Dean for the Student Expreience

• Contact Information
• The Honor Code Process
• Student Leaves and Withdrawals 

Contact Information

Ian Binnington - Dean for the Student Experience
ibinning@allegheny.edu 

The Honor Code Process

Please see information on the Honor Code here https://sites.allegheny.edu/studentsuccess/academic-honor-program/. 

Please use the “Report an Incident” Link on the above page to report an Honor Code Violation.

There is also a guide for faculty here: https://sites.allegheny.edu/studentsuccess/academic-honor-program/academic-honor-program-information-for-faculty/

Please contact honorcommittee@allegheny.edu with questions.

Please us this form to report suspected Honor Code violation – https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?AlleghenyCollege&layout_id=2

The Allegheny Student Government and Faculty adopted an honor system in 1960 that, since 1964, has applied to all students admitted to the College. The Honor Code is printed in the Compass and is administered by a student Honor Committee, advised by a faculty member (Matt Betush) and the Dean for the Student Experience (Ian Binnington). The Honor Code was most recently revised for the 2024-2025 academic year. If a faculty member suspects that a student has violated the Honor Code, the following procedure generally should be followed:

1. The instructor should arrange a meeting with the suspected student and describe the instructor’s reasons for a possible Honor Code violation. After discussing the case with the student, the instructor may choose to withdraw the complaint or forward it to the Honor Committee. All work/exams should be signed by the student: “This work is mine unless otherwise cited”.

   • If faculty have questions before they submit a case, they are welcome to contact the Honor Committee or the Dean for the Student Experience.

2. If the student takes genuine responsibility for their violation, if they are eligible, and all parties agree, then a mutual agreement process will be followed. The student will be asked to meet with the administrative advisor to the Honor Committee and will then be asked to answer the following questions: 1) What specifically happened and why?; 2) What were the individual decisions that led to this violation and what different decisions could have been made?; 3) Who has been affected by actions and how have they been affected?; and 4) What concrete practices can you put in place to ensure that no further violations of academic integrity occur? 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. 

3. Faculty will retain the power to assign any grade sanctions.

4. If the student does not admit to violating the Honor Code, or if the student is ineligible for a mutual agreement then the case will be forwarded to the Chairperson of the Honor Committee. If the Honor Committee determines that it is more likely than not that a violation of the Honor Code has occurred, then the case will be forwarded to the Campus Life and Community Standards Committee. If not, the case may be dismissed by the Honor Committee.

5. If the Honor Committee forwards the case to the Campus Life and Community Standards Committee, the instructor will be asked to participate in the Campus Life and Community Standards Board hearing. If the accused student is found responsible for violating the Honor Code, the Campus Life and Community Standards Board will recommend an academic course work sanction to the instructor and will assign college sanctions.

6. If the case is not resolved prior to the end of the semester in which the alleged infraction occurred, the instructor should post an incomplete grade in the course. If the alleged infraction is discovered after final grades have been posted, the instructor should contact the Dean for the Student Experience. The instructor should submit a final grade or a grade change once the case is resolved.

7. Faculty members are strongly encouraged to notify students at the start of each course of expectations regarding footnoting, citations, use of translations, group study and expectations of group projects, and whether cell phone/electronic devices are permitted during exams. All work/exams should be signed by the student: “This work is mine unless otherwise cited”.

Student Leaves and Withdrawals - Please see Academic Bulletin