F. Academic Integrity Academic integrity is “a commitment, even in the face of adversity, to six fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage” (International Center for Academic Integrity website). GSSM is a close-knit community built on these values. Because developing ethical leaders is a core component of a GSSM education, we expect students to uphold high ethical standards. A lack of academic integrity prevents students from learning and undermines our community, and therefore, is strictly prohibited. GSSM’s academic integrity policy covers all school-related academic work, both in and out of class. Remember: 1. Each GSSM syllabus gives specific guidance on academic integrity in that course. A syllabus is a contract for every class between the students and the teacher. 2. Students are responsible for understanding how to act with academic integrity in all their academic work. If they have questions or are unsure if they are violating academic integrity, they need to ask their teacher for clarity. 3. Students may not communicate with others or consult resources during in-class quizzes, tests, or exams unless specifically allowed by the instructor. Prohibited resources include textbooks, electronic devices, notes, or personal formula sheets unless specifically permitted by the teacher. 4. Plagiarism is prohibited. Plagiarism consists of taking someone else’s work—words, images, and/or ideas—and passing them off as your own. Patch plagiarism, copying sections of a source while changing a few words, is also prohibited. When in doubt, cite your source. If you are confused about whether you are plagiarizing, ask your teacher. 5. Students may not use the work of GSSM alumni or other students. 6. Without permission, students may not obtain, consult, transmit, or share copies of quizzes, tests, projects, or prompts from current or previous years, physically or electronically. Students may not share or post class materials or assignments online. 7. Students may only collaborate on work when permitted by their teacher. 8. Teachers, working closely with their students, are the primary enforcers of academic integrity. When teachers discover that a student has violated academic integrity, they will discuss the incident with the student and then decide the consequences for the offense. In enforcing academic integrity, teachers will always work to be fair and consistent to all students and to help students learn from their mistakes. See the Discipline and Honor Code Violations section of this handbook for a full explanation of GSSM’s process for dealing with violations of academic integrity. Meeting the High Expectations of Being a Govie (adapted from the MIT website) GSSM will ask much of you. Occasionally, you may feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you need to accomplish. GSSM expects you to approach your work with honesty and integrity. Honesty is the foundation of all good academic work. Taking unethical shortcuts at GSSM, in the end, prevents you from learning what you need to prepare you for college. Whether you are working on a problem set, lab report, project, or paper, avoid engaging in plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, cheating, or facilitating academic dishonesty. Follow this advice:
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