Keeping It Honest
Academic integrity is the foundation of our commitment to providing a high-quality educational experience. We expect all students to uphold the values of honesty, responsibility, and fairness in their academic pursuits.
Expectations for Academic Integrity
Students are expected to:
- Submit work that is their own, unless collaboration is explicitly permitted by the instructor.
- Properly cite all sources used in assignments, discussions, and projects.
- Follow all guidelines for tests, quizzes, and assignments, including restrictions on resources or collaboration.
- Refrain from any form of academic dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or facilitation of dishonesty.
Examples of Academic Dishonesty
The following actions are considered violations of this policy:
- Cheating: Using unauthorized materials, resources, or assistance during assessments or assignments.
- Plagiarism: Presenting someone else’s work, words, ideas, or data as your own without proper citation.
- Fabrication: Falsifying data, information, or citations in any academic work.
- Facilitation: Helping another student engage in academic dishonesty, such as sharing test answers or completed assignments.
- Unauthorized Collaboration: Working with others on assignments without instructor approval.
Consequences of Academic Dishonesty
Violations of this policy will result in the following consequences, based on the severity and frequency of the offense:
- First Offense
- The student will receive a zero on the assignment or assessment in question.
- A written warning will be issued and recorded in the student’s academic file.
- Second Offense
- The student will receive a failing grade for the course.
- The incident will be escalated to the academic integrity committee for review.
- Third Offense
- The student may be suspended or expelled from LightStars Academy, pending administrative review.
Reporting and Appeals
- Reporting Violations: Instructors and staff are required to report suspected violations of academic integrity to the administration.
- Student Appeals: Students have the right to appeal decisions regarding academic dishonesty by submitting a written appeal to the academic integrity committee within five business days of receiving the decision.
Prevention and Support
LightStars Academy is committed to educating students about academic integrity. Resources such as writing workshops, citation guides, and one-on-one tutoring are available to help students understand and meet academic standards.
By adhering to this policy, students contribute to a culture of trust and excellence at LightStars Academy.