St. Francis Prep Honor Code

As members of a Catholic community in the Franciscan tradition, we affirm the significance of honesty in all areas of our lives. Honesty fosters a community based on trust, the only atmosphere in which true learning and spiritual growth may occur. Lack of honesty is a major impediment in the pursuit of Truth, the heart of the philosophy of St. Francis Prep. As such, we pledge ourselves to honorable behavior in all we do.

Academic Honesty

Students at St. Francis Prep commit themselves to honesty in all their academic work. Academic dishonesty (cheating) is taking credit for work that is not one's own. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following items:

• giving or receiving aid on an exam or attempting to do so;
• copying homework;
• not documenting sources (including use of the Internet);
• plagiarism;
• getting the answers for a test in advance;
• forgery;
• misusing calculators.

Any behavior that compromises the integrity of a student's work or a teacher's assessment of that work constitutes cheating. Students who misrepresent themselves and their work face serious academic consequences. Individual classroom teachers will explain in detail policies regarding academic honesty relevant to their discipline and course. There are also school policies and consequences for violating commitment to
academic honesty.

The responsibility of supporting and upholding the Honor Code falls to each member of the St. Francis Prep community. Students are responsible. for respecting and upholding the Honor Code in all their behaviors. Parents and guardians are responsible for
supporting the Honor Code. Faculty members are responsible for explaining, clarifying, and enforcing the Honor Code in all their classes and for providing for fair testing and proctoring. The Administration is responsible for providing guidance and support for education and enforcement of the Honor Code.

Sanctions

First Infraction of the Honor Code:

• The student automatically fails the assignment involved.
• The teacher involved will report the offense to his or her Chairperson.
• The teacher involved will telephone the parents or guardians immediately to inform them of the infraction.
• The name of the student will be recorded with the Chairperson and the Assistant Principal for Faculty and Instruction.

Second Infraction:

• The student automatically fails the assignment involved.
• The teacher involved will report the offense to his or her Chairperson.
• The teacher involved will telephone the parents or guardians immediately to inform them of the infraction and that a letter will he sent-home regarding the consequences.
• The Chairperson and teacher will meet with the student to explain the seriousness of this second offense.
• The Chairperson will send home a letter (from the Chairperson and the Assistant Principal for Faculty and Instruction) informing the family that the student has been placed on academic probation. The letter will explain the meaning of academic probation. The parents or guardians must sign the letter and return it to school.

Third Infraction:

• The student automatically fails the assignment involved.
• The teacher involved will report the offense to his or her Chairperson.
• The student is suspended.
• The student will remain on suspension until the student and his or her parents or guardians come to school for an interview with the Assistant Principal for Faculty and Instruction. At that time, the Assistant Principal for Faculty and Instruction will explain the seriousness of the student's actions and the possible dismissal following another offense.
• The parents or guardians must sign a letter explaining the student's change in affairs.

Fourth Infraction:

• The student and the parents or guardians will meet with the Principal to discuss the student's dismissal from St. Francis Prep. At that time, the Principal will review the student's entire school record. The Administration reserves the right to move immediately to the fourth step in cases it determines to be extreme.