Timberline High School
Academic Integrity and Responsibility Policy
Rationale
Representing someone else’s work as your own is dishonest. It compromises your integrity and goes against the values of Timberline. We believe that success in school is dependent on the effort you put into your school work. We expect you to complete your work with integrity because your work represents what you can do.
Definitions
Integrity – honesty, sincerity, doing the right thing
Plagiarism – taking ideas and/or writing from another without documenting the source through citations
Cheating – representing someone else’s work as your own or allowing someone to represent your work as their own.
Examples include, but are not limited to
- cheat sheets
- notes or answers written on a person or object
- answers on electronic devices such as phones or IPods
- using copied tests
- copying from another’s tests, assignments or homework
- emailing or texting to ask or answer questions on a test or assignment
- giving away answers or providing homework or assignments to another
- stealing tests
- forging signatures, modifying grades or notes
Consequences
If clear, objective evidence is provided, the following consequences may result from incidents of
cheating/plagiarism.
First Offense
1. Student receives a zero on homework, assignment, essay or test with no opportunity to make up or retake
2. Teacher confers with student and submits a discipline referral (for documentation only)
3. Teacher contacts parent explaining specifics of incident once violation is determined
Second Offense (in the original class or another class or classes during the same semester)
1. Student receives a zero on homework, assignment, essay or test with no opportunity to make up or retake
2. Teacher confers with student and submits a discipline referral to administrator
3. Discipline administrator contacts parent for parent conference once violation is determined
4. Depending on the severity of the offense, student may be removed from class with a grade of F
Third Offense (in the original class or another class or classes during the same semester)
1. Student receives a zero on homework, assignment, essay or test with no opportunity to make up or retake
2. Teacher confers with student and submits a discipline referral to administrator
3. Discipline administrator contacts parent for parent conference once violation is determined
4. Student may be removed from class with a grade of F
In cases of severe and/or recurring offenses in multiple classes or events throughout a student’s career at Timberline, a student/parent/administrative conference will determine what actions may be taken in the best interests of the student and school. In addition to loss of credit, these actions may restrict that student’s involvement in school-sponsored activities, eligibility for scholarships/recommendations and/or participation in graduation ceremonies.
Responsibilities
Students will
- Commit to maintaining academic integrity by reading, understanding and signing academic integrity agreement
- Agree to make reasonable efforts to protect work from other students who may attempt to use, copy or steal it
- Cite all ideas and writing of others used in academic work
- Report incidents of cheating to teacher
Teachers will
- Structure assignments and conditions to minimize possibility of cheating/plagiarism
- Assure that all students understand how to avoid plagiarism by teaching them to properly cite sources
- Take immediate action when violations are determined
- Confer with student when appropriate
- Contact student’s parent when appropriate
- Submit a discipline referral form (for documentation only)
Administrators will - Assure that all faculty, students and parents have knowledge of Academic Integrity Policy
- Create a school culture that encourages adherence to the Academic Integrity Policy
- Facilitate a conference with student and parent/guardian(s) when academic dishonesty occurs
- Make the final determination on student’s removal from class with a grade of F
Adapted from various school policies, including:
York High School, York, ME, Seoul American High School (DODS),
and North Hunterdon High School, Annandale, NJ