Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity Policy

As found on pages 55-57 of the Almanac (Rev. 8/15/18).

In the “Values of Our Learning Community,” we commit ourselves to the goal of providing a “dynamic environment for teaching and learning, as well as exceptional preparation for future study and fulfilling adult lives.” To this end, all members of our community must: “commit to high standards of scholarship and personal conduct,” “practice the values that nurture healthy relationships: respect, honesty, and compassion in particular,” and “risk and reflect in the pursuit of continual growth.”

Academic integrity is integral to our purpose as it is based on honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. It also trains students for the rigor of college studies and affirms the bond between intellect and character.

VIOLATIONS

Cheating, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration are the most common violations of academic integrity. Students will be reported for formal disciplinary action if they are dishonest in their work. Specific examples of academic integrity violations include, but are not limited to, the following:

Cheating

  • Giving or receiving information about the content of a quiz, test, exam, or other assessment
  • Giving or receiving answers during a quiz, test, or exam
  • Consulting with others or outside resources when instructed not to do so
  • Manufacturing or changing data, inventing outside sources, falsely attributing quotations, or making up quotations and crediting them to a real or fictitious source
  • Doing someone else’s work, or claiming ownership of someone else’s work
  • Submitting the same paper, or largely the same paper, in more than one course
  • Referring to notes, outlines, timelines, calculators, or translators during quizzes, tests, essays, and exams, unless told to do so by the teacher
  • Using a calculator or any other electronic device in a manner inconsistent with guidelines provided by the teacher

Plagiarism

  • Intentionally or unintentionally using words, images, or ideas without proper citation
  • Paraphrasing a source without proper citation
  • Misrepresenting in any way someone else’s intellectual property

Unauthorized collaboration

  • Helping another student to complete (or being helped by another student to complete) assigned work in a manner not permitted by the teacher

ROLES & ADJUDICATION PROCESS

The roles played by individuals in the adjudication process for violations of the academic integrity policy are the same as for violations of any major school rule.

Teachers. A teacher who suspects a student of a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy must consult with a department head. If the teacher and department head suspect the student of academic dishonesty, the teacher must meet with the student to discuss the situation.

If, after meeting with the student, the teacher still suspects the student of an academic integrity violation, the teacher must inform the department head, the student’s faculty advisor, and the class dean of her or his concerns. If the student is suspected of plagiarism, the teacher must provide the class dean with the assignment explanation form.

Department Heads. Department heads are expected to help teachers respond to suspected academic integrity violations. They will consult with teachers before teachers reach out to students suspected of academic integrity violations. Department heads will also provide guidance if a teacher, after speaking with a student, believes an academic integrity violation has occurred.

Students. A student suspected of violating the Academic Integrity Policy must submit a statement or a written explanation of the events precipitating the suspicion to his or her class dean. Students suspected of plagiarism must complete an assignment explanation form.

Class Deans. The respective class dean receives statements from the student and teacher and then confers with the other class deans and the dean of students to determine whether or not to send the case to the Discipline Committee (DC). If the student is suspected of plagiarism, the student will fill out an assignment explanation form. If the case goes to the DC, then the class dean explains the adjudication process to the student.

Dean of Students. The dean of students chairs the DC and conveys the DC’s recommendation to the head of school, who renders a decision. The dean of students communicates the decision to the parents in a formal letter.

Faculty Advisor. The faculty advisor will accompany the student to the DC, speaks on behalf of the student’s character and condition separate from the charge, and supports the student after adjudication.

CONSEQUENCES FOR A VIOLATION

The following section details the likely consequences that the DC will impose for an academic integrity violation, which may be adjusted if a particular situation presents aggravating or mitigating circumstances.

Level 1 Consequence

A first academic integrity violation ordinarily leads to a Level 1 consequence. The School takes a first offense seriously and uses it as an opportunity for education and growth. A Level 1 consequence will ordinarily include the following:

  • The student receives a Letter of Censure or Warning.
  • A grade penalty will be determined by the referring teacher in consultation with the departmental head and the dean of academic life.
  • The student may be asked to redo and successfully complete the assignment or to complete an alternative academic assignment.
  • An educational and/or counseling intervention may occur as determined by the dean of academic life and class dean.

Level 2 Consequence

A first offense that is egregious (e.g., multiple instances of cheating, distributing materials to help others cheat, etc.) or a second offense will ordinarily lead to a Level 2 consequence. A Level 2 consequence will ordinarily include the following:

  • The student will be placed on General Probation.
  • A grade penalty will be determined by the referring teacher in consultation with the departmental head and the dean of academic life.
  • The student may be asked to redo and successfully complete the assignment or to complete an alternative academic assignment.
  • An educational and/or counseling intervention will occur as determined by the dean of academic life and class dean.

Level 3 Consequence

A first or second offense that is egregious (e.g., multiple instances of cheating, distributing materials to help others cheat, etc.) or a third offense will ordinarily lead to a Level 3 consequence: dismissal from the School.