Policy on Academic Dishonesty

As Christians, all students will want to avoid academic dishonesty (cheating) at all times. To do that, a student will need to be aware of what is considered cheating. If you have any questions about whether what you plan to do is cheating on a given assignment, please contact the instructor. Below are some points to consider.

• Academic dishonesty can include fraud and plagiarism. For a description of each follow this link. http://www.virginia.edu/honor/fraud.html
• Unless the teacher informs you that the assignment is a group project, you are expected to do your own work. Can you ask questions of a classmate? Certainly, but you should be sure to use your own words to show your understanding of a question or to show the work used to arrive at an answer.
• If you use an outside source for information, it is appropriate to indicate that by means of footnotes or inline citations. If you use exact quotes that you feel are well done, fine. Just include those parts in quotation marks and cite their source. A guideline for citing sources can be found here. http://library.duke.edu/research/citing/
• A website that explains plagiarism and how to avoid it can be found here. http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml
• Many times cheating results from waiting too long to get at an assignment. Start early or at the very least on time as you do your work, especially long-range projects.
• Other times, you may have just forgotten an assignment. Speak to the teacher and tell him the truth. Better to get a zero and have a clear conscience than to get a grade and live with the accompanying guilt or to be caught cheating, receive a zero, be assigned additional work, and have to deal with the embarrassment resulting from your mistake.
• If you do cheat, admitting it or getting caught are the best things that could happen. Our Lord certainly does not want us to continue in sin. Speak to your teacher and any other students aware of your actions.
• If you are aware of a friend who has cheated, go to them and encourage them to talk to the instructor and confess their sin. If they refuse, be a Christian friend and inform the instructor. Eventually, your Christian classmate will thank you for your kindness.
• Academic dishonesty of any type will result in receiving a zero for that assignment and may also result in a replacement homework. as well as being referred to the Dean of Students.
• This policy reflects the views of Professor Ross Roehl and is not a school policy. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact Professor Ross Roehl.

Last updated: 08/23/2010