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, the following definitions:
While violating honesty standards is primarily an academic offense addressed by faculty and other academic officers, it is also a behavior inconsistent with Bethel’s Covenant for Life Together, which states that “We will not tolerate plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty.” As a result, academic dishonesty is dealt with by two separate and parallel processes, involving the Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of Student Life.
Academic Penalties for Academic Dishonesty
When academic dishonesty occurs, penalties are given at the discretion of the faculty member, as described in the course syllabus. Such penalties can range from failure on an assignment to denial of credit (U or F) in a course.
Students charged with a violation have the right to appeal any disciplinary action. The appeals process is as follows:
Because Bethel is committed to developing “whole and holy persons,” repeated or habitual violations of academic honesty are causes for concern and, potentially, disciplinary action. Because Bethel’s Covenant for Life Together urges us to “nurture one another” and “to elevate kingdom values over personal agendas,” the Associate Provost of the College of Arts & Sciences will be notified of all academic honesty violations. The faculty member reporting the academic honesty violation provides the student's name, describes the violation, identifies the date of the violation, and descibes the response by the faculty member. The Office of Academic Affairs keeps a record of instances of academic dishonesty so that inappropriate behavior can then be reported to, and addressed by, the Office of Student Life. While each offense is handled individually, the policy addresses the cumulative effect of all violations. This procedure involves the following:
First Violation
Written notification will be sent from the Associate Provost of the College of Arts and Sciences to the student indicating receipt of this violation and the procedure that would be followed in the event of future occurrences. No further disciplinary action is taken beyond the penalty as assigned by the faculty member.
Second Violation
When a student has committed a second violation of the Academic Honesty policy, the Associate Provost of the College of Arts and Sciences will refer the student to the Dean of Student Life, who will meet with the student to clarify the next steps. The Dean of Student Life will then make written recommendations to the student and the student’s academic advisor (or a faculty mentor chosen by the student) in order to address the student’s pattern of behavior. This letter will also describe the consequences of additional violations. These recommendations may include, but not be limited to:
The advisor or mentor will monitor the student’s progress in acting on the recommendations and submit a report to the Dean of Student Life at the end of the academic year.
Third and Subsequent Violations
When a third (and subsequent) violation occurs, the Dean of Student Life will review the case and, in consultation with the Associate Provost for the College of Arts and Sciences, take appropriate action, which can include, but is not limited to, probation, suspension, or dismissal.
Students charged with habitual academic dishonesty have the right to appeal any disciplinary action. Appeals should be submitted in writing within three weeks of the decision to the Associate Vice President for Student Life.
The policies and procedures that address habitual academic dishonesty are not intended to be punitive but to be positively developmental in helping the student deal with a pattern of behavior that is harmful to both the individual and the community. Keeping a record of all violations is a way to identify and help students who have made an unfortunate habit of academic dishonesty, for whatever reason. Without this record, individual faculty members and the Office of Student Life will not be able to identify a pattern of offenses and will be unable to take the necessary, restorative action.
Associate Provost for CAS
Julie Finnern