Academic Resources

The following standards and expectations apply to all students while attending South Florida Bible College:

1. The Lord’s Day is set apart primarily for worship, fellowship, ministry, and rest of God’s people. College programs and athletic events are not sanctioned or encouraged.

2. Scripture specifically prohibits stealing, sexual immorality, lying, cheating, gossiping, evil speaking against one another, profane language, occult practices, and attitudes such as pride, lust, bitterness, jealousy, and an unforgiving spirit. These prohibitions are clearly understood to be biblical commands that are binding upon every believer.

3. Since there is great danger to one’s physical and psychological well-being with the use of certain elements, students are to refrain from the use of hallucinogenic drugs and substances (including marijuana), or narcotics not authorized by a physician. Under no circumstances are the above to be used, possessed, or distributed on or away from campus. The use of tobacco in any of its forms on or off campus. The use or possession of alcoholic beverages on campus. Attendance at nightclubs, bars, and similar places should be avoided.

4. Gambling is viewed as an unwise use of God-given resources. Therefore, it is not acceptable in any form on campus. Students should not attend places where gambling is the source of business or entertainment.

5. Pornographic materials are destructive and immoral and are not to be used, possessed, or distributed on or away from campus.

6. The College expects its members to be sensitive regarding the Christian testimony of their personal lives in representing the Church of Jesus Christ and South Florida Bible College. Students are to be highly selective in choices of entertainment and recreation. In addition, personal responsibilities in the areas of academics, employment, and finances should also influence decisions concerning entertainment.

7. Any kind of demeaning gesture or threats of violence or physical attack directed toward another person will not be tolerated. Vandalism, and stealing of property, services, or goods are also unacceptable. Any conduct that could lead to physical injury or property damage.

8. Because of the biblical teaching concerning the dignity and worth of every person, discrimination against others on the basis of race, color, national or ethnical origin, sex or sexual orientation, age, or handicap is not acceptable.

9. Plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Students should neither participate in cheating nor encourage cheating by allowing it to go unreported. (See academic policy statements that deal with consequences of plagiarism and academic dishonesty.)

10. Students are also to acknowledge the following:

    1. As members of a Christian community, we are admonished to avoid certain practices, including, but not limited to, fornication, sexual promiscuity, adultery, pornography, any form of sexual misconduct (including behaviors such as voyeurism, indecent exposure, etc.). 

    2. Students who are convicted of a felony while enrolled at SFBC&TS will be subject to immediate disciplinary suspension

Academic Integrity (EAP Program)

SFBC&TS endeavors to create an environment of scholarly inquiry built upon Christian, and ministerial integrity. SFBC&TS’ perspective on academic integrity is firmly grounded in the institution’s mission: “…the Bible is central in preparing men and women for ministry to serve Christ and His Church through Biblical thought and Christian life.” 

Consequently, the administration and faculty of SFBC&TS take academic integrity seriously. Students in violation of SFBC&TS’ Academic Integrity Policy are engaged in a wide range of activities including, but not limited to plagiarism, dishonest testing, using proxies for tests, purchasing papers, etc. 

Categories of Academic Dishonesty with Definitions

Academic dishonesty is the failure to maintain academic integrity. SFBC&TS expects all members of the institution—students, faculty, and staff—to share the responsibility and authority to report known acts of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:

Plagiarism - the intentional or unintentional presentation of another’s words or ideas as one's own. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to: copying verbatim all or part of another's written work without citing the source; using phrases, charts, figures, illustrations, mathematical or scientific solutions without citing the source; the use of artificial intelligence software to generate wording for assignments; paraphrasing ideas, conclusions, or research without citing the source in the text and in reference lists. Plagiarism is considered fraud and has potentially harsh consequences.

Students are expected to submit original ideas on all written assignments. Students are allowed to use printed dictionaries for classwork/homework or if otherwise instructed by the teacher. During the tests, students are not allowed to look up words in any dictionary. 

Categories of Plagiarism: 

• Accidental or Unintentional: A student may not know that he or she is plagiarizing. However, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that he or she understands the difference between quoting and paraphrasing, as well as the proper way to cite and delineate quoted material.

• Prevention: Students can avoid unintentional plagiarism by carefully following accepted scholarly practices. Notes taken for papers and research projects should accurately record the sources of the material. The notes should indicate whether the source is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized. Students must both delineate (i.e., separate and identify) the copied text from their writing and give credit to (i.e., cite) the source of the copied text in accordance with accepted citation practices.

• Blatant: Here, students are well aware that they are plagiarizing. This act includes but is not limited to: turning in borrowed or purchased research papers as one's own.

• Self: Turning in the same term paper (or substantially the same paper) for two courses without getting permission from one's instructor is plagiarism. Unless authorized by their instructors, students are expected to do their own original work on each assignment in each class. A student who recycles his or her coursework from one class to another may face an allegation of academic dishonesty. 

Students who repeated a level should not submit their assignments from the previous levels. Students who are retaking the same level should prepare new assignments for the present one.

• Cheating: The use or attempt to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise (e.g., books, Google, websites). This category also includes obtaining or giving aid on an examination, presenting another's work as one's own or doing work for another student, having unauthorized prior knowledge of an examination, and using a proxy during an examination. Writing an assignment in a student’s native language and translating it electronically is also considered academic dishonesty. 

Plagiarism Procedure

This procedure will explicate South Florida Bible College’s Plagiarism policy. The procedure will take the form of a three-step process, with attending consequences.

Plagiarism process:

1. The first case of plagiarism – The teacher will require the student to rewrite the plagiarized assignment with a letter grade reduction. Also, the teacher will fill out the Student Incident Form, notifying the VP for Student Life (VPSL). In addition, the VPSL will fill out the plagiarism form (appendix 4) and will add a plagiarism tag (the tag will be labeled: plagiarism 1) added to the student’s profile on Populi. If a student plagiarizes during a test, the student will be given a zero for the plagiarized portion of the test and would not be allowed to rewrite it.

2. The second case of plagiarism – The teacher will grade the student an “F” in the plagiarized assignment and contact the VPSL by e-mail, who will add a plagiarism tag (the tag will be labeled: plagiarism 2). In addition, the VPSL will place the student on academic probation (disciplinary).

3. The third case of plagiarism – The VPSL will contact the student, who will be required to meet with a panel consisting of the Academic Dean, Dean of Faculty/EAP Director and VPSL to determine eligibility to stay in the college and add a plagiarism tag (the tag will be labeled: plagiarism 3). Possible sanctions will include suspension, expulsion, or community service based on the findings of the committee.

Academic Integrity (College & Seminary)

SFBC&TS endeavors to create an environment of scholarly inquiry built upon Christian, and ministerial integrity. SFBC&TS’ perspective on academic integrity is firmly grounded in the institution’s mission: “…the Bible is central in preparing men and women for ministry to serve Christ and His Church through Biblical thought and Christian life.” 

Consequently, the administration and faculty of SFBC&TS take academic integrity seriously. Students in violation of SFBC&TS’ Academic Integrity Policy are engaged in a wide range of activities including, but not limited to plagiarism, dishonest testing, using proxies for test, purchasing papers, etc. 

Categories of Academic Dishonesty with Definitions

Academic dishonesty is the failure to maintain academic integrity. SFBC&TS expects all members of the institution—students, faculty, and staff—to share the responsibility and authority to report known acts of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:

1. Plagiarism - the intentional or unintentional presentation of another’s words or ideas as one's own. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to: copying verbatim all or part of another's written work without citing the source; using phrases, charts, figures, illustrations, mathematical or scientific solutions without citing the source; the use of artificial intelligence software to generate wording for assignments; paraphrasing ideas, conclusions, or research without citing the source in the text and in reference lists. Plagiarism is considered fraud and has potentially harsh consequences.

   1. 1. Categories of Plagiarism: 

         1. Accidental or Unintentional: A student may not know that he or she is plagiarizing. However, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that he or she understands the difference between quoting and paraphrasing, as well as the proper way to cite and delineate quoted material.

            1. Prevention: Students can avoid unintentional plagiarism by carefully following accepted scholarly practices. Notes taken for papers and research projects should accurately record the sources of the material. The notes should indicate whether the source is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized. Students must both delineate (i.e., separate and identify) the copied text from their writing and give credit to (i.e., cite) the source of the copied text in accordance with accepted citation practices.

         2. Blatant: Here, students are well aware that they are plagiarizing. This act includes but is not limited to: turning in borrowed or purchased research papers as one's own.

         3. Self: Turning in the same term paper (or substantially the same paper) for two courses without getting permission from one's instructor is plagiarism. Unless authorized by their instructors, students are expected to do their own original work on each assignment in each class. A student who recycles his or her course work from one class to another may face an allegation of academic dishonesty.

2. Recourse

   1. The first case of plagiarism – The professor will require the student to rewrite the plagiarized paper with a letter grade reduction. 

   2. The second case of plagiarism – The professor will grade the student an F in the plagiarized assignment. In addition, the VPSL will place the student on academic probation (disciplinary).

   3. The third case of plagiarism – The VPSL will contact the student, who will be required to meet with a panel consisting of the Academic Dean, Dean of Faculty, and VPSL to determine eligibility to stay in the college. Possible sanctions will include suspension, expulsion or community service based on the findings of the committee. 

   4. Cheating – the use or attempt to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise. This category also includes obtaining or giving aid on an examination, presenting another's work as one's own or doing work for another student, having unauthorized prior knowledge of an examination, and using a proxy during an examination.

   5. Fabrication - the falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.

Students are subject to the responsibility of academic integrity, which demands honesty and giving credit to the proper sources. Students who violate these guidelines will be counseled, reprimanded, and punished with a view towards restoration. Academic dishonesty is not tolerated in SFBC&TS. Any student who violates the academic integrity policy may receive a zero for the corresponding assignment and/or the overall course, and could face harsher penalties, up to and including expulsion from the institution