One of the largest changes coming to Dominion for the 2014-2015 school year is the new integrity policy. Stricter and more clearly outlined than previous iterations, it brings harsh discipline for dishonest actions and fraudulent behavior.

The new policy, a work in progress since last school year, brings a tiered system of punishments for specific offenses. “We just felt as a whole that there needed to be a greater understanding of what it means to be Truly Titan,” said Dominic Banks, assistant principal. “The new honor policy is not about cheating at school, it is about instilling integrity and great character beyond school. We want students to leave DHS prepared to work hard and do what’s right.”

Though the policy has been in effect all school year, and is outlined in its entirety in students’ agendas, it has not yet been widely enforced. “I don’t know that anyone has been yet affected,” said Sareena Chadha, a sophomore at Dominion.

And students don’t necessarily agree with the harsh punishments the code brings, either. “It’s a bit extreme,” Chadha said. Even the smallest violations, such as collaborating on an assignment without a teacher’s prior approval, result in a notification to the offender’s parents, counselor, administrator, and the National Honor Society. Large offenses, such as copying a paper, end in failing grades and suspension.

Banks, however, sees the new policy as an investment in students’ futures. “The policy is not geared to just deter cheating but also to create a culture in which students are living the life of individuals with great character. The policy is not about cheating, it’s about doing what’s right,” Banks said.

Banks’ view is popular among Dominion’s teachers. “I think that it is going to be a rocky start but once students and teachers start using it, it will be a good policy,” says Christi Davis, a Spanish III and IV teacher at Dominion. “I would love to trust my students, but the temptation for cheating is always there.”