Honor Code History and Philosophy
Allegheny’s Honor Code is different from many other colleges because it is a student-run code, developed and upheld by the students themselves, rather than imposed by the administration.
A voluntary Honor Code was established in 1960, and by 1962 over two-thirds of the student body participated. The following year, the student body voted to make the Honor Code mandatory. This decision, also approved by the faculty and administration, first applied to the class that entered the College in 1964. Every three years since 1990, the Honor Committee conducts a student referendum to determine if the student body wishes to continue the student-run Honor Code.
The philosophy behind the Code is one of mutual benefit and trust, designed to promote independence and integrity in an atmosphere of academic self-responsibility. In return for trust, the Code grants such provisions as unproctored exams, among others. Students pledge to complete all academic work honestly and to encourage other students to do so as well.
The Honor Committee was created with two objectives. The first is to educate the student body and faculty on the importance of the Code and what it states, the second being to investigate possible violations. The Honor Committee is a fact gathering body, tasked with gathering information and deciding whether or not the Code was violated. The Honor Committee does not give sanctions to those found to violate the Code.
Academic Conduct
Any member of the College community may report an alleged violation of the Honor Code. Such reports shall be prepared in writing and directed to the Honor Committee. Such reports should be submitted as soon as possible after the alleged violation occurs using the online Honor Code form.
Allegheny College operates under the following Honor Code:
Honor Code
Honor Code Article I
Section 1
The Honor Code applies to all work evaluated for academic credit at Allegheny. All students who have enrolled in Allegheny College will be responsible to uphold the Honor Code during their time as students. Each student is responsible for maintaining honesty in one’s own academic work and maintaining the integrity of the entire College community.
Section 2
The Allegheny College Honor Code is a social contract which requires student participation to function properly. Participation in the Honor Code entails students holding not only themselves accountable to abide by the Honor Code, but also holding each other accountable to abide by the Honor Code.
Section 3
Instructors are expected to explain their policies regarding authorized aid, unauthorized aid, plagiarism, and citation expectations for the course, and are expected to include this material in a formal syllabus for the course. However, it remains the student’s responsibility to know and to understand course policies. Any course policy designated by the faculty cannot be stricter than the Honor Code itself.
Section 4
Ignorance of any part of the code is no excuse for violating it.
Honor Code Article II
Upon enrollment in the College, each student acknowledges the following: “I hereby recognize and pledge to fulfill my responsibilities, as defined in the Honor Code, and to maintain the integrity of both myself and the College community as a whole.”
Honor Code Article III
Section 1
If one student observes another committing what appears to be an act of dishonesty in academic work, it is the observer’s responsibility to inform the instructor. In a situation in which a student reports an Honor Code violation, anonymity will be offered to the student throughout most of the Honor Committee’s process. However, should the case reach an Academic Integrity Board hearing, the reporting student may be required to appear as a witness. In all other cases, anonymity of the student making the report will be preserved.
Section 2
The following practices are considered to be violations of the Honor Code in all work evaluated for academic credit: any attempt to receive or give unauthorized assistance from written, printed, or recorded aids, from any person, or from another’s work. Faculty should specify in the syllabus or assignment any technologies or other forms of assistance which are not authorized for use by students. Unless specifically authorized by the course instructor, any use of generative artificial intelligence or other forms of machine learning to complete assignments will be treated as unauthorized assistance and will be deemed to be a violation of the Honor Code.
Section 3
Plagiarism is defined as using the ideas or words of another without citing the sources from which the ideas or words are taken. In all work evaluated for academic credit, the following must be carefully observed:
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Any sequence of words taken verbatim from a source not original to the student or taken from the student’s previous work (See Section 4) must be enclosed in quotation marks, and followed by accurate in-text and bibliographic citations. Simple errors in style or formatting are not considered violations of the Honor Code.
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The instructor’s expectations regarding citations for verbatim quotations should be made clear to students in a written capacity through either the syllabus or the assignment guidelines. If expectations regarding citations are unclear to the student, it is the responsibility of the student to consult the instructor prior to the due date of the assignment.
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When interpreting or paraphrasing the ideas or words of another, quotation marks cannot be used. In these cases, the language and sentence structure must be that of the student and not of the original source author. The interpreted or paraphrased content must be followed by accurate in-text and bibliographic citations. Simple errors in style or formatting are not considered violations of the Honor Code.
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The instructor’s expectations regarding citations for interpreted or paraphrased material should be made clear to students in a written capacity through either the syllabus or the assignment guidelines. If expectations regarding citations are unclear to the student, it is the responsibility of the student to consult the instructor prior to the due date of the assignment.
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Information that comprises common knowledge will vary by course but does not need to be cited. It is at the discretion of the instructor to determine what information is encompassed by common knowledge for the course. If a student is unsure of what information is encompassed by common knowledge, it is the responsibility of the student to consult the instructor prior to the due date of the assignment.
Section 4
No work submitted for one course may be submitted for another except with the explicit approval of both instructors. If this approval is received, students are required to cite themselves when appropriate. Students should clarify the self-citation style with their professor. In this case, the plagiarism expectations specified above in Article III, Section 3 also apply.
Honor Code Article IV
Section 1
Tests and examinations at Allegheny may or may not be proctored. For in-person exams, instructors may remain in the room or in a nearby room. Instructors must remain in the building to be available to answer questions that may arise during the course of the examination, and must communicate to students where they are located in the building. For take-home exams, instructors must communicate to students when they are available for questions.
Section 2
In-person examinations are to be taken in the building in which they are given. Students may take their exam anywhere within that building, with the exception of taking exams into locked rooms and restrooms without explicit instructor permission. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the door to the room remains unlocked during the entire exam. Students may not leave the building unless explicitly permitted to do so by the instructor.
Section 3
For in-person examinations, regardless of where in the building the test or exam is taken, the student is responsible for obtaining any changes or corrections. Instructors are not under obligation to search out students to provide this information. Furthermore, the exam must be handed in at the time requested. For take-home exams, changes or corrections made to the exam by the instructor must be directly communicated to students.
Section 4 - Honor Code Signature
To acknowledge and uphold the expectations of the Honor Code, a student, when submitting any work evaluated for academic credit, should note “the work is mine unless otherwise cited” and sign or type their full name in signature. The lack of a pledge does not exempt any work from the Honor Code.
Honor Code Article V
Section 1 Conflicts of Interest
If a member of the Honor Committee has a conflict of interest with any of the participants in a case, that member must excuse themselves from all case proceedings. Voting in the Honor Committee shall require a majority of those members without a conflict of interest in the case.
If conflicts of interest result in the available membership of the Honor Committee being insufficient to conduct business, the administrative advisor shall consult with the Campus Life and Community Standards Committee to identify an appropriate pool of replacement student members for the duration of a given case.
Section 2 Timelines
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There is no statute of limitations imposed on the reporting of suspected violations of the Honor Code. However, prompt reporting is in the best interests of all. In general, the Honor Committee would prefer that faculty report suspected violations no later than sixty days after the date that the final grade for the course was posted to a student’s record. So long as the request is initiated within sixty days, the disposition of the case may exceed that timeframe.
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The administrative advisor to the Honor Committee will communicate with accused students within five business days of the initial report. This communication will lay out the process that is to be followed.
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The case chair assigned by the Honor Committee to a specific case will communicate with the accused student and the faculty member within five business days of being appointed as case chair.
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Students and faculty are asked to respond to Honor Committee communications within five business days. So long as the communication is initiated within five days, the continued disposition of the case may exceed that timeframe.
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If a faculty member fails to communicate with the Honor Committee in a timely manner, that may constitute grounds for the Honor Committee to find the student “not responsible.”
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If an essential witness fails to communicate with the Honor Committee in a timely manner, that may constitute grounds for the Honor Committee to find the student “not responsible.”
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If an accused student fails to communicate with the Honor Committee in a timely manner, the Honor Committee may continue the case without their active participation.
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Cases submitted at the very end of a semester will generally not be addressed until the beginning of the next semester, except where such a delay would affect a student’s ability to graduate on time.
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These deadlines may be extended as needed by agreement of the Honor Committee chair and the administrative advisor to the Honor Committee. Extensions of deadlines must be communicated to relevant parties in a timely fashion.
Section 3 Preliminary Procedure
After a reported violation of the Honor Code is received, the Honor Committee shall appoint a Case Chair for the case. This Case Chair will make initial contact with the accused student, the faculty member, and any applicable witnesses. This contact is for the purpose of ascertaining the facts of the situation.
The student will be informed of the following as it applies to the Honor Committee procedures:
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specific Honor Code sections that have been allegedly violated;
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that the student is permitted and encouraged to be accompanied by another member of the College community as a Community Support Person at any and all meetings;
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that the student is permitted and encouraged to speak on their own behalf and to present a written statement that contains relevant information and facts;
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that they have the opportunity to accept responsibility for the allegation and pursue a mutual agreement resolution as outlined elsewhere in the Code;
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that the student can decline to answer a question which may result in self-incrimination. (The student who chooses this action does so with the full knowledge that all aspects of the student conduct process will continue.).
The student should also be informed of the following procedures should a mutual agreement fail to be reached or if they deny responsibility for the allegation:
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that if a Review Panel were to occur, the student is permitted and encouraged to bring relevant and necessary witnesses to the Review Panel meeting;
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that the student is permitted and encouraged to read the Honor Committee Report that is developed by the Review Panel. The report is generated only when a possible violation is forwarded to an Academic Integrity Board.
Section 4 Mutual Agreement
A violation of the Allegheny College Honor Code is both a violation of an agreed upon set of rules relating to academic integrity, but it is also an ethical transgression that does harm to the community of scholars and learners. Student responses to their own violations need to address both the policy violation and the ethical problem.
A student who admits their violation of the rules of academic integrity and takes responsibility for their actions and the harm they have caused may resolve their case through mutual agreement with the faculty member. This option is available at most for the first two violations of the Honor Code.
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A student who admits that they violated the rules of academic integrity and takes responsibility for their actions will be asked to meet with the administrative advisor to the Honor Committee and then to complete a form answering the following questions. In each case the student should answer with honesty and self-reflection.
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What specifically happened and why?
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What were the individual decisions that led to this violation and what different decisions could have been made?
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Who has been affected by actions and how have they been affected?
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What concrete practices can you put in place to ensure that no further violations of academic integrity occur?
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If the Honor Committee case chair and the administrative advisor to the Honor Committee believe that the student has answered honestly and with self reflection, then the matter is mutually agreed and will be closed.
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Students will generally be placed upon an Honor Code Warning for a first offense and an Honor Code Probation for a second offense. This will occur at the discretion of the administrative advisor to the Honor Committee.
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No appeal to a mutual agreement is possible.
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If a student ceases to communicate about the Mutual Agreement process, then after ten business days from the last communication, the administrative advisor to the Honor Committee may revert to the Academic Integrity Board process.
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Faculty will assign any grade sanction and communicate the sanction to the student.
If a mutual agreement is not made, then the case will go to a hearing of the Academic Integrity Board. This will take place if the student appears to lack honesty and self reflection in their responses. A student must demonstrate their understanding of both their own actions and the reasons for them as well as the harm caused to other parties.
A case in which the student denies responsibility will go to a hearing of the Academic Integrity Board (currently Article VI).
The third and subsequent cases for an individual student will automatically go to a hearing of the Academic Integrity Board if so voted by the Honor Committee.
Section 5 Review Panel
If a student denies responsibility for the allegation, or if a mutual agreement cannot be reached, or if this the student’s third or subsequent offense, a review panel will be appointed. This will consist of the previously appointed Case Chair and two other members of the Honor Committee.
Review Panel’s Responsibilities
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The Review Panel should interview the accuser(s) and the instructor of the course in question during the course of its investigation. Additionally, any prospective witnesses should be questioned.
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The Review Panel shall inform the accused student(s) of the time and place of the meeting.
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Review Panels should be recorded. This recording will be kept by the Honor Committee until the process is concluded and all right of appeal exhausted, after which it will be erased or destroyed. The recording is the property of Allegheny College. Additionally, notes will be taken during the Review Panel meeting and during any interviews conducted. Each party will review and sign the notes attributed to them.
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Review Panels will be conducted in confidence, with only one person testifying at a time. When the Review Panel convenes, the Case Chair will proceed as follows:
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Review the applicable procedures.
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Read the accusation.
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Inform the accused of the Honor Committee’s responsibilities and of the purpose of the Review Panel meeting.
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Ask the student whether they understand the purpose of the Review Panel, and for any opening remarks.
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Ask for the accused’s closing statement. Allow the student to read, correct, and sign the Review Panel notes, thereby verifying the accuracy.
After the inquiry is completed, the Review Panel will discuss all substantial facts. The Review Panel will then make a recommendation to the full Honor Committee using the “more likely than not” standard. Technical rules of evidence, such as may apply in civil or criminal courts of law, do not apply to the Review Panel meeting.
Section 6. Recommendation to an Academic Integrity Board
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At its next meeting, the Honor Committee will make a decision regarding the recommendation of the Review Panel. A majority of the membership of the Honor Committee without a conflict of interest in a specific case will be required to forward a case to an Academic Integrity Board. The Honor Committee will consider all substantial facts and base their decision by using the “more likely than not” standard. The accused will be notified in writing of the Honor Committee’s decision.
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In the event the Honor Committee decides not to forward a case to an Academic Integrity Board - all materials concerning the case will be removed from the student’s educational records.
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The Honor Committee will notify the course instructor and the accuser of its decision and report the results to the administrative advisor to the Honor Committee.
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If the case is forwarded to an Academic Integrity Board, an Honor Committee Report will be submitted to the administrative advisor to the Honor Committee by the Case Chair, along with the written and typed statements of the accused, accuser(s), and instructor. Additionally, the Case Chair or another member of the Review Panel will be required to attend the Academic Integrity Board hearing to present the facts and information gathered by the Panel.
Honor Code Article VI
Honor Code Hearing Process
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The Honor Committee will inform the administrative advisor to the Honor Committee of its intention to refer the alleged violation of the Honor Code to an Academic Integrity Board. Within five business days, administrative advisor to the Honor Committee will inform the accused student of the following information regarding the hearing process:
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time, date and place of the hearing;
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specific Honor Code policies that have allegedly been violated;
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that student complainants and respondents are permitted and encouraged to have a Community Support Person accompany them to the hearing. A Community Support Person is a current Allegheny College student or current employee chosen by a student to serve in an advisory capacity during a student’s involvement in the Academic Integrity process. The primary role of the Community Support Person is to assist the student in preparing for meetings/hearings and to attend meetings/hearings as support for the student. The Community Support Person is not an advocate for the participant, does not represent the participant, speak on behalf of the participant, or examine/cross-examine other parties or witnesses, except as required by law in Title IX cases. The participant is responsible for presenting their own information; and, therefore, Community Support Persons are not permitted to speak or participate directly in any meetings/hearings without approval.
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that the participant is permitted and encouraged to meet with a College staff member to discuss the hearing process and to be accorded reasonable access to the Honor Committee Report, which will be reviewed and retained electronically. File contents cannot be copied, photographed or otherwise duplicated
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that the participant is permitted and encouraged to speak on their own behalf, to present relevant information, and to present a written statement and any additional information to the Academic Integrity Board no later than 24 hours prior to the hearing;
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that the student is permitted and encouraged to bring relevant and necessary witnesses to the hearing.
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The committee will conduct a hearing to receive and consider relevant facts about the alleged violation, to discuss the alleged violation, to determine whether the Honor Code has been violated, and to determine sanctions, if appropriate.
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A recording is made of the hearing and retained by the administrative advisor to the Honor Committee pending an appeal. No other recordings of the proceedings are permitted.
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Only the Provost and the administrative advisor to the Honor Committee or their direct designees will have access to the recording. No recording devices other than the official recording may be used during the proceedings. A file containing all records pertinent to the alleged violation is maintained by the administrative advisor to the Honor Committee. The recording and file are the property of Allegheny College. No other materials or notes related to the hearing should leave the room at the conclusion of the proceedings.
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During the hearing, members of the Academic Integrity Board, the Honor Committee representative, the accused student and Community Support Person will be present, along with the administrative advisor to the Honor Committee. The Academic Integrity Board will be chaired by a non-voting representative of the administrative advisor to the Honor Committee who is trained in current policy and process to answer procedural questions and advise regarding the adjudication process.
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The committee will listen to all relevant information and facts from:
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the accused student;
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the Honor Committee representative;
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any witnesses, including the course instructor or teaching assistants, if appropriate.
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Any member of the College community may be called as a witness by any of the parties involved with the alleged violation. Witnesses are permitted in the hearing only while presenting their testimony and responding to questions. The committee may determine the relevance of information and reasonably limit the participation of the witness accordingly.
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Technical rules of evidence, such as those that apply in civil or criminal courts of law, do not apply to the hearing. Participants in the hearing may address comments and questions only to the committee. The board chair has the authority to make procedural decisions regarding the hearing.
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When the board has heard and received the relevant information and documents offered by the parties during the hearing, the board will adjourn the hearing and move to executive session when only board members and the board Chair may be present. In the executive session, the board will deliberate and decide whether they believe the accused student is responsible for violating the Honor Code and, if so, will assign sanctions, if appropriate.
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The committee’s decision shall be made on the basis of whether it is more likely than not that the accused student violated the Honor Code. All decisions of the committee are by simple majority vote. In the case of a tie vote, the matter will be considered to be concluded with no finding of a violation of the Honor Code.
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After a decision has been reached, the administrative advisor to the Honor Committee will notify the accused student of the decision in writing within five business days from the date of the hearing.
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Any student failing to attend a scheduled hearing does so with the understanding that the hearing may be held in their absence.
Honor Code Article VII
Appeal to the Provost
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The decision of the committee may be appealed to the Provost of the College by the accused student within five business days from the date of the letter notifying the student of the decision of the committee. Such appeals shall be in writing and delivered to the Provost, with a copy to the Dean for the Student Experience.
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In the written appeal, it is the responsibility of the person presenting the appeal to demonstrate grounds for the appeal. The appeal must specify the reason(s) for the appeal. The student appealing may appeal on any or all of the following grounds:
- New facts not available at the hearing. If the facts were known but withheld during the original hearing by the person presenting the appeal, those facts may not be brought forward as a ground for appeal.
- A violation of the process as described in the student handbook is one that significantly and materially affected the student’s ability to present complete information to the board.
- The board’s decision was unsupported by any substantial evidence at the hearing.
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The Provost has ten business days from the filing of the appeal to reach a decision.
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The Provost may uphold or overturn the decision of the committee, return a case to the committee for further processing, or adjust or affirm any sanctions.
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The decision of the Provost is final.
Honor Code Article VIII
Section 1 Honor Code Amendments
The Honor Code may be amended by a three-fourths vote of the full membership of the Honor Committee in consultation with Faculty Council, Allegheny Student Government, the Campus Life and Community Standards Committee, and the College Faculty. The amended Honor Code will be the subject of the next referendum, and will take effect should the student body vote to approve the Honor Code.
Section 2 Honor Code Referendum
Since 1990, the Honor Committee has held a referendum of the student body to determine whether the Honor Code shall remain a part of the Allegheny community every three years. This referendum shall be held in the second semester of every third year. A majority of degree-seeking students in the first-year, sophomore and junior class standings, on campus and abroad, as of spring count in the year of the referendum, must vote to affirm the Code in order to keep the student-run Code.
(Spring 2024 Referendum)
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