plagiarism

Academic Cheating Policy (Passed by Council, May 21, 1985)

Definition Cheating is defined as participation in any activity, including plagiarism, in which a student knowingly misrepresents or assists another student to misrepresent his/her actual achievement in any course. Students caught in the act of cheating before the act has been completed will also be thought of as cheating. (NOTE: A teacher may give students a more specific version of this definition, as it pertains to each course.)

Procedures When a teacher finds reason to suspect that cheating is occurring or has occurred, the teacher will confront the student(s) involved with the evidence. a. If the student contests the accusation, the teacher will share the situation with the Dean of Students who will schedule a hearing on the matter. The student’s parent(s) will be notified and will be given an opportunity to be present. b. If the student admits to having cheated, the teacher will notify the Dean of Students who will then notify the student’s parent(s) and communicate the penalty. c. The decision of the Dean of Students may be appealed to the Judiciary Committee.

School Responses In all cases of cheating, the incident will be recorded in the Dean of Students’ office. In addition, the student’s counselor will be notified of the offense, for informational purposes. a. First Offense (in high school career) 1. The student will lose credit for the work involved with no chance of makeup. However, the student may be required to complete the assignment satisfactorily, although no credit will be awarded. 2. The student will be “scheduled up” by the Dean of Students for a period of three school weeks. b. Subsequent Offense (in any course in high school career) 1. The student will receive a grade of “No Credit” for the quarter for the course in which the cheating occurred. 2. The student will be “scheduled up” by the Dean of Students for a period of not less than five school weeks.

Note: Students should be aware that some college recommendation forms ask whether a student has been academically honest.