Wilkes County Schools values the hard work, self-discipline, honesty, integrity, and mutual respect of all students. This Code has been established to uphold these values. Cheating, collusion, lying, and plagiarism will not be tolerated.
The following offenses constitute violations of the academic integrity code:
Cheating: Giving, taking, or presenting information or material that unethically or fraudulently aids self or others on any work to be considered in the determination of a grade or the completion of an academic requirement or the enhancement of one’s record or academic career.
1. Individual Cheating: To practice or attempt to practice dishonesty or deception in the taking of tests or in the preparation or submission of academic work purporting to be one’s own; to copy or attempt to copy another person’s test, paper, or other graded work in a course; to use or provide any notes or other prepared materials that a student is not permitted to consult during a testing period or to bring those materials into the testing area with the intent to use; to submit identical or near identical papers or coursework for credit in more than one course without permission of the instructor; to steal, deface, or destroy any research materials or technology that may deprive others of their use; to obstruct or interfere with another student’s academic work; to retain, possess, or circulate previously used exams, copies of blank tests, or other assignments without the instructor’s permission.
2. Collusion (action taken by two or more persons together to cheat): To allow another person to copy tests, papers, or other graded coursework; to provide assistance to others in the preparation of graded course work without the express consent of the instructor. Questions related to homework or other assignments should be directed to the instructor. Failing to report that another student has used your work or another’s work to commit violations of academic integrity – with or without consent.
3. Lying: Committing a forgery or giving a statement known to be false or dishonest, orally or in writing, for the purpose of, or having the effect of, protecting or improving one’s grades in a course, one’s academic record, or one’s academic standing.
4. Plagiarizing: The act of willfully copying a sentence, several sentences, or a significant part of a sentence from any source, including internet sites, that has been written by someone other than the person submitting the paper, and then neglecting to indicate that the material has been copied; also, copying from another writer by changing one or two words in the sentence, or to rearrange the order of the wording, or to paraphrase, or to summarize information and then neglect to furnish documentation. For all assignments, especially team or collaborative assignments check with the teacher to find out what level of cooperation and/or sharing is permitted.
5. Attempting: Attempting to participate in any act that if completed would result in loss of academic integrity. A student caught “attempting” to participate in such an act will face the same consequences as one who actually commits a violation.
Consequences for committing acts of Academic dishonesty:
1st Offense in any course – The student will receive a zero on the assignment, parent conference, receive a written reprimand, 1 day of ISS, and be placed on academic probation in that course for the rest of the semester.
2nd Offense in the SAME course – The student will receive an “F” in the course and 1 day of OSS. Depending upon the number of days left in the semester... the principal will decide whether to require the student to participate in Credit Recovery, or to retake the course at a later date. The student will lose the privilege of being recognized with honors by any organization sponsored by the school.
3rd Cumulative Offense (in any combination of courses) –The student will lose the privilege of being recognized with honors by any organization sponsored by the school. The student must appear before the school’s discipline committee. The committee will decide whether a placement in the Alternate Learning Program is needed.
NOTE: Depending upon the severity of the violation... additional consequences may be determined by the discipline committee. (i.e. Tampering with the school network/server or password protected files could result in criminal charges being filed).