How to Have Honor Prevail in Your Classroom

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Preventing Honor Code violations in the classroom is a two-fold project, involving both talking loudly about honor (education) and counting spoons (deterrence).

Education

You can do more with the Honor Code than simply watching out for violations. Instead, think of it as an opportunity to teach your students about the proper standards of academic behavior. Many of them are genuinely confused about what constitutes plagiarism or unauthorized assistance on an assignment. Some of them don't understand why it is so important to cite their sources. By making the Honor Code an integral part of your curriculum, you will be helping your students learn crucial skills.

Deterrence

Talking about honor, of course, does not always work. You will want to put some measures in place which will deter students from cheating if, despite your Herculean efforts, they are so inclined. Still, keep in mind that the final responsibility for their behavior is in their hands, not yours.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

When writing a syllabus

Your syllabus should contain a section about the Honor Code. More specifically, it should tell students exactly what is permissible with regard to exams, papers, lab assignments, etc. Are they allowed to work together? If so, to what extent? How should they go about citing ideas they receive from classmates? These are all things that your students need to know. Including such a discussion in your syllabus will not only give students a written guide, but will also help prevent any misunderstandings about what constitutes permissible behavior. You will find a sample Honor Code section from a syllabus at the end of this handout.

The first (or second or third) day of class

When you review your syllabus with your students, you should discuss the Honor Code section. It is especially helpful to make them aware of the importance of academic integrity to the profession as a whole. If you let them know that you value these standards and that you take the Honor Code seriously, they will take it more seriously as well. You might consider saving some of this discussion for a later session (perhaps in conjunction with the first assignment), especially if you have many other things to do on the first day of class.

During an exam

Appendix A of the Instrument of Student Judicial Governance (available by calling 966-4084), lists a number of faculty responsibilities with respect to exams. The appropriate measures will, of course, depend on the nature of the exam. You might consider distributing different versions of a test or rearranging seating. If you are giving an exam which requires blue books, you might want to have your students exchange blue books immediately before the exam. In terms of proctoring, Appendix A leaves that up to the instructor. Some instructors prefer to proctor exams; others do not. Whatever you choose to do, it is a good idea to at least make yourself available for questions during the exam.

Throughout the course

Continue to stress the importance of the Honor Code in your classroom and make sure to explain fully how it applies to each aspect of the course. It may help to focus on a communitarian model, so that students will understand that violating the Honor Code isn't just about breaking abstract rules, but about abusing the trust of their instructor and their classmates.

The following is a sample Honor Code section in a syllabus for a philosophy course. It would, of course, need to be modified for other disciplines.

The Honor Code is, as always, in effect in this course. The following sections explain what I expect from you in terms of meeting these standards. If you have any questions at all about these matters, please do not hesitate to ask me.