is upheld by the principal, National Honor Society recognition will be removed from the student’s transcript.
  • If a student is caught cheating or plagiarizing, they may not be recommended for the next level honors or AP course in that subject. Students may pursue entry via the waiver process. If an infraction occurs after a recommendation was made, the recommendation will be retracted and the student may pursue a waiver.
  • Depending on the circumstances, additional consequences may be imposed at the discretion of the principal.

***The student’s discipline record will be provided to a college/school upon request.***