Academic Integrity

ISB Academic Integrity Policy

Introduction

The Academic Integrity Policy is a guide for the entire ISB community to help students achieve success.  At times, learning seems effortless, but sometimes learning new concepts and skills takes more effort.  Principled IB learners maintain honesty and integrity in both circumstances.

Definitions:

Expectations of stakeholders

Students will . . .  

• Recognize that the learning process is as important as grades
• Be honest and truthful
• Ask for help from teachers when confused
• Use technological tools responsibly and ethically
• Cite sources always, including anything AI generated
• Differentiate between your work and your source’s ideas, including anything AI generated
• Use time-management and self-management strategies to get their best work in on time
• Report incidents of academic misconduct by self and others
• Read, understand, and sign the Academic Integrity Contract annually
• Review assignment requirements and abide by the expectations set forth by the assignment (not using outside sources when it’s not allowed)

Teachers will . . .

• Communicate clear expectations for each assignment
• Teach proper subject-specific citation styles for a variety of sources such as print, images, digital, etc.
• Provide opportunities for students to practice in quoting, paraphrasing, and citing
• Teach and provide opportunities to practice subject-specific collaboration skills
• Teach and provide opportunities for students to practice evaluating subject-specific sources
• Teach how to use technological tools responsibly and ethically
• Design assessments that require critical thinking and the articulation of thinking
• Model academic integrity
• Refer ALL incidents of academic dishonesty to school administration
• Use a software program that is integrated into the student management system for plagiarism and AI detection (such as turnitin.com) where appropriate, to aid students in identifying areas of inadvertent plagiarism. 

The school will …

• Provide an academic integrity policy
• Ensure the ISB community is aware of and understands the Academic Integrity Policy
• Ensure that within a subject, a consistent citation style is taught and practiced
• Provide fair and just consequences for academic dishonesty
• Ensure the Academic Integrity Policy is reviewed annually with stakeholders
• Regard all incidents of academic honesty as serious

Parent/Guardians will …

• Recognize that the learning process is as important as grades
• Encourage time-management and self-management strategies to manage short-term and long-term assignments,projects, and assessments
• Model academic integrity, including encouraging students to do their own work in an independent manner
• Read, understand, and sign the Academic Integrity Contract annually

ISB Consequences

If academic dishonesty is suspected, students might be asked to defend or verify their work as their own in the following ways:

• Present notes, drafts, or works cited.
• Present an oral defense of work in question.

If academic dishonesty is determined, one or more of the following penalties will result:

• The assessment might not be considered for inclusion in the student’s portfolio of work.
• The student might be asked to resubmit the assessment at the discretion of the teacher.
• Parent/guardians will be contacted and informed of the occurrence of plagiarism and the resulting penalty/intervention.
• A discipline incident will be filed in synergy indicating the occurrence of plagiarism and the resulting penalty. 
• Review of Academic Integrity contract with an administrator and documentation in synergy.

Multiple referrals for academic dishonesty may result in a meeting between parent/guardians and teacher, counselor, and/or administrator

• Academic dishonesty may be noted in a college recommendation.
• If the student is a member of National Honor Society, the NHS advisor will be notified and will follow NHS procedure.
• A second occurrence of plagiarism within a course may result in a failing grade for the semester.
• Diploma program candidacy may be in jeopardy.

IB’s Response to Academic Malpractice

IB candidates’ work is subject to random checks for plagiarism by the IBO. In cases where IB examiners suspect malpractice, the following may occur:

• IB will ask the coordinator to investigate and report findings to the IB Assessment Centre
• Candidate results may be held until the investigation is complete

• Penalties may include:

Important Links:

ISB Academic Integrity Contract-Middle School Student & Parent Form

ISB Academic Integrity Contract-High School Student & Parent Form

Works Cited

The following people reviewed the ISB Academic Integrity Policy:

                                                                                            Reviewed and Revised May 2024