Academic Dishonesty Protocol
Cheating is a broad term that encompasses any and all attempts by a student to dishonestly or unfairly give, use or obtain any information or material not their own for a school test or assignment. The following are considered to be examples of academic dishonesty (cheating):
- copying another person's work and/or claiming or misrepresenting authorship (also known as plagiarism); this includes unauthorized use of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) program, such as ChatGPT, on assigned work, and may include products of another student or of someone outside the school, including previously published work;
- supplying information or work of any kind to another student with the knowledge that it may be copied or used, even if that knowledge includes an expectation that the copy will be changed enough to conceal the fact that it is a copy;
- copying from another person's test paper or knowingly allowing another student to copy from your test paper;
- using unauthorized AI technology, homework apps, notes or equipment in a test (including electronic translators, programmable calculators, computers, cell phones, etc.);
- engaging in unauthorized communication of any kind during a test or exam; or,
- copying the work of another student who took the same course/exam prior to the student in question.
In any case in which a student is suspected of having engaged in academic dishonesty, SIDES staff will investigate fully and consider possible extenuating circumstances. Should it be determined that the student has engaged in academic dishonesty, the following process will be followed:
- The first time a student is caught engaging in academic dishonesty, the student will be reminded of the Academic Dishonesty Protocol by the teacher; the teacher may require the student an opportunity to re-do the assignment. Typically, this will happen without administrative involvement; however, if the teacher wishes to refer the student to SIDES administration, the teacher may do so. A record of the incident will be kept in the student's school file.
- If a student is caught engaging in academic dishonesty a second time, the student will be referred to SIDES Administration which may result in immediate withdrawal from the course relating to the incident. A record of the incident will be kept in the student's school file. Parents (and school of record, if appropriate) will be notified.
- If the student is caught engaging in academic dishonesty a third time (pertaining to the same or a different course), the student will be referred to SIDES administration and may be withdrawn from the school in ALL courses. A record of expulsion will be retained on the SIDES student record. Parents (and school of record, if appropriate) will be notified.