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Academic honor code

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An academic honor code or honor system is a set of rules or ethical principles governing an academic community based on ideals that define what constitutes honorable behaviour within that community. The use of an honor code depends on the notion that people (at least within the community) can be trusted to act honorably. Those who are in violation of the honor code can be subject to various sanctions, including expulsion from the institution.

US military service academies

Main articles: Cadet Honor Code and Honor Concept

Presently, some of the most notable and most stringent honor codes exist at the Federal Service Academies and Senior Military Colleges.

The military academy honor codes not only govern the cadets' and midshipmen's lives at the academies but also are deemed essential to the development of military officers who are worthy of the public trust. As such, the codes are not limited merely to academic situations or to conduct on campus; cadets and midshipmen are expected to live by the codes' ethical standards at all times. The codes are as old as the academies themselves and simply state that cadets and midshipmen do not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those who do. A single-sanction Honor Code, in which any offense results in expulsion regardless of severity, exists at Virginia Military Institute, which features a "drum out" ceremony which is still carried out upon a cadet's dismissal. Outside of the military, Washington and Lee University and the University of Virginia also have single sanction codes.

At three of the service academies and at Virginia Military Institute, anyone who learns of an honor code violation is required to report it.[1] Failure to do so is considered "toleration," which itself violates the code. That also holds true at schools with combined cadet and traditional student programs, such as Norwich University, Texas A&M, and The Citadel, whose honor codes specifically provide that all students, both cadets and civilians, do not "tolerate those who do." It is notable that the three Senior Military Colleges have two honor codes, one for cadets and one for civilians, whether on-campus or through distance online programs, etc.[2][3][4] The Honor Concept of the Brigade of Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy allows the observer of an honor violation to confront the accused without formally reporting. It was found that it was more constructive at developing the honor of midshipmen. A non-toleration clause, on the other hand, is believed to make enemies of classmates. Additionally, it is thought that one's true honor, if other than utmost, was not able to be formally remediated when hidden from public view. Under the academies' honor codes, violators can face severe punishment, up to being forwarded for expulsion by the Secretary of the Army, Navy, or Air Force.[5]

Stringent honor codes, however, are not limited to military institutions. The all-male Hampden–Sydney College is reputed for an honor code system on a par with military systems,[citation needed] which extends to all student activities both on and off campus (off-campus violations can be prosecuted), and also like the military system, it considers tolerance of a violation itself a violation. Like the Naval Academy, however, those who witness a violation are encouraged to confront the violator and convince them to turn themselves in before resorting to reporting the violation. Another school with a very strict honor code is Brigham Young University. The university not only mandates honest behavior but also incorporates various aspects of Mormon religious law: drinking, smoking, drug use, and premarital sex are all banned. Also, the code includes standards for dress and grooming. Men must be clean-shaven, and men and women cannot wear short shorts or other revealing clothing.[6]

Notable American academic honor systems

Many military academies have strict Honor systems, such as the following:

In addition, the following colleges with a Corps of Cadets maintain an honor code for both the cadets and civilian students:

There are also traditional liberal arts and technical universities that maintain Honor systems:

Sample honor pledges

  • "As a member of the William and Mary community, I pledge on my honor not to lie, cheat, or steal, either in my academic or personal life. I understand that such acts violate the Honor Code and undermine the community of trust, of which we are all stewards." — The College of William & Mary
  • "On my honor as a student, I have neither given nor received aid on this assignment/exam." — University of Virginia
  • "Pledge: No Aid; No Violations." — Wesleyan University
  • "A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do." — United States Military Academy
  • "Who lives here reveres honor, honors duty; we neither lie, cheat, steal nor attempt to deceive." — United States Coast Guard Academy
  • "I pledge my honor that I have not violated the honor code during this examination." — Princeton University[7]
  • "No member of the Caltech community shall take unfair advantage of any other member of the Caltech community." — California Institute of Technology
  • "Sweet Briar women do not lie, cheat, steal or violate the rights of others. Therefore, I pledge to uphold all standards of honorable conduct. I will report myself and others for any infraction of this pledge." — Sweet Briar College
  • "I affirm that I will uphold the highest principles of honesty and integrity in all my endeavors at Gettysburg College and foster an atmosphere of mutual respect within and beyond the classroom." — Gettysburg College
  • "I pledge to uphold the principles of honesty and responsibility at our University." — Texas State University
  • "We have but one rule here, and it is that every student must be a gentleman." — Washington and Lee University
  • "I commit to uphold the ideals of honor and integrity by refusing to betray the trust bestowed upon me as a member of the Georgia Tech community." — Georgia Institute of Technology
  • "The members of the METU community are reliable, responsible and honourable people who embrace only the success and recognition they deserve, and act with integrity in their use, evaluation and presentation of facts, data and documents." — Middle East Technical University
  • "I have been honest and observed no dishonesty." — Guilford College
  • "All members of ASHMC [Associated Students of Harvey Mudd College] are responsible for maintaining their integrity and the integrity of the College community in all academic matters and in all affairs concerning the community." – Harvey Mudd College
  • "I do solemnly pledge my honor that as long as I am a student at Meredith College, I will faithfully uphold the principles of the Honor Code and will respect and observe the procedures and requirements of the Honor System. I also pledge my support to our system of self-government, an integral part of our way of life at Meredith College. I make this pledge in view of my fellow students thus signifying our high resolve to keep our honor forever sacred and our self-government forever strong." — Meredith College

See also

References

  1. ^ "VMI Honor System History - VMI Archives - Virginia Military Institute". www.vmi.edu. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  2. ^ "Honor Code, Education". Archived from the original on September 23, 2015.
  3. ^ "Honor Code, Education". Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  4. ^ "Honor Code, Education". Archived from the original on September 20, 2016.
  5. ^ "DoD Directive 1332.23, "Service Academy Disenrollment", February 19, 1988" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 5, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  6. ^ "Honor Code Statement". Honour Code Office. Brigham Young University. Archived from the original on April 14, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
  7. ^ "Princeton Honor Committee". princeton.edu. Archived from the original on July 8, 2007.
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