Honor Code

Augusta Prep students are committed to upholding the traditional honor system and share responsibility for enforcing a strict but fair code of moral discipline and integrity. By doing so, they ensure a safe learning environment and a moral climate in which good citizenship thrives while demonstrating respect for the “collective good” and personal standards of excellence. Students are informed of the Honor System at the beginning of the school year and are asked to read and understand it thoroughly; they then sign a pledge to abide by its conditions. Signing the Honor Code Statement of Agreement and Commitment is a condition of attending Augusta Prep. The APDS Honor Code applies to all school-related activities, on or off campus.

HONOR CODE Statement of Agreement and Commitment: Students will be asked to sign the following statement: I hereby state that I have read and understand the expectations of the honor code and am aware of and accept the responsibilities granted to me and the consequences for behaving dishonorably.

Student Obligation to Confront and/or Report Honor Code Violations – Students are honor-bound to confront a fellow student who is committing or has committed an Honor Code violation. The confronting student must suggest appropriate corrective action to the offender or report the infraction him or herself to a faculty member. A student committing an offense may self-report to member of the Prep faculty or staff. Prompt admission of guilt weighs favorably in determining consequences.

Honor Code Violations:
Lying – Deliberate falsification, verbal or written.
● Prep students are presumed to act honorably and to speak truthfully.
● When a student is questioned by faculty members about school business, rule infractions, or
student behavior, the student is on his or her honor to tell the truth or to remain silent .
● When a student’s honesty is in doubt, a teacher or administrator will further question a student.
Continued falsification may result in further consequences.

Cheating - The use of or intent to use unauthorized material or inappropriate help on graded work.
• No student may use unauthorized material or inappropriate help on graded work (teachers will explain what constitutes authorized and unauthorized material or assistance in the context of a specific class).
• No student may take another’s thoughts, ideas, or work as his or her own as this constitutes plagiarism.
• Students may be asked to pledge their graded exercises as follows: “I have neither given nor received any unauthorized help on this work.” All written work is assumed to be honor-pledged with or
without this written statement.

Stealing – Taking another’s property as one’s own.
● No student may take or use another person’s property (books, notes, homework, calculator, phone
or other personal items) without the consent of the owner or author.
● Copying computer software to or from the school’s computers is prohibited.
● Dishonesty at concession or in fundraising activities (includes giving away or taking money, goods, or food) is stealing.

Condoning any of the above: Choosing not to confront or report a violation of the Honor Code.
● Inaction in the face of unacceptable conduct amounts to support and approval of such conduct.
● The strength of a student honor system is the entire community’s refusal to condone unacceptable behavior by any member. Failure to take appropriate action is an Honor Code violation.

Personal Dishonor: To interact disrespectfully, either verbally or physically, to fellow students, faculty, or administrative staff. Being associated with an individual while they commit such an act can also be an example of personal dishonor.

Consequences for an Honor Code Violation
Consequences for an honor code violation may include a verbal discussion/reprimand, written reprimand, monetary compensation (property offenses), request for a verbal or written apology, suspension of on-campus privileges, a zero on assignments/assessments, work detail(s), after school detention(s), suspension from school, dismissal from school, or expulsion.

Young people are faced with frequent and varied moral dilemmas in and out of school. August Prep seeks to proactively assist students in making honorable decisions when faced with these dilemmas. To that end, school faculty and staff will lead education programs throughout the year in classes, during our upper school and middle school assemblies, and through our advisory program. Additionally, consequences for honor code violations typically will contain an education component in addition to any punitive consequence.