Academic honor code

"Code of Honor" redirects here. For the Star Trek episode, see Code of Honor (Star Trek: The Next Generation). For the film, see Code of Honor (film).

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 honour 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 honour code can be subject to various sanctions, including expulsion from the institution. Honour codes are used to deter academic dishonesty.

History

The documented history of an academic honor code dates back to 1736 at The College of William and Mary[1] and is the oldest honor code in the nation. The Honor Code is an enduring tradition to this day, students administer the Honor pledge to each incoming student and educate faculty and administration on the relevance of the Code and its application to students' lives at the College. Students administer the Code through six Honor Councils and the Council of Chairs. The College of William and Mary founded the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society in 1776 and was the first school of higher education in the United States to install an honor code of conduct for students. [2] The College’s Honor Code is based upon the premise that a person’s honor is his or her most cherished attribute. In a community devoted to learning, a foundation of honor among individuals must exist if that community is to thrive with respect and harmony among its members. An Honor System is an ideal mechanism to ensure such a state of affairs. With it, students and faculty are afforded a freedom that otherwise may not be available. With this freedom comes each individual’s responsibility to conduct himself or herself in such a way that the spirit of mutual trust which sustains the system is not compromised.he Honor Code applies to alleged acts of lying, stealing or cheating that adversely affect the College community, whether committed by a student on campus or elsewhere.

United States military service academies

Today, some of the most notable and most stringent honor codes exist at the U.S. Military Academy (see Cadet Honor Code), the Virginia Military Institute, at the U.S. Air Force Academy, the United States Merchant Marine Academy, and the United States Coast Guard Academy. The United States Naval Academy has an "Honor Concept" which is similar in scope to the honor codes at the other academies. The military academy honor codes not only govern the cadets' and midshipmen's lives at the academies, but 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. The only single-sanction Honor Code in the United States exists at the Virginia Military Institute, where a "drum out" ceremony is still carried out upon a cadet's dismissal.

At three of the service academies, anyone who learns of an honor code violation is required to report it. Failure to do so is considered "toleration," which is itself a violation of the code. However, 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 this method 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 and including being forwarded for expulsion by the secretary of the Army, Navy or Air Force.[3]

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; this code extends to all student activities both on and off campus (off-campus violations can be prosecuted) and, also like the military system, considers tolerance of a violation itself a violation. Like the Naval Academy, though, 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 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.[4]

Notable academic Honor systems

Many military academies have strict Honor systems, such as:

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

There are differences between the honour codes of different universities.

Sample honour pledges

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.wm.edu/offices/deanofstudents/services/studentconduct/honorcodeandstudentconduct/honorcode/
  2. ↑ http://www.wm.edu/about/history/
  3. ↑ "DoD Directive 1332.23, "Service Academy Disenrollment", February 19, 1988" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
  4. ↑ "Honor Code Statement". Honour Code Office. Brigham Young University. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
  5. ↑ "The Honour Code". Connecticut College. Connecticut College. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  6. ↑ "School of Law Honour Code". Office of the Registrar. University of Texas. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
  7. ↑ "James Madison University Honor Code". JMU Honour Council. JMU. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
  8. ↑ Anderson, Nick (December 14, 2012). "Honour and testing at a Virginia university". Washington and Lee honour system (The Washington Post). Retrieved 2012-12-13.
  9. ↑ "Princeton Honor Committee". princeton.edu.
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