Academic Honesty 

Every student is individually responsible for making sure they are academically honest. Academic Honesty is a complex concept covering a number of different aspects. Throughout your time in school there will be many opportunities for you to learn about academic honesty and what your role is. It is your responsibility to know and understand about academic honesty, so if you have any doubts, ask questions. There are serious consequences if you fail to stay academically honest. Students in grade 9-12 may be asked to leave our school if they are found to be academically dishonest for a third time. Students who are found to be academically dishonest in grades 6 and 7 may be given a little more time to learn from their mistakes, but each case is treated on its own merits.

Components:

Plagiarism: “the representation of the ideas or work of another person” as the students’ own

Collusion:  “supporting malpractice by another student, as in allowing one’s work to be copied or submitted for assessment by another”

Cheating: This covers a range of activities such as: copying the work of another student, taking unauthorized material into a test or exam, fabricating data for an assignment, exchanging information during a test or exam, telling the contents of a test/exam to another student who has yet to take the test/exam.

Duplication of work: “presentation of the same work for different assessment components…”

Unfair advantage: “any other behaviour that gains an unfair advantage for a student or that affects the results of another student” 

Consequences (6-8) Please note that the consequences in 9-12 are more severe.

First Offense (An opportunity for educating students and parents about learning strategies)

• Teacher informs Year Head of offense. YH checks student record for previous offenses.

• Teacher discusses the incident with the student, ensuring the student clearly understands what they have done wrong. A date is set for the student to rewrite the work for re-marking free of any dishonesty.

• Year Head records incident on student’s electronic file and informs parents, making sure they understand the nature of the offense and what happens if an offense is repeated.

Second Offense (First time parents are formally informed in writing)

• Teacher informs Year Head

• Teacher & Year Head discuss the incident with the student, making sure the accusation is valid and that the student understands the nature of the offense.

• If it is a case of plagiarism, collusion or duplication of work the student rewrites the work to receive teacher feedback, but work receives no grade.

• Year Head records incident on Veracross and informs student’s other teachers.

• The Year Head: consult the counselor for advice or counseling.

• Parents are informed of the incident and consequences in writing by the Year Head.

• Teachers may take measures to ensure academic honesty in subsequent assessments (e.g. controlled conditions, handwriting etc) 

Third Offense (Second time parents are formally informed in writing)

• Teacher informs Year Head.

• Teacher & Year Head discuss the incident with the student, making sure the accusation is valid and that the student understands the nature of the offense.

• If it is a case of plagiarism, collusion or duplicating of work the student rewrites the work to receive teacher feedback, but work receives no grade.

• Year Head records incident and consequence on Veracross and informs student’s other teachers as well as the Principal.

• Parents are informed of the incident formally in writing and an appointment is made to meet with Year Head and Principal.

• Students may be required to submit electronic work through turnitin.com.

• Students with three or more academic honesty infractions in Grade 8 will be placed on Academic Probation in Grade 9.

The role of the student

The student is ultimately responsible for ensuring that all work submitted for assessment is their own, with work or ideas of others fully and correctly acknowledged.

In addition, students should:

• Read and follow the guidelines on academic honesty

• Put into practice lessons received on citation, plagiarism etc.

• Seek help and guidance if unsure about the authenticity of their work

•  Know the consequences of being found guilty of malpractice

•  Use on-line services provided, such as turnitin.com, to help avoid plagiarism