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1. Preamble
Persons who come to Oglethorpe University for work and study
join a community that is committed to high standards of academic
honesty. The Honor Code contains the responsibilities we accept
by becoming members of the community and the procedures we will
follow should our commitment to honesty be broken.
The students and faculty of Oglethorpe University expect each
other to be truthful in the academic endeavor they share.
Members of the faculty assume that students complete work
honestly and act toward them in ways consistent with that
assumption. Students are expected to behave honorably in their
academic work and are required to insist on honest behavior from
their peers. Students who suspect that dishonorable conduct has
occurred must report any suspected violations to the Honor
Council. Failure to report a suspected Honor Code violation
itself constitutes a violation of the Code of Student Conduct.
Oglethorpe welcomes all who accept our principles of honest
behavior. We believe that this Code will enrich our years at the
University and allow us to begin practicing the honorable,
self-governed lives expected of society’s leaders.
2. Pledge
Students pledge that they have completed assignments honestly
by attaching the following statement to each test, quiz, paper,
overnight assignment, in-class essay, or other work:
I pledge that I have neither given nor received any
unauthorized aid on this assignment.
(Signed) _________________________________________
It will be the responsibility of the student to provide these
pledges by either attaching them on a separate sheet of paper or
typing them as part of the assignment. In the case of work
submitted electronically, either an electronic signature or a
pledge on a separate sheet should be provided by the student.
The instructor should also remind the class to sign the pledge.
The pledge serves as an affirmation of the students’ and
instructors’ belief in the principles of the Honor Code.
Students should not consider their work to be complete without
the pledge.
Instructors should include a statement concerning the Honor
Code in their syllabi indicating that all work in the course is
subject to the terms of the Honor Code. Failure to sign the
pledge, or failure of an instructor to remind students to sign
the pledge, in no way relieves either students or faculty
members of their responsibilities under the Code.
3. Faculty
Since it is assumed that students act according to their
pledge, faculty abstain from any practices whose purpose is to
ascertain that students have been dishonest unless there is a
compelling reason to believe that cheating has taken place.
Instructors should invite their students to discuss with them
actions or policies that appear to be at variance with the
assumption of honesty.
4. Jurisdiction
All courses offered by the University for academic credit are
covered by the Honor Code, and all cases of suspected academic
dishonesty will be handled in accordance to its provisions. The
Honor Council has sole jurisdiction in matters of suspected
academic dishonesty. It is the responsibility of faculty members
to make clear how the Honor Code applies in specific courses and
to follow appropriate procedures. Alternative ways of dealing
with cases are not to be used. In cases of academic dishonesty
on the part of students, the Honor Council is the final arbiter.
In cases where a faculty member engages in practices that seem
to be contrary to the Honor Code, the honor Council will refer
such cases to the Provost. The Jurisdiction of the Honor Council
does not extend to matters of either faculty discipline or
non-academic student conduct.
5. Definitions
The following definitions shall be considered as
authoritative for the framing of charges. Faculty members should
include these definitions in their syllabi and provide students
with clear explanations of what does and does not constitute
“authorized” aid. Students are likewise obligated to ensure that
their work is free from suspicion of cheating or plagiarism as
these terms are defined below. The absence of the definitions or
of explanatory discussion in syllabi in no way relieves students
of their responsibilities under the Code.
5.1. Cheating
Cheating is defined as:
- The unauthorized possession or use of notes, texts, or
other such materials during an examination.
- Copying another person’s work or participation in such
an effort.
- An attempt or participation in an attempt to fulfill the
requirements of a course with work other than one’s original
work for that course.
Students have the responsibility of avoiding participation
in cheating incidents by doing their own work, taking
precautions against others copying their work, and in general
not giving or receiving aid beyond what is authorized by the
instructor.
5.2. Plagiarism
Plagiarism includes representing someone else’s words,
ideas, data, or original research as one’s own, and in general
failing to footnote or otherwise acknowledge the source of
such work. One has the responsibility of avoiding plagiarism
by taking adequate notes on reference materials, including
material taken off the internet or other electronic sources,
used in the preparation of reports, papers, and other
coursework.
6. Honor Council
6.1 Composition
At the beginning of each academic year, students and
faculty members will be selected to serve on the Honor
Council. The Secretary of the Council will convene the new
Honor Council as soon as is convenient after the selection
process is complete. At the first meeting, new members will be
instructed in procedure. When a case comes forward, the
Secretary of the Council will constitute an honor council made
up of five students and two faculty members, called from the
pool of students and faculty members selected according to the
provisions in section 6.4. The composition of the council
shall be as follows:
1 Sophomore
2 Juniors
2 Seniors
2 Faculty members (one of whom must be in the second year of
his or her term)
1 Secretary of the Council (Associate Provost or designated
senior faculty member)
Any students or faculty members who have not sat on a
particular case will be eligible to hear appeals of that case
(cf. Section 8 below).
At the end of each academic year, the Council will meet
and, after review of the cases heard in the previous year,
make recommendations for changes in procedure or possible
amendments to the code. The Secretary of the Council will make
a formal report along with any recommendations at the March
Faculty Meeting.
6.2. Quorum
Five members constitute a quorum.
6.3. Officers
The officers of the Council will be:
Presiding officer: A student, preferably a Senior, elected
by the students on the Council.
Secretary: Associate Provost or designated senior faculty
member
6.3.1. Presiding officer
The presiding officer will read the charge and direct the
questioning of the suspect and witnesses and generally
maintain order during the hearing.
6.3.2. Secretary of the Councils
The Secretary will have responsibility for calling the
Honor Council, scheduling the hearing, contacting the
suspect and witnesses, and maintaining and written record of
the hearings. After the hearing is completed, the Secretary
will inform the suspect of the outcome and make the
appropriate reports to the faculty member involved, the
provost, the registrar, and, if necessary, the Dean of
Students.
The Secretary of the Councils will present a report to
the faculty at the March Faculty Meeting, discussion the
cases that have come forward in the previous 12 months and
indicating any suggested revisions to the code, to be voted
on by the faculty.
6.4. Selection
6.4.1. Student Members
Student members of the Council will be elected by their
peers in a general election held at the beginning of each
school year. A student may nominate another student or
submit his or her name for candidacy. Full-time traditional
undergraduate and University College students are eligible
for election. Elections will be held no later than September
15. Throughout the course of the year, any student who has
been elected may be called by the Secretary of the Council
to hear cases or appeals.
Outgoing members student members will help to orient
incoming students in the principles and practice of the
Honor Code during Freshman orientation. Current members will
assist in the orientation of new and transfer students in
the Spring.
6.4.2. Faculty Members
Each year three faculty members will be selected at
random for two years terms. All full-time tenure-track or
tenured faculty members are eligible for selection. Only
faculty members who have completed their second year review
will be eligible to serve.
The faculty members on the council, will help with the
orientation of new faculty in explaining the principles and
practice of the Honor Code.
6.4.3. Service Mandatory Except under Special
Circumstances
As members of the Oglethorpe University community, all
students and faculty members are obligated to serve on the
Honor Council. Exemptions will only under special
circumstances at the discretion of the Secretary of the
Council. On any given case, Honor Council members may
decline to serve when they believe that personal interests
might interfere with their impartiality in deciding the
case.
Refusal on the part of students to serve will be
considered a violation of the Code of Student Conduct.
Refusal of faculty members to serve will be dealt with by
the Provost.
6.5 Fall and Spring Terms
Formation of the Council will be completed in the Fall by
September 15. The terms are for Fall and Spring semesters. If
a Council member does not return for Spring semester the
Provost may select a student or faculty member to fill any
unexpired term.
6.6 Summer Term
The Honor Council will continue to perform its duties
through the Summer term. Its student members will be randomly
selected from those students who served during the regular
academic year and who attend Summer term. Any appeals of Honor
Council actions will be deferred until the beginning of the
Fall term, following the procedures in Section 8. Vacancies
will be filled by new random selections after pre-registration
for Summer and Fall terms.
The terms of faculty members extend through the Summer. The
Provost will fill any vacancies with selections from the
full-time faculty teaching in the Summer Session.
7. Procedures
7.1 Reporting
It is the responsibility of all students and faculty to
report suspected violations of the Honor Code. Students may
report either to the professor of the class in which the
suspected violation occurred, to the Secretary of the Council,
the office of the Provost, or the office of Student Life.
Forms for reported violations will be included in orientation
materials, the O-Book, and will also be available online. A
signed form in the hands of the Secretary constitutes a report
of a suspected violation.
Failure to report a case of suspected cheating either to
the professor or to the Secretary of the Council may be
considered to constitute a breach of the Code of Student
Conduct under Section B. Such cases should be referred to the
Chief Conduct Officer.
7.2 Preliminary Investigation
Upon receiving a report of a suspected violation, the
Secretary shall inform the professor in the class, the
Presiding Officer of the Council, and the alleged offender.
The officers of the Council and the ranking faculty member
constitute an Investigatory Panel which will conduct a
preliminary investigation to ascertain whether or not there is
sufficient evidence to warrant a hearing. If the Investigatory
Panel does not think there is sufficient evidence to warrant a
hearing, the professor has the right to request a review of
the evidence by the full Council. If the full Council feels
the evidence sufficiently compelling, the hearing may proceed.
If the Panel decides that the evidence does warrant a
hearing, the suspected offender will be asked to meet with the
members of the Investigatory Panel in a preliminary hearing.
At that time, the Panel will present the evidence to the
suspected offender and ask the latter to enter a plea. Pleas
will be entered in writing. Should the suspected offender
choose to plead guilty, he or she will thereby waive any right
to a subsequent hearing by the full Council and acknowledges
his or her willingness to accept whatever sanctions the
Council should decide to impose.
In cases where the student has admitted to violating the
Honor Code, the professor is still required to submit a
written report with documentation to the Secretary of the
Council. In all cases, regardless of the plea entered, the
Investigatory Panel will decide whether or not to convene a
hearing. The Honor Council as a whole will assess the
appropriate penalty, whether a hearing is held or not.
Should the suspected offender fail to answer the summons of
the Investigatory Panel within five business days, the members
of the Penal may recommend a hearing In Absentia.
Anyone reporting a suspected violation remains anonymous to
all except the Investigatory Panel until it is determined that
a hearing will be held. Then the person reporting the
violation will appear at the hearing in the presence of the
alleged offender.
7.3. Hearing
7.3.1. Rights of the Accused
- The right to be notified of having been charged with
violating the Honor Code as expeditiously as possible (and,
in any event, within three business days) once the
Investigatory Panel has determined that a hearing should
occur.
- Upon being charged by the Investigatory Panel, the right
to a hearing within the following ten business days.
- The right to be accompanied by two advisors from the
University Community. In cases where English is not the
first language of the accused, the following exception to
this rule may be made. The accused may request in writing to
be allowed to bring a translator or interpreter to the
hearing. The translator or interpreter must meet all other
stipulations in the Honor Code procedures. The advisors may
act on behalf of the accused in all matters of procedure,
such as cross-examination, calling witnesses, etc.
- The right to enter a plea.
- The right during the hearing to offer opening and
closing statements, cross-examine witnesses, call material
witnesses, and no more than two non-material (character)
witnesses.
- The right to be present, together with advisors, during
the entirety of the hearing. Disruptive behavior may result
in expulsion from the hearing, at the discretion of the
Presiding Officer.
- The right to challenge the impartiality of any specific
member of the Council providing that such charges can be
substantiated.
- The right to a copy of the minutes of the proceedings.
- In the event of a not-guilty verdict, the right to be
free from being charged twice for the same incident.
- The right to attend any and all University classes,
events, and functions prior to a verdict.
- The right to separate hearings for joint alleged
offenses.
- Under certain circumstances, the right to appeal an
adverse decision. Procedures and criteria relating to
appeals are specified in section 8.
- The right to absolute confidentiality of all
participants.
7.3.2. Rights listed not exhaustive
The rights listed in Section 7.3.1 shall not be construed
as exhaustive.
7.3.3. Rights not accorded
- Formal rules of evidence shall not be in effect. All
pertinent matters shall be admitted into evidence, including
circumstantial evidence and hearsay, the value of which
shall be weighted accordingly.
- The defendant does not have the right to be represented
by professional legal counsel during the hearing. Outside
experts may also not be used.
- Affidavits are not admissible under any circumstances.
- Any evidence that the accused, or any party acting on
his or her behalf, has threatened, accosted, or otherwise
intimidate his or her accuser or any adverse witness prior
to the hearing shall be admissible evidence and shall be
construed as a most serious breach of conduct, punishable
according to section B of the Oglethorpe Code of Student
Conduct.
- While the Honor Council should, under section 7.3.1.a,
inform the accused of any suspected violations, the Council
reserves the right to investigate any additional violations
that may come to light during the hearing. These would
include, but not be limited to, evidence of continuing
subversion and multiple infractions.
- The Honor Council reserves the right not to grant
extensions on hearing dates beyond the ten business days
indicated in section 7.3.1.b.
7.3.4. Evidence and witnesses
- Upon receipt of a call for a hearing by the
Investigatory Panel, the Secretary of the Council shall
summon any and all witnesses.
- It will be the responsibility of the accused to summon
witnesses to testify on his or her behalf.
- Non-material witnesses (character witnesses) shall by
limited to two.
- The accused may have two advisors from the University
community, either students, staff, or faculty members.
- The accused or the his or her advisors may question
witnesses and have the right to cross-examination.
- A witness shall not be present during the testimony of
other witnesses.
7.3.5. Failure to appear
Should a student who has been charged with a violation of
the Honor Code according to section 7.2 fail to appear for
the hearing at the scheduled day and time, the Honor Council
may decide to continue with the hearing and issue a verdict
In Absentia. Such verdict will be binding as if the accused
were present.
Any student summoned as a witness who fails to attend the
hearing may be subject to prosecution under Section B of the
Oglethorpe Code of Student Conduct. Should a faculty or
staff member fail to answer a summons from the Honor
Council, such cases should be referred to the Provost.
7.3.6. Specification of offense
By the end of the hearing, the Council will have found
the accused to be either innocent or guilty of one of the
following offenses:
- Academic Dishonesty, including willful cheating on a
single assignment. This would include:
- Copying answers from another student
- Using unauthorized sources, such as notes or books
- Plagiarism
- Providing unauthorized aid to a student in the same
course
- A continuing pattern of subversion of the system. This
would include:
- Multiple acts of academic dishonesty by a single
individual
- Providing aid to another student while not enrolled
in the class in which the act of dishonesty occurs
Where the Honor Council is unable to assign an
appropriate penalty, following the limits of its
jurisdiction, such cases should immediately be referred to
the Provost or Chief Conduct Officer as appropriate.
7.3.7. Voting
Voting of the Honor Council shall be by secret ballot.
Ballots will be counted by the Presiding Officer.
7.4. Penalties
If the Council determines that a student has committed one
of the offenses listed in Section 7.3.6, it may assess the
following penalties according to the severity of the offense:
- F on the assignment
- F in the course
- Suspension for the next full semester
- Expulsion with the right to reapply after one academic
year
- Permanent Expulsion from Oglethorpe University
The first three penalties are recommended in cases of
academic dishonesty. The first penalty is recommended in cases
where the scale of cheating or plagiarism is minimal. This
would include copying some, but not all, answers from another
student or a paper where plagiarized material constitutes no
more that one-fifth of the total word count. The second would
apply where a student has copied or plagiarized extensively or
where the incident required a degree of preparation before
hand, such as downloading entire papers or preparing cheat
sheets before an exam. The third is recommended in cases where
a student has given aid while not enrolled. In all cases, the
Honor Council is free to apply whichever of the penalties
listed above seems fit, except where a student has been found
guilty of a second offense. The penalty for any second offense
shall be expulsion.
7.5 Reporting of verdict
If the Honor Council determines that a student has violated
the Honor Code, the student will be informed immediately. The
Secretary of the Council shall also inform the Provost, the
professor, the chair of the division in which the violation
occurred, the student’s academic advisor, and the Registrar of
the Council’s decision, including any penalties, within the
next two business days.
Faculty members are expected to abide by the decision of
the Honor Council regarding penalties assessed. If a case has
not been resolved by the time that final grades are due, the
instructor should issue a grade of I (incomplete) indicating
on the grade roll that the case is pending before the Honor
Council. Under no circumstances should instructors impose any
grading penalties prior to notification of the results of the
hearing or at variance with the decision of the Council.
7.6 Records
The Secretary of the Council shall keep minutes of all
meetings of the investigatory panel, preliminary hearings, and
final hearings. Minutes and material evidence from previous
cases will be available to the members of the Honor Council
for review in considering future cases.
8. Appeals
8.1. Grounds for appeal
A student who has been found guilty of violating the Honor
Code by the Honor Council has the right to appeal the decision
to the Provost. The appeal must be made in writing within
three business days of notification of the Honor Council’s
decision. Appeals may be granted under the following
circumstances:
- If the Honor Council deviated substantially from the
rules and procedures laid out in the Honor Code in
determining the case
- If there is additional evidence that could have a
bearing on the outcome of the case
8.2 Jurisdiction
Following submission of an appeal, the Provost will summon
a Review Board which will examine the appeal and decide
whether a new hearing is warranted.
8.3 Review Board
The Review Board will be made up of two faculty members who
have most recently completed terms on the Honor Council.
8.4. Procedures
If the Review Board determines that a new hearing is
warranted according to the stipulations in section 8.1, the
Secretary of the Council will convene an appeal hearing. The
appeal will be heard by a special appeals council made up of
the members of the Review Board along with five students (one
sophomore, two juniors, and two seniors) chosen from the
existing pool who had not heard the original case. The
Secretary of the Councils shall record the proceedings of the
hearings. Procedures for the appeals hearing shall be the same
as those laid out in section 7.3.
8.5. Results of Appeal
The Appeals Council may decide either to uphold or overturn
the decision of the Honor Council. If the verdict is
overturned, the Secretary of the Council should inform the
Provost, professor, and Registrar of the results of the
appeal. Any person acquitted on appeal may not be charged a
second time for the same offense. If the Appeals Council
decides to uphold the original ruling, no further appeals may
be granted.
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