Academic Integrity Policy

Policy Goals:

In keeping with the school's role as a center for all types of learning, including the building of character for life after high school, Floyd Central High School resolves to teach all students the meaning and relevance of integrity in their academic and professional careers. The goal of the Floyd Central Academic Integrity Policy is to create a school community in which every member is assured that integrity and fairness are the norm, that violations of this norm are not tolerated, and that actions that undermine this expectation are handled firmly, consistently and in a timely manner. In the end, the purpose of this policy is to create a school where each student can proudly state of each assignment: This work is my own. I have neither used, received, nor given aid unauthorized by a teacher when turning in completed work.

Definition of Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty is any attempt to gain academic credit or recognition to which one is not entitled or to assist others to do so. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:

Copying, or allowing the copying of, graded or ungraded work.
Collaborating with others beyond what the classroom teacher (authorized) allows.
Gaining unauthorized prior knowledge of assessments or providing such knowledge to others
Transmitting or receiving information (texting, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) related to the content of graded or ungraded work.
Misrepresenting situations for academic gain, including as a means to receive additional time to complete graded or ungraded work.
Falsifying data or sources in graded or ungraded work.
Manipulating the system to gain an unfair advantage (i.e. attempting to confuse the Scantron machine)
Altering a grade whether on an individual assignment or in student records (gradebook)
Failing to comply with the instructions of the proctor or other member of the school's staff responsible for the conduct of the evaluation.
Impersonating another candidate
Stealing examination papers
Using an unauthorized calculator during an examination
Violating the rules of school-sponsored academic competitions or assignments.
Plagiarism-the stealing or using of others’ words, original ideas, or work without crediting the original source. Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to:
Using others’ words, phrases, or work without giving accurate documentation.
Downloading information from the internet in part or in whole (global plagiarism) and inserting it into one’s work without giving proper credit to sources.
Copying the structure and organizational patter created by another writer.

As member of the Floyd Central High School community, all teachers, students, administrators and parents have the responsibility to work together to ensure the FCHS Academic Integrity Policy is followed and upheld and that the purpose of education is the development of knowledge, skills, and habits not just the accumulation of points for a grade. In addition:

Teachers have the responsibility to:

Enforce the Academic Integrity Policy by reporting every incident that they believe, based on evidence, represents a violation of the policy.
Hold themselves to the same standards of integrity that they expect of their students.
Provide expectations regarding student work in the course syllabus including what is permissible in terms of collaboration.
Give rigorous, relevant, and equitable assignments and assessments.
Respond sensitively and in a timely manner to student and parent inquiries regarding course content and expectations.
Refer students to resources or provide help when asked or when it is apparent that students are struggling in the course
Keep accurate records of student performance
Use plagiarism detection software when appropriate.

Students have the Responsiblity to:

Read and understand the Academic Integrity Policy, including their own teachers’ expectations as set forth in those teachers’ syllabi
Clarify with the appropriate teacher any questions they have about whether a particular action is acceptable before taking that action.
Take an active role in their own education-to choose classes at appropriate levels, to seek help when they need it, and to avoid placing themselves in situations that make unacceptable behavior tempting
Report to a staff member and violations of the Academic Integrity Policy a student observes: student’s identity will remain confidential.

Administrators have the responsibilities to:

Assist teachers in providing authentic assignment and assessment.
Make the Academic Integrity Policy available to all students, teachers, and parents
Keep accurate, up-to-date records on Academic Integrity Policy violations for the duration of each student’s high school tenure.
Enforce the Academic Integrity Policy and apply consequences consistently and in a timely manner.

Parents Have the Responsibility to:

Familiarize themselves with the Academic Integrity Policy and discuss the policy with their child.
Familiarize themselves with individual teacher policies/expectations and discuss them with their child.
Be actively involved and engaged in what their child is learning, but avoid providing assistance that would be in conflict with the Academic Integrity Policy.
Support school consequences for Academic Integrity Policy violations.
Be sensitive to the pressure students face and adjust expectations accordingly.
(Information use to create this policy was provided by DuPont Manual High School and the IB Malpractice policy)

In a situation involving an IB Candidate that is suspected of malpractice prior to signing the cover sheet verifying that it is his or her own work, the school’s due process for violating the Academic Integrity policy will be followed. In the event that the malpractice is discovered after the signing of the verification sheet, the IB Coordinator will follow due process steps listed below:

The IB Diploma Coordinator will inform the IB Organization of the specific incident and will conduct a full investigation and provide the IB Organization with a relevant document concerning the case.
Candidates suspected of malpractice will be invited, through the DP Coordinator, to present a written explanation or defense.
Cases of suspected malpractice will be presented to members of the school’s Academic Integrity Committee on Violations. It will review the evidence collected during the investigation. The committee will decide whether to dismiss the allegation, uphold it or ask for further investigations to be made.
The Academic Integrity Committee on Violations consists of the following: Four teacher members and an Assistant Principal.
If the Academic Committee deems evidence of malpractice insufficient, the allegation will be dismissed and a grade will be awarded in the normal way.
If the Academic Committee on Violations decides that a case of malpractice has been established, no grade will be awarded in the subject(s) concerned. No IB diploma will be awarded to the candidate, but a certificate will be awarded for other subject(s) in which no malpractice has occurred.
If a case of malpractice is very serious, the Academic Committee on Violations is entitled to decide that the candidate that the candidate will not be permitted to register for any future examination session.
If the candidate has already been found guilty of malpractice in a previous session, this will normally lead to disqualification from participation in any future examination sessions.
An IB diploma, or certificate, may be withdrawn from a candidate at any time if malpractice is subsequently established.