Engage: Learning with Integrity

The Seminary Student Handbook and Catalog contains the official UDTS policy on academic dishonesty and plagiarism (page 52). Please review the language carefully. 

Covenant of Academic Accountability

“...comfort each other and edify one another...recognize those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.” (1 Thess. 5:11-13) We, of the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, believe that the Bible provides us with insights for our lives; and that in response to this belief, we actively strive to apply these truths in a consistent manner in every aspect of our daily living.

With the Holy Spirit and the Scripture as our inspiration, we conceive of ourselves as being called into a covenantal relationship with God and with each other, where we agree to uphold one another in a spirit of unity, mutual responsibility and mutual accountability. In keeping with this belief, we hereby covenant with each other to individually and collectively endeavor to maintain the highest standards of honesty and integrity in all areas of our lives, including our academic pursuits. Furthermore, we covenant together to be truthful and seek righteousness and wisdom in all things. As students, we covenant that each of us will submit only our own work which has been completed within the specified instructions, and that each of us will learn and employ the proper methods for expressing the ideas of others as they influence and support the formation of our own thoughts.

To all these things we pledge ourselves as members of the Body of Christ and of this covenant community. For as such, just as we are able to share in each other’s victories and achievements, so do we also recognize that when one of our members falters we all falter, and when even one of us fails we all suffer the blow. Therefore, we accept that as part of this covenantal body, we are both privileged and obliged to advise and to caution one another should temptations or transgressions arise; just as we are also obliged and blessed to hear the members of our community should they seek to hold us accountable for our words and our deeds.

Academic Dishonesty

The Seminary defines plagiarism as the copying or use of work or ideas not the student’s own, in any form including AI generated text without acknowledgment. Students shall not represent the work of another as their own or in any way misrepresent their own work, or the work of another. The use of any outside source, whether of idea or of paraphrase, shall be properly acknowledged. Any quotation, even of phrase, shall be marked by quotation marks. Misrepresentation shall be avoided. The Seminary defines cheating as the dishonest use of resources. Cheating on any academic assignment is prohibited. The first offense of plagiarism, once established, will be penalized by an “F” on the assignment. Second offense, once established, will be penalized with an “F” for the course. Third offense, once established, results in the student being eligible for dismissal from the Seminary. The Academic and Student Affairs Committee of the Seminary, with the Dean, shall adjudicate all claims of cheating and enforce this policy. Appeals of the decision of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee can be directed to the Vice President of Academic Affairs through the Director of Seminary Vocation. The VPAA’s decision is final.

Statement on Academic Dishonesty to be Appended to All Self-Proctored Tests/Quizzes: All self-proctored tests or quizzes shall have the following statement appended: “I promise that I have not received unauthorized assistance during this quiz/test. If a closed book assignment, I have not used any resources in print or digital form. I have completed this assignment in the time stipulated by the instructor.”

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