Students accused of cheating are often surprised to learn that the rules, and the people who decide their case, depend on which system their school uses. Some colleges handle academic dishonesty under an honor code, often enforced by a student-run honor council. Rice University’s Honor Council and Stetson University’s Honor System Council, for example, are made up of students. Other colleges handle it under a student conduct code, through a conduct office run by staff. Some, like the University of Florida, put both codes under one office.
Every school structures this differently, and structures change. The examples below come from universities’ published policies.
Honor Code Systems
An honor code is usually a set of academic integrity standards students commit to, often by pledge, paired with a process for handling violations. In many honor systems, students play a central role in hearing cases:
- Rice’s Honor Council is student-run, with a panel of six members hearing each case.
- Stetson’s Honor System Council is composed entirely of students.
- UVA’s Honor System is student-run, with randomly selected student panels at hearings.
- Texas A&M’s Aggie Honor System Office handles academic misconduct, as explained in our Texas A&M post.
Many Ivy League and other selective schools also use honor systems, discussed in accused of an honor code violation at an Ivy League school. At Penn, for example, academic integrity hearing panels include student members of the Honor Council, as covered in our UPenn post.
Student Conduct Code Systems
Other schools handle academic dishonesty through a broader student conduct code, administered by a conduct office. Purdue’s Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities and the University of Oregon’s Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards are examples. In these systems, staff conduct officers usually manage the case, though hearing panels may include students and faculty.
Schools That Split or Combine the Two
Many schools mix the models. The University of Florida’s Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution office administers both its Student Honor Code and its Student Conduct Code. Wake Forest’s Honor and Ethics Council hears academic Honor Code cases, while non-academic violations go to the Dean of Students. Boston University handles academic misconduct through its schools and colleges under the Academic Conduct Code, separate from its Code of Student Responsibilities for other conduct, as explained in our Boston University post. And at Santa Clara, a single allegation can lead to both an academic sanction from the instructor and a separate conduct case, as described in our Santa Clara post.
Why the Difference Matters
Which system applies shapes who decides the case, who may attend, what the standard of proof is, and how appeals work. A student facing a panel of fellow students prepares differently than one meeting with a staff conduct officer. Knowing which code applies is the first step in understanding the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an honor code and a student conduct code?
An honor code usually covers academic integrity and is often enforced by a student-run honor council, while a student conduct code covers broader conduct and is usually administered by a staff conduct office.
Do students decide honor code cases?
At some schools. Rice’s Honor Council is student-run, and Stetson’s Honor System Council is composed entirely of students.
Can a school use both an honor code and a conduct code?
Yes. The University of Florida’s conduct office administers both its Student Honor Code and its Student Conduct Code.
Why does it matter which code applies to my case?
The code determines who decides the case, who may attend, the standard of proof, and how appeals work.
Getting Help Under Either System
Richard Asselta, a student defense attorney, advises students in honor code and conduct code processes nationwide. He helps students understand which system applies to their case and prepare for the people who will decide it. Call 855-338-5299 or learn more about Richard Asselta.