College Standards

Academic Honesty

Students who attend LDS Business College should seek to be totally honest in all their dealings. They should complete their own work and be evaluated based upon that work. They should avoid academic dishonesty and misconduct in all its forms, including but not limited to, plagiarism, fabrication or falsification, cheating, and other academic misconduct.

Plagiarism

Intentional plagiarism is the deliberate act of representing the words, ideas, or data of another as one’s own without providing proper attribution to the original author through quotation, reference, or footnote.

Inadvertent plagiarism involves the inappropriate, but non-deliberate, use of another’s words, ideas, or data without proper attribution. Although not a violation of the Honor Code, it is a form of academic misconduct for which an instructor can impose appropriate academic sanctions. Students who are in doubt as to whether they are providing proper attribution have the responsibility to consult with their instructor and obtain guidance.

Plagiarism may occur with respect to unpublished as well as published material. Examples include:

• Direct Plagiarism: the verbatim copying of an original source without acknowledging the source
• Paraphrased Plagiarism: the paraphrasing of ideas from another without attribution, causing a reader to mistake these ideas for the writer’s own
• Plagiarism Mosaic: the borrowing of words, ideas, or data from an original source and blending this original material with one’s own writing, without acknowledging the source
• Insufficient Acknowledgment: the partial or incomplete attribution of words, ideas, or data from an original source

Fabrication/Falsification

Fabrication or falsification occurs when a student invents or distorts the origin or content of information used as authority. Examples include:

• Citing a source that does not exist
• Citing information from a source that is not included in the source for which credit is given
• Citing a source for a secondary proposition that it does not support
• Citing a bibliography source when it was neither consulted nor cited in the body of the paper
• Intentionally distorting the meaning or applicability of data
• Inventing data or statistical results to support conclusions

Cheating

A student cheats when he or she attempts to give the appearance of a level of knowledge or skill that has not been obtained. Examples include:

• Copying from another person’s work during an examination or while completing an assignment
• Allowing someone to copy work that is not his or her own during an examination or while completing an assignment
• Using unauthorized materials during an examination or while completing an assignment
• Collaborating on an examination or assignment without authorization
• Taking an examination or completing an assignment for another, or permitting another to take an examination or to complete an assignment that is not his or her own

Other Academic Misconduct

Other academic misconduct includes other academically dishonest, deceitful, or inappropriate acts which are intentionally committed. Examples include:

• Inappropriately providing or receiving information or academic work so as to gain unfair advantage over others
• Planning with another to commit any act of academic dishonesty
• Attempting to gain an unfair academic advantage for oneself or another by bribery or by any act of offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting anything of value to another for such purpose
• Changing or altering grades or other official educational records
• Obtaining or providing to another a test or answers to a test that has not been administered
• Breaking and entering into a building or office for the purpose of obtaining unauthorized materials
• Continuing work on an examination or assignment after the allocated time has elapsed
• Submitting the same work for more than one class without disclosure and approval
• Getting equal credit on group assignments when equal work was not done

Procedures for Handling Academic Misconduct

Instructors are responsible to establish and communicate to students their expectations of behavior with respect to academic honesty and conduct in the course. The instructor will be responsible to investigate any incident of academic dishonesty or misconduct, determine the circumstances, and take appropriate action. Examples of appropriate action include but are not limited to the following:

• Reprimanding the student verbally or in writing in a private setting
• Requiring work affected by the academic dishonesty to be redone
• Administering a lower or failing grade on the affected assignment, test, or course
• Forfeiting their eligibility to drop or withdraw from a course even if the drop or withdraw deadlines have not passed

Refer student to the Honor Code Office. The Honor Code Office will complete an independent investigation and take appropriate action. If the incident involves violation of a public law, e.g., breaking and entering into an office or stealing an examination, the act should be reported to College Security.

Students who know of or suspect another student violating this policy should report their concern to their teacher or the Honor Code Office.

Both suspected and proven violations of the Academic Honesty Policy should be reported to the Honor Code Office, detailing the name, incident, and action taken. If the occurrence is sufficiently egregious, or if a pattern of dishonesty or misconduct is discovered, the Honor Code Office may take additional action, based upon the nature of the violation.

If a student disagrees with the determination or action and is unable to resolve the matter to the mutual satisfaction of the student and the instructor, he or she may have it reviewed through the College’s grievance process (See Student Academic Grievance Policy).

CES Honor Code

LDSBC and other Church Education System (CES) institutions (Brigham Young University, Brigham Young University-Hawaii, and BYU-Idaho College) exist to educate students in an atmosphere consistent with the ideals and principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These institutions select employees and students who voluntarily live the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Living by those standards is a condition of employment and admission. Individuals who are not members of the Church are also expected to maintain the same standards of honor, integrity, morality, and consideration of others. By enrolling at LDSBC, or accepting appointment as an employee, individuals show their commitment to observe the Honor Code standards approved by the Board of Trustees “at all times ... and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9).

“We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men.... If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things” (13th Article of Faith).

Church Educational System (CES) Honor Code

As a matter of personal commitment, the faculty, administration, staff, and students seek to demonstrate in daily living on and off campus those moral virtues encompassed in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and will:

• Be honest
• Live a chaste and virtuous life
• Obey the law and all campus policies
• Use clean language
• Respect others
• Abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, and substance abuse
• Participate regularly (if LDS) in church services
• Observe Dress and Grooming Standards
• Encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code

Good Honor Code Standing

When a student is in good honor code standing, they have the blessings of protection, preparation and peace. It also means a student’s conduct is consistent with the Principles of Personal Honor, the CES Honor Code, The Family: A Proclamation to the World, For the Strength of Youth, the University Standards and Policies, and the principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, both on and off campus. Students must be in good honor code standing to be admitted to, continue enrollment at, and graduate from LDSBC.

Students not in good honor code standing may be suspended from the university. Excommunication, disfellowshipped, or disaffiliation from the Church will automatically result in the loss of good honor code standing.

Furthermore, a student is not in good honor code standing if his or her ecclesiastical endorsement has either lapsed or been withdrawn, or if the Student Honor Office has placed a hold on the student’s records. All students are required to remain in good honor code standing once admitted to LDSBC, whether they are on or off campus, on or on break.

Individuals who are on any sex-offender registry are not eligible for enrollment at LDSBC. Registered sex offenders will not be allowed employment at LDSBC nor other access to the campus.

Continuing Ecclesiastical Endorsement

Students must be in good Honor Code standing to be admitted to, continue enrollment at, and graduate from LDS Business College. The term "good Honor Code standing" means that a student's conduct is consistent with the Honor Code and the ideals and principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Excommunication, disfellowshipped, or disaffiliation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints automatically results in the loss of good Honor Code standing. Further, a student is not in good Honor Code standing if his or her ecclesiastical endorsement has either lapsed or has been withdrawn, or if the Honor Code Office has placed a "hold" on the student's records.

LDS Students: All enrolled, continuing students at LDS Business College will be required to annually submit a continuing endorsement from the bishop of the ward (1) in which they live and (2) that holds their current Church membership record. Students attending wards on or off campus will need to obtain a form at the Registrar’s Office, or by downloading the PDF. Endorsements expire April 1st of each year.

Other Students: Non-LDS students are to be endorsed annually by any local bishop or branch president. Students who wish to talk to an LDS bishop may contact the Honor Code Office to obtain that information.

Whether on or off campus, all students are expected to abide by the Honor Code, which includes the (1) Academic Honesty Policy, (2) Dress and Grooming Standards, and (3) Continuing Student Ecclesiastical Endorsement.

Dress and Grooming Standards

Dress and grooming affects how students and those around them think, behave, and learn. Students show respect by their grooming; therefore, students should wear clean, modest clothing that brings honor to themselves and the College. Clothing should not include wording, symbols, artwork or other references that are vulgar, offensive, crude, immoral, or gang-related.

• Women should be neat, comely and modest in their attire. Dresses should have sleeves, full backs, reach at least to the knee (even with leggings), and have a high enough neckline so as not to reveal cleavage. Cutoffs, if worn, should reach at least the knee. Blouses should have sleeves, high enough necklines so as not to reveal cleavage, and be long enough to keep the midriff from exposure as the student sits, walks, and bends. Clothing that has holes or ragged tears is inappropriate.
• Men should be neat and modest in their attire. Shirts must be worn and should have sleeves. Cutoffs, if worn, should reach at least the knee. Exposed underwear is unwelcomed and inappropriate. Clothing that has holes or ragged tears is inappropriate. (Gen 41:14; 1 Cor 3:16-17; Rise Up, O Men of God, President Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Nov. 2006, 60; A Prophet’s Counsel and Prayer for Youth, President Gordon B. Hinckley, New Era, Jan. 2001; Standards of Dress and Grooming, Elder Dallin H. Oaks,New Era, Dec. 1971)
• Hair Styles: Hair styles should reflect the standards espoused by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bizarre or unusual hair styles or coloring violate the dress and grooming standards. Dreadlocks, mohawks, fauxhawks or other unusual hair styles are not allowed except in cases where such styles are strongly cultural. Such exceptions must be cleared with the Honor Code Office. Men are to have hair cut so as to be off the collar and off the ears and eyebrows.
• Facial Hair: Faces should be clean-shaven with sideburns no lower than the bottom of the ear; muttonchops are not allowed. Moustaches are allowed but should not extend below the corners of the mouth. Soul patches and goatees are not allowed.
• Piercings Women who desire to have their ears pierced should wear only one pair of modest earrings. Men should not wear earrings. Other body piercings for men or women are inappropriate.
• Tattoos The body is holy and God’s creation and should not be disfigured; therefore, the Honor Code prohibits getting or displaying tattoos. Tattoos that portray satanic, violent, hateful, lewd themes may not be displayed under any circumstance. Students with previously acquired tattoos must cover them at all times.
• Hats LDS Business College is a dedicated building. Out of respect for that status and as a courtesy to faculty and classmates, students are requested not to wear hats in classrooms. Hats with inappropriate language or symbols, or that imply gang membership, violate the College’s dress and grooming standards.

Church Attendance

Tithing dollars fund the majority of a student’s education at LDS Business College, and admission is reserved primarily for those who adhere to the principles and practices of the Church. The educational experience at the College should augment and enhance righteous worship. Students must attend weekly Church meetings in order to receive an ecclesiastical endorsement from their bishop and continue as a student.