ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY
Developed: September 2024
POLICY REVIEW STATEMENT
To ensure the policy document is ingrained in the normal schools’ operations and is relevant,itwillbereviewedonannualbasisbyateamofstaffcomprisingoftheprincipal, IB coordinator and all heads of departments. There will be a tracker on the school managementsystemforstafftopostareasthatrequirerevisionandareasthatmaynot be included in this current document but are a necessary inclusion. Additionally, the tracker will allow staff to post areas that require inclusion based on changes in the externalregulatoryandeducationenvironment.
Atthebottomofthecoverpagethedateofreviewandeditionnumberofthepolicywill be indicated. For example (Reviewed on 18th December 2024) Version 2. The management will ensure the revised policy is circulated to all the relevant staff for effectiveimplementation.Thisprocesswillensureallpolicydocumentsremainsactivein guidingtheoperationsoftheschools.
1.0PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
ThisAcademicIntegritypolicyandproceduredocumentaimstosettheexpectationsto ensurehonestacademicworkandpracticesandtoprovideaframeworkofdealingwith anybreachesthatcancompriseacademicintegrityintheschool.Thedocumentfurther provides the different roles of members of the school community to ensure academic integritybecomesacultureoftheschool.
2.0 IB STUDENT PROFILE ATTRIBUTES AS IN RELATES TO INTEGRITY
WeshallnurtureanddevelopourstudentstoacquiretheIBstudents’profileattributes. One of the attributes is to be principled and this means they should always act with integrity, honesty, fairness and respect. This attribute discourages them from involvementinactsofacademicdishonesty.
3.0 CATEGORIES OF ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
Academicmisconductiscategorizedintothree; collusion, plagiarism and misconduct during an examination.
Collusion: thishappenswhenstudentscopytheworkofotherstudents,orallow other students to copy their work and to present it as their own. Collusion is thereforebetweenstudentsandisanactofacademicmisconduct.
Plagiarism: this is is the use of someone else’s work such as: idea, words, art form, music, film, theatre art, dance as well as visual work without formal acknowledgment. It is making the work look like your own. These acts done intentionally or not areconsidered actsof plagiarism. Plagiarism in brief mean copyingtheworkofanotherpersonwithoutacknowledgment.
Academic misconduct in an examination: the areactsthat interfere with the administration,invigilationandcredibilityofanexamination.
4.0 ACTS OF EXAMINATION MISCONDUCT
1. Takingunauthorisedmaterial,suchasamobilephoneornotes,intoan examination.
2. Talkingtoanotherstudentordisturbingthem,includingpassinginformationto anotherstudentduringtheexamination.
3. Copyinganotherstudent’sworkduringanexamination.
4. Impersonatinganothercandidateinanexaminationorassessment.
5. Usinganunauthorisedcalculator,logbooksandperiodictablesinan examination.
6. Disclosinginformationaboutthecontentofanexaminationpapertostudentsin adifferentclasstakingthesameexaminationlater.Thisappliestostudentswithin thesameschoolorindifferenttimezones.
7. Taking assessment papers before the official start of an examination when the invigilatorispassingoutpaperstootherstudentsorhassteppedoutsideofthe
exam room or is making preparations to start the examination by distributing writingmaterials.
8. Makingupdataforapracticuminsciencepracticalexamination
9. Failing to comply with the instructions of the invigilator or teacher/supervisor especiallyonwhentobeginandstopwriting;talkingtootherstudentsduringan examination.
10.Studentsexchangingexamsscripts.
5.0 ACTS OF COLLUSION
1. Allowingone'sworktobecopiedand/orsubmittedforassessmentbyanother studenteitherpart,wholeorparaphrase.
2. Listinganindividualwhodidnotparticipateinagroupactivitywiththenamesof all participants listed/cited to enable them to get a grade without having participated
3. Allowingasiblingtosubmitpreviousassignmentsastheirown
4. Whenalearner’spresentsimilarindividualreportsbasedonagroupprojector groupdiscussioninsteadofdevelopingindividualreports
5. Sharingthecontentsofatesttakenatanearliertimewithstudentsscheduledto takethetestatalatertime.
6.0ACTS OF ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT BY PLAGIARISM
1. Usingworkfromexternalsourceswithoutacknowledgingthesourceinthe referencesection.
2. Astudentgettingsomeoneelsetodotheirassignmentsuchasanotherclassmate orevenarelativeorafriendfromanotherschool.
3. Commissioningworkthroughassignmentfulfilmentagencieswherebythe studentpayssomeoneelsetocompletetheworkforthestudent.
4. Submittingworkthathasbeeneditedoutsideofthedefinedspecifications.For example,submittingeditedworkpasttheduedate
5. Getting specific directions on how to accomplish a task rather than general guidelinesfromtheteacher.Generalguidelinesensurestudents’workisproduced authenticallywhilespecificdirectionsprovideunfairadvantage.
7.0 RESPONSIBILITIES OF STAKEHOLDERS IN ENHANCING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The school community members must understand their shared responsibility in upholding academic integrity. Students and teachers are responsible for promoting academic integrity in teaching, learning, and assessment in the Diploma Programme (DP).Theparentsshouldensuretheydonotinvolvethemselveswithactsofacademic misconductinregardstotheirchildrenacademicprograms.
7.1.1 Teachers Responsibilities
1. Allteachersareexpectedtomodelappropriatereferencingskillsbycitingsourcesof materialsusedinclasslessonsincludingideas,pictures,poems,mapsetc.
2. Assessallstudentworkwiththeviewofpraisingoriginalityandconfirmingthat students'workisauthentic.
3. Createcheckpointswithintaskstoensurethatstudentsprovideevidenceofthe researchprocess.Thesecheckpointscaninclude;
● Aplanforinvestigationincludingsourcestobeused,
● Roughnotes/draftsofallwork
● Aportfolioofallpracticalworklikedraftsofartimagesorpractical conductedforsciencesubjects.
● Evaluationofsourcesusedintheassignment,
● Personalcritiqueoranalysisthatshowsindependenceofthoughtaswellas synthesisofinformationgatheredfromvarioussources
● Evidenceofhigher-orderthinkinginaproposal.Thisshouldbewell articulatedintherubrics/requirementsgiventothestudent
● Abibliographyattheendofeachproject
4. Speakregularlytostudentsaboutthistopic itwillbecomeaworkhabitandnotan isolated"skill".
5. Supporttheschool'spolicyongoodacademicpracticeandprovidestudentswith guidancewithregardtocitingandacknowledgingoriginalauthor.
6. ReportincidencesofacademicdishonestytotheHeadTeacherand/orDeputyHead Academicsassoonasthisisdetected.
7.1.2 Student’s responsibilities
1. Tobeprincipledasthispromotesintegrity,honestyandfairnessasvalues.This ensuresuchstudentsarenotinvolvedinanyacademicmisconduct
2. Consciously exhibit academic honesty at all times for both formative and summativeassessmentsbyavoidingplagiarism,collusionandmisconductduring examinations.
3. BetruthfulinacknowledgingothersourcesandideasthroughtheMLAformat provided
4. CommittoacademichonestybyreadingandsigningtheAcademicHonesty Policy
5. UnderstandandadheretothesanctionsofbeinginbreachofIBregulationsto ensurefairnessandequityamonglearners.
6. Completetheirworkauthenticallyandprovidethefollowingevidencewhen required;
Planforinvestigationincludingsourcestobeused,
Roughnotes/draftsofallwork
Aportfolioofallpracticalworklikedraftsofartimagesorpracticalconducted forsciencesubjects
Evaluationofsourcesusedintheassignment,
Personalcritiqueoranalysisthatshowsindependenceofthoughtaswellas synthesisofinformationgatheredfromvarioussources
Evidenceofhigher-orderthinkinginaproposal.Thisshouldbewellarticulated intherubrics/requirementsgiventothestudent
Abibliographyattheendofeachproject
7.1.3 Parent’s responsibilities
Parentsareinvaluablepartnersinensuringchildrenachievetheiracademicsuccess in an ethical, equitable and honest way. They therefore, play an important role in supporting their child(ren) in all spheres, as well as supporting the school in enforcingacademicintegrityconsistentlyandfairly.
Therolesandresponsibilitiesoftheparentsinclude;
1. Parentsshouldspeaktotheirchildrenabouttheneedtobehonestandprincipled. This should be done in light of both academic progress as well as in terms of personaldevelopment.
2. Encouragetheirchild/wardtomanagetheirtimewellbothathomeandschoolto avoiddoingtheirprojectatthelastminutewhichcanencourageplagiarismand collusion.
3. Provide emotional and physical support to their child in the course of their academicjourney.Thiswillallowchildrentoraiseanyconcernstheymayhave earlyenoughforintervention.
4. Lettheirchild/warddotheirownindependentworkasmuchaspossibleand avoidthetemptationofpersonallytakingovertheirassignments.
5. Communicateoftenwiththeschoolregardingtheirchild’s/ward’sprogressin ordertoprovideinterventionmeasuresearly.
6. Developagoodrapportandopencommunicationlinesbetweenyouandyour child/ward.
8.0HOW TO ENHANCE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY CULTURE
BrookhurstInternationalschoolshaveacultureofacademicintegrity.Thisisevidentby variousinspectionreportsfromexaminationbodies.Weshallcontinuetoimprovethis cultureamongmembersoftheschoolcommunity.Theawarenessontheneedtoadhere to strict academic integrity practices is a rallying theme in school right form the preparatoryschooltoseniorschool.Ourfocusinmorepreventiveonissuesofacademic dishonestyratherthandealwiththecases.
8.1.1 Creating a culture of academic Integrity
1. Acopyofthisdocumentwillbemadeavailableforallstaff.Currently,thestudents signaCodeofConductwhichcoversacademichonesty.
2. Thestudentsandtheirparentswillbeexpectedtosignaconsentformtoadhere totheguidelinesprovidedinthisdocument.
3. Thesignedconsentwillbeplacedeachstudent’sfile.
4. ThestudentsreceiveacopyofthisAcademicIntegrityPolicythroughtheschool appfortheirreference
5. Allteacherswillreceiveannualacademichonestyrefresherworkshops.
6. During meetings the IB Coordinator and academic dean will present any new requirements and the emerging concerns on academic integrity for immediate attentionandaction
7. The teachers will remind all students of the guidelines in this policy at the commencementofanyassessmenttoensuretheyfullyunderstandtheprocess.
8. Before the start of any examination, teachers invigilating examinations will remindcandidatesontheexpectedprocedures.
9. TheDPcoordinatoratthestartofeveryacademicyearwillbeexpectedtorun sessiononacademicintegritywithteachersandstudents.
8.1.2 Preventive measures during examinations Academic
1. Placeclearlywrittennoticesorposterspinnedoutsideandinsidethe examinationroomoutliningtheexpectedconductduringanexamination
2. Diligentinvigilationbythoseassignedtodoso;theinvigilatormustnotindulge orengageinanyotheractivitybutensurefullcomplianceoftheIBOregulations bythestudents.
3. Askingstudentstosubmitanyunauthorisedmaterialtheymayhaveonthem beforethestartoftheexamination.
8.1.3 Measures to prevent Collusion
1. Teachersshouldgivestudentssufficienttimetocompletetheirassignments.
2. Teachersshouldalsoprovideclearguidelinesonhowataskshouldbecompleted
3. Teacherswillalsoconstantlymodellegitimatecollaborationtoallowstudentsto distinguishcollaborationfromcollusion
9.0 DEALING WITH ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
Inthecaseofacademicmisconduct,eachcasewillbedealtwithinamannerthatensures equity, consistency, procedural fairness, timely resolution and further learning. Each infractionwillalsobehandledonacase-by-casebasisbasedonthefollowingfactors;
Student’sbackgroundintermsofthepreviousexposuretodifferentpedagogical approaches
therelationshipbetweenstudentsinthecaseofcollusion
Thenatureoftheinfractionsintermsoftheextentandorhowlongithasbeen happening
Ageandlevelofawarenessonpreviousteaching
Thelearningenvironmentintermsoftheinstructionsgivenbytheteacher,as wellastherelationshipbetweenthestudentandtheteacher
Intent of the action; this will be determined in the process of investigation and basedonthecheck-pointsdevelopedforpreventingmisconductandbasedonthe check-pointsdevelopedforpreventingplagiarism
9.1 Steps taken in dealing with cases of misconduct
1. Investigationofmisconduct
2. Student(s)discusswiththeteacherregardingtheincident
3. ReferraloftheinfractiontotheprincipalorDeanAcademics
4. Parent(s)contactedbytheteacherand/orPrincipal/orAcademicsDean
5. Conferencewiththestudent,parent(s),teacherandprincipal/DeanAcademics
6. Incidentdocumentedandincludedinthestudentsfileandappropriateparties notified.
7. Studentsffurthereducationonacademicintegrity
9.2 Practical steps in dealing with cases confirmed
1. Astatementfromtheteacherforthesubjectconcernedorsupervisor
2. Astatementfromthecandidatethatdirectlyaddressestheallegationthatthere hasbeenabreachofthisAcademicHonestyPolicy.
3. Asummaryofaninterviewwiththecandidateabouttheallegationofabreachof thisAcademicHonestyPolicy.
4. Astatementfromthesubjectteacher,theexaminationsofficerandtheDean Academic
5. ThepresentationofallcollectedevidencebyDPcoordinatortotheacademic committee
6. Adecisionismadeandcommunicatedbytheparentandstudent.
7. Sanctions/penaltiestobeimposedonthestudent
9.3Penalties for misconduct on the student
1. AwarninglettertothestudentforaLevel1Infraction
2. Nomarksawardedforthecomponentorpart(s)ofthecomponentforaLevel2 Infraction
3. NogradeawardedinthesubjectconcernedforaLevel3ofInfraction Inthiscase
o Nodiplomawillbeawardedtothecandidate
o Butacertificatewillbeawardedforothersubjectsinwhichnomalpractice hasoccurred
o Thecandidatewillbepermittedtoregisterforfutureexaminationsatleastoneyear afterthesessioninwhichmalpracticewasestablished.
4. NogradeforallparallelsubjectsinthecaseofaLevel3bInfraction. Inthiscase;
5. Nodiplomawillbeawardedtothecandidate.
6. Thecandidatewillnotbepermittedtoregisterforexaminationsinanyfuture session.