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The Honor Code as it Applies to the Summer School ProgramBefore enrolling in a Rice University Summer School course, you must understand and agree to abide by the Honor System in place at Rice University which protects the academic integrity of all coursework. Though you have the responsibility not to cheat (this includes understanding rules regarding plagiarism, understanding professor expectations regarding test-taking procedures and not giving or receiving unauthorized aid) and to report those who do, the Honor System confers many benefits to students. Please read the following information about your responsibilities under the code. Failure to agree to abide by the Honor System precludes your enrollment in Rice University courses. THE HONOR SYSTEM The Honor System embodies the concept of personal honor in a framework of law and practice. To quote the Constitution, Rice students are placed on his or her honor by the group "not to violate the trust placed in them in any way." The result is a system of conducting examinations, writing papers, and performing other academic endeavors with regard for individual honor and without faculty proctoring. Thus, the responsibility for maintaining the validity of academic work is placed on all students. HISTORY OF THE SYSTEM In 1911, when Dr. Edgar Odell Lovett came to Rice from Princeton, he brought with him the desire to incorporate into this new university an honor code. Soon after its inception, the student body in 1916 voted to adopt this Honor System. Since that time, the Honor System has become much more than just a method of administering and taking examinations. Not only has it expanded in scope to encompass a wider range of academic work, but it has also sponsored a spirit of honor and integrity that has become an integral part of a Rice education. ADVANTAGES The advantages of the Honor System are many. Most obvious is the freedom afforded the student and faculty in taking and giving examinations. Students may leave the room at any time during the examination. Also, instructors may choose to give take-home examinations and self-scheduled finals. In addition to these concrete examples, there is the more important advantage of mutual trust and respect. No one at Rice feels disadvantaged for having done his or her own work. The Honor System is one institution that consistently emphasizes means over goals and thereby puts the grading system in the proper perspective. Examinations assume a much more relaxed atmosphere. RESPONSIBILITIES The Honor System has succeeded because Rice students have respect for each other. The relationship between the members of the Rice community is defined by and dependent upon an acceptance of academic integrity. Rice students have shown themselves to be worthy and capable of maintaining the Honor System. It is your obligation as a student or faculty member not to violate the system yourself nor aid in any violation, and to report any violation that you see or suspect. The system is as valid as you choose to make it. OPERATION The pledge is signed to all work covered under the system. It is a reminder to the student of the matriculation pledge and the responsibilities which were undertaken upon entering Rice. The absence of the pledge does not relieve the student of his or her responsibilities. The pledge reads as follows: "On my honor, I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this (exam, test, homework, report, etc.)." VIOLATIONS Should you, as a student or faculty member, see or suspect that a violation has occurred, it becomes your duty to confer with an Honor Council member. Not to do so is considered a breach of responsibility that you undertook to share with us when you came to Rice. The argument that the violation injures only the violator does not relieve you of this responsibility. The violation affects every member of the Rice Community by weakening the system of honor under which we live. If you see what you suspect might be a violation, you must inform an Honor Council member. He or she will discuss the matter with you in private, and you will be advised to make a written accusation if you believe that a violation has occurred. Further, the anonymity of the accuser is maintained throughout the investigation up to the preliminary hearing. Thus, if an accuser is not positive that a violation occurred, he or she should not be afraid to write a letter of accusation; his or her anonymity would be protected if the Honor Council decided after an investigation that no violation had occurred. At no time should a student approach a professor with an accusation. To secure the anonymity of the persons involved, the Honor Council should be the first to hear reports of academic misconduct. The Council will inform the professor of relevant information. This policy serves to protect both the guilty and innocent from possible misunderstandings between professors and students. The Honor System is effective just as long as it has the wholehearted support of the student body and faculty. Every member of the Honor Council urges you to do your part to support the Honor System and maintain Rice's most honored tradition. HEARINGS AND PENALTIES When a suspected violation is reported to the Honor Council, an investigation is conducted. If the investigating committee, appointed by the Chair, finds evidence of a violation, a preliminary hearing is called at which the accusation is read to the accused. A hearing is then held in which the accused then enters a plea of "In Violation" or "Not In Violation", all evidence is presented in the presence of the accused and every effort is made to ensure him or her just treatment. Council members vote "In Violation" when, in their minds, the evidence is clear and convincing. For a verdict of "In Violation", the vote must be unanimous. The Council is limited in its selection of a just penalty only to the extent that the current consensus penalty structure restricts the Council's actions. It may choose as severe or lenient a punishment as it deems appropriate and the consensus penalties allow, considering any possible mitigating circumstances. CONDUCT OF EXAMINATIONS These examination rules are set forth with the intention of promoting the integrity of the Student Body. Their purpose is to minimize temptation and to protect all students from the possibility of unintentionally giving aid. PROCTORING There shall be no deliberate proctoring. The person in charge of an examination is free to enter the room and remain, as he or she wishes, for any other reason. SEATING ARRANGEMENTS 1. Students should sit in alternate chairs of a row and in alternate rows with the students in line behind each other. It is the responsibility of the instructor to arrange adequate facilities for the administration of examinations. 2. When this seating cannot be carried out exactly, students should attempt to retain the effectiveness for which the rule was made. 3. It is strongly advised that people who study together do not sit close to each other during tests, as their papers are often alike in both right and wrong answers. BOOKS Except for open book examinations, all books and notes should be left at the front of an examination room. PLEDGE The examination pledge is required on the examination paper at the end of all final examinations and quizzes, and may appear, at the desire of the instructor, on all other important projects under the Honor System. The pledge serves primarily as a reminder to the student and teacher that the Rice community has an Honor System. The spirit of the Honor System should extend beyond those items of conduct that are specifically listed in the Constitution. The absence of the pledge from academic work normally covered by the Honor System does not remove that work from coverage by the System. ABSENCE FROM THE ROOM Students may leave the room during an examination. The examination may be taken from the room unless otherwise specified by the person administering the examination. EXAMINATION PAPER When taking an examination, a student shall use only the examination booklets or other materials furnished or specified by the instructor. TAKE HOME TESTS Tests should be sealed or stapled in such a manner that the material cannot be inadvertently revealed. A notice on the cover of the envelope and at the top of the exam should include guidelines on resources to be used (e.g. open book, closed book, etc.) any time restrictions, and the due date. Timed tests should be sealed immediately upon completion and the time and date the test was taken written on the cover. COMPUTER PROJECTS The individual professor must specify his or her own requirements as to how much assistance a student may get and what kind of resources may be used. SELF-PACED COURSES Instructors in self-paced courses should realize the special nature of their courses and make the necessary provisions to ensure compliance with the spirit of the Honor System. Requirements associated with the Honor System need to be specified by the professor and/or defined by the course book. Tutors must be fully aware of all these requirements. SUGGESTIONS All complaints about examination procedures or suggestions to improve examination procedures should be brought to the attention of the Honor Council. PLAGIARISM All specifically designated written assignments are conducted under the Honor System. In preparing written work, research and the utilization of another person's words or ideas is in many cases essential. Plagiarism, however, is considered a severe violation of the Honor System. Students must always properly credit their sources. Plagiarism is defined by the Honor Council as: "quoting, paraphrasing, or otherwise using another's words or ideas as one's own without properly crediting the source." Furthermore, the Honor Council assumes that, unless otherwise credited, all work submitted by the student is intended to be considered as his or her own work. That is, any time a student draws particularly or generally from another's work, some mention of the source should be made. It is also assumed that work submitted for class credit was written for that class and that class only. Thus, submitting the same work for credit in more than one class, either concurrently or consecutively, is a violation of the Honor System unless explicit permission is given by the instructors concerned. What is meant by proper crediting is left to the discretion of the professor. An instructor, when assigning a paper, should make known to the students what is expected in the researching and referencing of the paper. However, it is the student's responsibility to find out from each professor how work for that professor should be credited. For further assistance in properly crediting sources, the Honor Council has written a publication on avoiding plagiarism called "Academic Fraud and the Honor System" This booklet details what is and is not commonly acceptable procedure in crediting sources and should be read by every Rice student before writing his or her first paper at Rice. More information about the Honor System and the Honor Council is also available. Questions regarding the Honor Code Policy an individual course should be directed to the instructor of the course. Last modified Saturday, April 24, 2004 11:46 PM
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