The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Undergraduate Honor System
Overview of the Undergraduate Honor System
September 27, 2011
Jonathan Sauls
Dean of Students
“Blueprint”
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Overview of Honor at Carolina
Honor Code violations
Sanctions
Prevention
The Honor System process
Resources
“Blueprint”
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Overview of Honor at Carolina
Honor Code violations
Sanctions
Prevention
The Honor System process
Resources
Overview – Student self-governance
1795
The Dialectic and Philanthropic govern
the conduct of their student members,
forming an unsanctioned system of
student judicial governance.
1830s
These student societies guarantee the
proper conduct of members and turn
over any member who violates University
policy to the faculty.
1875
The University officially
relinquishes all academic and social
misconduct to the discipline of the
students.
Overview – Student self-governance
1906
The Student Council is formed of class
officers.
1946
The first student Constitution is established
and five official student courts are
sanctioned.
1974
The Instrument of Student Judicial
Governance is drafted.
July 1st, 2003
The revision of the Instrument of
Student Judicial Governance goes
into effect.
Overview – The Instrument
The Instrument of Student Judicial
Governance sets forth the goals and
standards used in promoting and
upholding academic integrity at UNC.
The Instrument includes the Honor
Code and establishes the Student
Judicial System which processes
allegations of student misconduct.
The Instrument relies on the
commitment of students, faculty, and
staff and each group is given express
responsibilities.
Overview – Student Responsibilities
Students are Expected To:
 Conduct all academic work within the letter and spirit of the
Honor Code
 Consult with faculty to clarify the meaning of plagiarism and
to learn appropriate methods of citation
 Sign a pledge on all graded academic work certifying that no
unauthorized assistance was given or received on the work
 Comply with faculty requirements designed to reduce the
possibility of cheating
 Maintain the confidentiality of examinations
Overview – Faculty Responsibilities
The Instrument sets forth four main responsibilities for faculty
members:
I.
Awareness
- Faculty should be aware of the UNC Honor System to
assure that campus-wide expectations regarding academic
integrity can be communicated effectively to students
II.
Communicating Expectations and Administering Exams
- Set forth clear expectations in syllabi and class discussions
- Require students to sign the Honor Pledge
- Take reasonable steps to reduce the possibility of cheating
Overview – Faculty Responsibilities
III. Oversight
- Report suspected misconduct to the Honor System
- In the instructor’s discretion, notify the student of the
intention to report suspected academic dishonesty and
permit the student to provide relevant further information
- Refrain from taking unilateral punitive action rather than
reporting the suspected violation
IV. Involvement
- Cooperate with members of the Student Judicial System in
conducting investigations and participating in Honor Court
hearings as necessary
- Participate in campus-wide and classroom efforts to promote
academic integrity
Overview – Structure of UNC Honor System
OUTREACH
• Organizes campus events
• Coordinates outreach efforts of the SAG and Honor Court
Undergraduate
Honor
System
ATTORNEY GENERAL AND STAFF
• SAG reviews all reports received and determines
whether Honor Code charges will be brought
• Staff serves as counsels in hearings
HONOR COURT
• Board charged with hearing all Honor Code charges
• Determines judgment and sanction
“Blueprint”
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Overview of Honor at Carolina
Honor Code violations
Sanctions
Prevention
The Honor System process
Resources
Honor Code violations
UNC HONOR CODE
(Instrument of Student Judicial Governance)
ACADEMIC
CONDUCT
Plagiarism
Fighting
Fabrication of data
Hazing
Unauthorized collaboration
Driving under the influence
Cheating on examinations
Drug possession
Honor Code violations – Academic
ACADEMIC VIOLATIONS
II.B.1. Plagiarism: the deliberate or reckless representation of
another’s words, thoughts, or ideas without attribution
II.B.2. Falsification or fabrication of data
II.B.3. Unauthorized assistance or collaboration
II.B.4. Cheating on examinations
II.B.5. Violating procedures pertaining to the academic process (e.g.,
changing answers on an assignment and submitting for a
regrade)
“Blueprint”
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Overview of the Honor System
Honor Code violations
Sanctions
Prevention
The Honor System process
Resources
Sanctions
Penalty of record
The grade
Additional sanctions
Determining an appropriate sanction…
Sanctions – Penalty of record
Penalty of record
One semester of probation
Extended duration of probation
The grade
One semester of suspension
Extended duration of suspension
Permanent suspension
Expulsion
Additional sanctions
Sanctions – Penalty of record
Penalty of record
The minimum sanction for academic cases
One semester of probation
Extended duration of probation
The grade
One semester of suspension
Extended duration of suspension
Permanent suspension
Expulsion
Additional sanctions
Sanctions – Penalty of record
Penalty of record
The “usual” sanction for academic cases
One semester of probation
Extended duration of probation
The grade
One semester of suspension
Extended duration of suspension
Permanent suspension
Expulsion
Additional sanctions
Sanctions – The grade
Penalty of record
The grade is determined by the instructor,
unless the instructor defers to the court.
The grade
Additional sanctions
An instructor may recommend a failing
grade in the course or a failing grade on
the assignment.
At a the very minimum, the student must
receive a failing grade on one component
of the course.
Sanctions – Additional sanctions
Penalty of record
Additions that aid the educational
aspect of a student’s sanction.
Completing the assignment properly
The grade
Writing a reflection paper
Time management exercises
Loss of privileges
Additional sanctions
“Blueprint”
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Overview of the Honor System
Honor Code violations
Sanctions
Prevention
The Honor System process
Resources
Prevention – What you can do
Talk about honor and integrity
Don McCabe, a renowned researcher in
the field of academic integrity on
university campuses, claims that two
factors affect the academic climate
more than any other…
Prevention – What you can do
1) The existence of an Honor Code
2) Faculty who discuss the Honor
Code and how it applies to their
course
Prevention – What you can do
Recommendations
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Discuss your professional code of ethics in order to help
students understand that class expectations match “real
world” expectations
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Be sure to include the Honor Code in your syllabus; point it
out and discuss it with the class
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Remind students before exams
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Invite us into the classroom
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Direct students to the Honor System website
Prevention – What you can do
Ten Tips for Preventing Academic Misconduct
• Note the importance of academic integrity in all work
• Openly discuss your expectations with students
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Confront suspicious behavior, identifying those involved
Have students sign the Honor Pledge
Encourage students to seek assistance or clarification
Always document your observations re: misconduct
Take reasonable precautions when giving exams
Inspire, encourage, and model academic integrity
Never allow cell phones/pagers during exams
Give students clear instruction on what is not permitted
“Blueprint”
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
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Overview of Honor at Carolina
Honor Code violations
Sanctions
Prevention
The Honor System process
Resources
The Honor System process
Faculty member suspects a violation has occurred
Report the violation online at http://honor.unc.edu
& make any desired recommendations for sanctions
We recommend meeting with the student to discuss
the reasons for the suspicions
Faculty member may be contacted by the Student
Attorney General who may seek additional information
Student Attorney General will determine if there is
sufficient evidence to send case to Honor Court
If charged, the Faculty member may be contacted
by the investigative counsel to prepare for the
hearing
The Honor System process
Depending on the accused student’s plea,
you may not need to be present for the hearing.
Note: A reporting faculty member may always choose
to be present
In the case of a not guilty plea, required standard of
proof is guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Faculty member will be contacted by the Honor Court
concerning the outcome of the student’s hearing
Any appeal is heard by the University Hearings Board,
composed of three faculty/staff and two students
Limited right to an additional appeal to the Chancellor
“Blueprint”
•
•
•
•
•

Overview of the Honor System
Honor Code violations
Sanctions
Prevention
The Honor System process
Resources
Resources – where to get information
honor.unc.edu
Dean of Students Office
966-4042
The Honor System
966-4084