How Does the Honor System Work?

The Honor System works through the participation of faculty and students. While faculty members, instructors, or graduate teaching assistants usually make up the bulk of those submitting violation reports, students also participate by submitting violation reports.

1. The violation report is received by the Honor System office. The Chief Justice processes and assigns the case to an Associate Justice. A Faculty Counselor is assigned to the accused. Opening letters are sent to the accused, the violation reporter, and the Faculty Counselor. A notice is sent to the Registrar to monitor the accused student's transcripts until the case is closed.
2. Once opening letters have been sent, the Associate Justice consults all parties involved with the case, and gathers relevant facts and evidence; this can be done in person, by phone, or email. Once the report is complete, the Associate Justice in charge of the case will classify the offense as cheating, plagiarism, or falsification. A Judicial Panel is organized for a mutually convenient time for all those involved in the case.
3. The Judicial Panel consists of at least four students and one faculty member. If the case involves a highly technical matter and the Associate Justice feels that additional clarification would be helpful, an effort is made to investigate the issue with the assistance of a faculty member who is familiar with the specifics of the charge. The Judicial Panel decides if the student is guilty or not guilty (4 out of 5 votes must be for guilt). If the accused student is found not guilty, the case is closed. If the student is found guilty, the panel's recommendations are forwarded to the Review Board.
4. In the event that a student is guilty and wishes to take responsibility for their actions, an accused student may request a Judicial Panel Waiver. The accused student will meet with the Chief Justice and the Chairman of the Honor System Review Board where classification and sanction will be determined, and the offense discussed with the student. The case then proceeds to the Honor System Review Board. The accused student only needs to contact thier assigned Associate Justice.
5. The Review Board consists of the Chief Justice, Associate Chief Justice, Associate Justices, and four faculty members. The board reviews all guilty verdicts to ensure that due process has occurred and all student rights are upheld. At this level, the student can make an appeal (on the basis of new evidence, violation of student's rights and/or, arbitrary and capricious treatment by the Honor System). The Review Board has the authority to: drop the case; remand the case to a new Judicial Panel; have the case reinvestigated; or forward the case to the Provost for final review.
6. The case is then reviewed by the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education. If upheld after this review, sanctions are then communicated to and imposed upon the student. Sanctions such as University Service hours and grade penalties are monitored and reported to the Registrar upon completion of service hours. Students must also meet with a Provost Office designee and be made aware of (educated) about the nature of the sanctions and future implications of any additional Honor System violation.