Dishonesty Plagiarism

Maranatha views cheating or its toleration as morally reprehensible. To encourage the highest standards of personal integrity, the University will not tolerate any form of cheating. This view is consistent with the clear, biblical condemnation of dishonesty in its many forms and emphasizes the scriptural call for honesty, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men (2 Corinthians 8:21). Because cheating is a serious offense, its occurrence may warrant suspension or dismissal from the University, automatic failure of a course, or other significant academic penalties imposed by the individual teacher.

Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to the following:

Sending coursework to others:

Sending copies of homework, tests, quizzes, study guides, or other projects via email or other means to other students for any reason unless the faculty has given specific permission for such action. Such actions without instructor approval will be considered forms of cheating and are defined as excessive and unacceptable help.

Cheating on a test or assignment:

  • Handing in the same paper or substituting a similar paper in more than one class without the written permission of all instructors involved.
  • Sharing or receiving advance information regarding the content or answers for a test or quiz.

Plagiarizing:

Representing as the student’s own work the words or unique thoughts of another or failing to differentiate accurately material original with the student from that obtained from other sources.

  • Submitting the work of someone else as the student’s own work, whether intentional or not, will be considered plagiarism, which is a form of cheating. Pleading ignorance of what constitutes plagiarism is not an acceptable defense for the act of plagiarism.
  • Downloading from the Internet or other electronic sources information or term papers that are submitted as the student’s own work will also be considered plagiarism.

Unapproved collaboration:

  • Assisting other students in the accomplishment of assignments, projects, or papers in ways that exceed what is known by the teacher or what is expected or allowed in such situations.
  • Submitting as the student’s own work (papers or projects) materials unethically or inappropriately enhanced by another student or typist without the specific, written permission of the teacher. Students should carefully note department or class parameters. Absent these instructions, typists or proofreaders must be careful to avoid making corrections or alterations, which change the creative or intellectual content or quality of the work.