Policies and Procedures

• To be honest and truthful in all academic matters, abiding by the letter and spirit of the Honor Code.
• To consult with the appropriate persons to clarify issues regarding plagiarism, the correct attribution of sources, the acceptable limits of proofreading or editing by others, and the use of allowable materials for examinations, reports, or any academic work.
• To sign a pledge that no unauthorized aid has been given or received on any academic work.
• To report any incident believed to be a violation of the Code.
• To make such a report to the president of the Honor Council.
• To cooperate when called upon by the Council to testify in a hearing.

Student Rights

• To be presumed innocent
• To a fair, impartial, and timely hearing
• To face and question any witnesses at a hearing
• To testify and present material on one's own behalf
• To a separate hearing upon request
• To subsequent appeal

Examples of Offenses

• Academic cheating - including but not limited to the unauthorized use of books or notes, copying, or collaboration on examinations or any graded coursework
• Plagiarism - the misuse of another person's words or ideas, presenting them as one's own
• Lying or presenting false information related to any academic matter
• Forgery or misuse of official College documents
• Theft of College property related to academic work
• Aiding another in any of the above
• Failure to report a violation of the Honor Code
• Failure to appear before the Honor Council as requested
• Failure to maintain confidentiality regarding a case

Chronology of a Reported Violation of the Honor Code

• Report the alleged violation to the president of the Honor Council. In consultation with the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean, the president of the Council will determine if sufficient evidence exists for a hearing. If the evidence is insufficient, the president so notifies the party reporting the alleged violation. If there is sufficient evidence for a hearing, the president informs the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean and a date is set for the hearing. The president of the Council will inform the person or persons accused of the violation that a hearing will take place, stating the specific accusation, the place, date, and time of the hearing, and requesting the names of any persons who should be called as witnesses.
• When a student accused of a violation does not appear for a preliminary interview when notified to do so, a hold will be placed on the student's transcript. A hold will also be placed on the transcript when the president of the Council and the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean determine that the case will proceed to a hearing. This hold will be removed when the case has been resolved.
• The student may choose to self-report the violation to the Honor Council president. As a result, no hearing will be called, but the Honor Council will meet to determine the sanction.
• The president presides at the hearing, after which the Council votes to determine whether or not a violation has occurred. In the event of a tie, the president will cast the deciding vote. If the student is found not to have violated the Honor Code, the president and recorder destroy the recording of the proceedings and so inform the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean and the student in writing. If the student is found to have violated the Code, further deliberation by the Council determines the sanction to be imposed, and the student is notified in writing. The sanction is carried out by the Dean.

Every person found to have violated the Honor Code has the right of subsequent appeal. Such appeal must be filed in writing within seven (7) days of notification of the sanction and is made to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean. If the sanction determined by the Honor Council is an F in the course, the student will be dropped from the course seven (7) days after the student's notification of the sanction unless an appeal is filed. The Appeals Board shall be the President of the SGA, the President of the Faculty Assembly, the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean, the Honor Council appeals representative, and a student at large selected by the Honor Council President and the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean. Such appeals are heard from the Council summary, the recording of the hearing, and the written statement of the student requesting the appeal. The Appeals Board has the authority to change the sanction in a case but is limited to the sanctions provided for in the policies of the Honor Code.

Sanctions

One of the following sanctions is imposed when it is determined that there has been a violation of the Honor Code.

• The final grade in the course lowered one letter grade
• A zero on the related assignment
• An F in the course
• Suspension from the College for one semester, excluding summer, and an F in the course in a grade-related offense
• Dismissal from the College, and an F in the course in a grade-related offense