HOLY NAME OF MARY ACADEMIC DISHONESTY POLICY AND CONSEQUENCES
At Holy Name of Mary School, academic integrity is a core value that fosters a supportive and trusting learning environment. Students are expected to demonstrate honesty and responsibility in all academic activities, including homework, tests, projects, and other assignments. Cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or any form of dishonest conduct is strictly prohibited. Our policy is designed to educate, support, and guide students to make ethical decisions while maintaining a collaborative and fair educational setting.
Definition of Academic Dishonesty Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following actions:
- Copying another student's work or allowing one's work to be copied.
- Using unauthorized materials or assistance during assessments.
- Plagiarizing by presenting someone else's ideas or writing as one's own without proper citation.
- Fabricating data or information for assignments.
- Tampering with grades or submitting work under false pretenses.
- Using AI or technology to complete assessments without proper authorization.
- Colluding with others to commit academic dishonesty.
At Holy Name of Mary School, any action intended to gain an unfair advantage or misrepresent one’s abilities or knowledge is considered academic dishonesty. This is a serious violation of our commitment to academic integrity. Consequences may vary depending on the situation but can include failing a course, suspension, or even expulsion. As a faith-based institution, we hold all students to the highest standards of honesty and integrity in their academic work.
Preventing Academic Dishonesty Schools have rules to make sure students are honest in their work. Here are some ways they help:
- Talking About Honesty: Teachers teach students what cheating is, why it’s wrong, and how to give credit when using someone else’s ideas. This helps students learn to do their own work and avoid mistakes like copying.
- Watching During Tests: Teachers or helpers keep an eye on students during tests to make sure everyone works on their own. For online tests, sometimes cameras are used to check, too.
- Checking for Copying: Schools use special computer programs to find out if students copied their work from somewhere else.
These steps make sure everyone learns and plays fair!
Consequences and Tiered Support
1. First Offense:
- The student will receive a grade of zero for the assignment or assessment.
- A formal discussion will take place between the student and teacher to address the behavior and review expectations.
- Parents will be notified, and a record of the offense will be documented. The student may be asked to complete a reflective activity focused on academic integrity.
- Detention will be issued.
2. Second Offense: - The student will receive a zero for the assignment or assessment.
- A conference will be held involving the student, parents, teacher, and administration to develop an improvement plan.
- The student may be required to attend academic integrity meeting with principal or counseling sessions tailored to address the underlying causes of dishonesty.
3. Third Offense: - A meeting will be held with all relevant parties to determine the appropriate steps for the student’s future success within or outside the school environment.
- The student may face more severe academic and disciplinary consequences, including suspension from school activities or recommendation for expulsion based on circumstances and administrative review.
Holy Name of Mary School emphasizes restorative approaches to instill accountability and growth. Through this policy, we aim to cultivate a community grounded in honesty, respect, and academic excellence.
