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Remember to read and watch the information on all tabs in this lesson before clicking the Next button at the bottom of the page to move on to the Try It.

Defining Academic Integrity

In your ACCESS class, you need to demonstrate academic integrity. But what does that mean? Let’s take a deeper look at the ACCESS Student Policy manual.

First, under the User Obligations and Responsibilities,   it says

Students will give credit to others whose work is used. Neither Internet content nor the work of WBI or VCI classmates will be cut, copied, or plagiarized.

What does this mean? First, if you use a resource, like a website, to help write a paragraph or answer a discussion post, you should cite it. That simply means that you tell where you got that information. It allows proper credit to the author of the material used.

This statement also says that you should not just copy and paste work from the internet or other students. So if someone offers to share their answers with you, don’t do it. You have to do your own work. Otherwise, how will you learn?

Next, under the Code of Conduct, it say students will:

  • Actively participate in the learning experience.
  • Complete all assigned homework, projects, and assessments on time.
  • Have zero tolerance for academic dishonesty.

This basically means you need to do your own work, and do it on time.

Finally, the Academic Integrity Policy says

ACCESS Virtual Learning students must sign a commitment form attesting to academic integrity. A copy of this form is provided on the last page of the student policy manual and on the ACCESS website under the Educators tab→ Administrators/ Counselors→Student Acknowledgement Page. If a student fails to abide by these policies, the student may be removed from the course, assigned a failing grade, and subject to other consequences as determined by the local school system administrators.

All ACCESS Virtual Learning teachers utilize a variety of technologies to check student work for authenticity. If an instructor confirms that a student has plagiarized work in any manner
or used resources not permitted by the instructor, the student will be subject to consequences determined by the local school system.

There’s a little more information here. First, before you can start the class, you must promise to follow all policies. This includes the academic integrity policy.

Second, this tells you that teachers can and will check work for academic integrity issues. Teachers may use software that detects where information was pulled from the web, for example. In foreign language courses, they know what vocabulary and tenses you have been taught. If you copy, you are likely to be caught.

Finally, this outlines what happens if you don’t follow the policy. If you violate the Academic Integrity Policy, you can be

  • removed from the course
  • fail the course
  • be disciplined by your school

The consequences are high. Don’t risk it. Do your own work; it will help you make the most of your course.