WELCOME BACK!

Policy

As character development is a major part of the PLBC mission, and in order to prepare students to be effective disciples and ministers, plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are not tolerated. All work submitted as part of any class exercise should be the actual work of the student claiming credit for the assignment.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as “the act of taking the words, ideas, or research of another person and putting them forward without citation as if they were your own” (Rampolla, Mary Lynn. A Pocket Guide to Writing in History, 5th Ed. [Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2007], 88).

(i) Some activities that constitute plagiarism are the following: y Failure to cite the source of a quote or idea.

• Submitting the work of another person.

  (ii) Some activities that are NOT plagiarism are the following:

• Stating a fact that is common knowledge.

• Having someone proofread an assignment that a student has written for the purpose of detecting errors so that the student can make those corrections.

• Discussing the material with others before writing an assignment (unless forbidden by the instructor).

Other Forms of Academic Dishonesty

Other forms of academic dishonesty include cheating on exams and quizzes, unauthorized work sharing, tampering with resources, and any misrepresentation or falsification of academic work done by the student. The willful aiding of another student in any of these forms of dishonesty is also not tolerated.

(i) Some activities that constitute academic dishonesty are the following:

• Copying the work of another student.

• Using notes or other aids during an exam without permission. y Falsifying data, research, and/or references.

(ii) Some activities that are acceptable are as follows:

• Collaboration in the research process with other students, where allowed by the instructor (the writing of the assignment must be the work of each individual student).

• Group projects where assigned by the instructor (the writing of the assignment must be the work of each individual student unless clearly communicated otherwise by the instructor).

Character

Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism are not only against PLBC policy, but are sins against God and damaging to the character and ministry of the student who commits them. All forms of academic dishonesty are both theft and fraud, stealing the work of others and claiming it to be one’s own. However, students primarily rob themselves both of the learning that would have taken place and the integrity that was sacrificed.

Procedures

Plagiarism and academic dishonesty will result in the following actions being taken:

1. When a professor encounters academic dishonesty they should investigate. If they conclude that the incident is genuine, they must file an Academic Dishonesty Report with the Vice President for Academics, who in concert with the professor will decide on a sanction.

2. If a first offense is determined to be inadvertent, the student will usually be strongly warned and clearly instructed on why the behaviour is unacceptable and how to complete the work without making the same mistake.

3. If a first offense is determined to be willful, the student will normally be given a zero for the exam or assignment.

4. If a second offense occurs, the student will normally receive a zero for the course.

5. If a third offense occurs, the student will normally be suspended for one academic year.

6. The sanctions outlined above are normative, but not prescriptive. The Vice President of Academics has

   the discretion to be more or less harsh depending on the infraction and the attitude of the student.

7. Whenever a sanction is imposed, the student will be informed in writing, a note will be made on their

   file, and the student will be allowed the right of appeal according to the Student Grievance Policy.