Academic Honesty

Since Bethel University is a Christian academic community, its fundamental purpose is the pursuit of knowledge and the development of growing Christian persons. Essential to the success of this educational mission is a commitment to principles of ethical academic integrity. Each member of the university community is responsible for upholding the highest standards of honesty at all times. Students, as members of this community, are also responsible for adhering to the principles and spirit of academic honesty.

Violation of honesty standards can result in denial of credit (U or F) in a course. Penalties are given at the discretion of the faculty member, per academic honesty guidelines. Repeat or serious offenses may be subject to additional penalties up to and including dismissal from the university at the discretion of the Associate Provost for the Seminary. Students charged with a violation have the right to appeal any disciplinary action and may contact a student success advisor for details on how to do so.

Academic Dishonesty Definitions

Activities that have the effect or intention of interfering with education, pursuit of knowledge, or fair evaluation of a student’s performance are prohibited. Examples of such activities include, but are not limited to:

Cheating: Using or attempting to use assistance, materials, or study aids not authorized and/or specifically prohibited by the instructor.
Plagiarism: Using the ideas (e.g. concepts, theories), data, language, media, or images of another source (e.g. human or artificial intelligence) and representing it as one’s own original work, without specific and proper acknowledgement.
Fabrication: Deliberately submitting false, fraudulent, or altered information in any academic work.
Multiple submission: Submitting, without prior permission, any work previously or concurrently submitted to fulfill another academic requirement.
Misrepresentation of academic records: Misrepresenting, tampering with, or attempting to tamper with any portion of a student’s academic record.
Facilitating academic dishonesty: Knowingly helping or attempting to help others violate any provision of this academic dishonesty policy.
Unfair advantage: Exercising or attempting to exercise unauthorized or unfair academic advantage over others or impeding the academic work of others.