General Questions
What is the St. Olaf Honor Council?
Founded in 1919, the St. Olaf Honor Council is the exclusively student-run body charged with adjudicating allegations of academic dishonesty on examinations.
How do I know if I am being investigated for an Honor System violation?
Implicated students are notified immediately upon the beginning of an investigation through email by the Case Investigator, allowing time to prepare a response.
What do I do if I witness or suspect a violation of the Honor Code?
If applicable, do not sign the pledge and check the box instead. Otherwise, communicate your concerns directly to the course professor who will then submit a Report Form to the Honor Council on your behalf.
What happens when I intentionally do not sign the pledge and check the box?
Your professor will submit a Report Form to the Honor Council. We will reach out to you and ask you to fill out a form detailing the reasoning behind not signing your examination. If needed, the Honor Council could set up a brief interview with you to ascertain the nature and context of the potential implication.
If I reported a student, will the Honor Council inform them that I reported them?
The Honor Council will take all reasonable steps to maintain the confidentiality of all parties throughout the Honor Council process. With the exception of those authorized under FERPA, the identity of any parties will not be shared with others outside the Honor Council without the permission of the party or witness, a lawfully issued subpoena, court order, or administrative order.
Are faculty members required to leave the room during examinations?
The Honor Council permits faculty members to utilize their discretion in determining whether proctoring examinations best serves the pedagogical needs of their students. The Honor Council encourages that best practices are utilized in the event faculty members decide to proctor examinations. Some common points to consider with respect to proctoring include the effect of proctoring on (i) the speed at which questions are answered during examinations, (ii) exam-associated anxiety and stress, (iii) the potential increase of implicit bias and (iv) the culture of the Honor Council at St. Olaf College.
What happens if I accidentally forgot to sign the pledge?
In this case, you would probably not have checked the box, so your professor will have a clue that you have simply forgotten. Nevertheless, your professor will likely reach out to you discreetly to confirm your intent in not signing the pledge. At this point, you are free to notify the professor of your actual intention. However, your professor may opt to directly submit the exam to the Honor Council, at which time you can notify us in the form that we send to you.
Honor Council Membership
What is the composition of the Honor Council?
During the fall semester, the Honor Council is composed of 13 members: 5 seniors, 5 juniors, and 3 sophomores. At the beginning of each January Interim, a first year student joins the Honor Council, bringing the Interim and spring semester membership to 14 members.
Are there any faculty or staff on the Honor Council?
No, but the Honor Council does have a non-voting Faculty Advisor, who is able to sit-in on discussions and provide their opinion. However, they are not allowed to vote, and all investigations and decisions are conducted by the student members only.
How do I join the Honor Council?
The Honor Council holds elections for 5 positions each year. In November, one first year student is elected to take office at the beginning of the January Interim. In April, two rising sophomores and two rising juniors are elected to take office at the start of the following Fall semester. More information regarding the elections is available here.
Am I eligible to apply to join the Honor Council if I am currently studying abroad or intend to do so in a subsequent semester?
The answer is yes. Honor Council members serve until the commencement ceremony of the class they represent. However, if they are temporarily unable to perform their duties (because of studying abroad, for example) they may request a leave of absence, not to exceed one academic term plus an Interim.
Understanding the Honor Council Process
What happens if I’m accused of a violation of the Honor Code?How long does it take to adjudicate an Honor Council case?
The duration of the Honor Council Process varies depending on the specific circumstances of the case. As a general rule, however, the Honor Council aims to adjudicate cases within two weeks of receiving them.
Who is able to implicate a student for an Honor Code violation?
While implicating parties are most often other students, course professors and other members of the St. Olaf community can implicate students as well.
What resources do I have as an implicated student?
You are guaranteed the right to have access to an impartial, confidential Honor Code Guide to help in preparation before a meeting with the Honor Council. Additionally, the Dean of Students Rosalyn Eaton is another excellent resource for support and consultation throughout the process.
Who are Honor Council Guides?
The Honor Code Guides are a group of faculty and staff members trained to answer questions related to the Honor Council, the Honor Code, and any matters regarding the Honor System. All discussions with Honor Code Guides are strictly confidential and will not be shared with any other member of the faculty, staff, or student body, including members of the Honor Council. The Honor Council is prohibited from calling upon Honor Code Guides to testify or to provide any information to the Council. Please email the Honor Code Guide that you would like to meet with prior to seeking them out in order to ensure your confidentiality.
What should I wear to an interview?
You are not required to dress up for an interview; wear what you would on any other day.
How long are records maintained?
Records are retained for a period of seven years after your graduation date. The Honor Council keeps records of all Honor System violations to ensure appropriate sanctions for repeated offenses.
As an implicated student, if I personally know an Honor Council member, will they be allowed to be involved with my case?
As part of the Honor Council process, implicated students are asked to disclose any relationships they might have with Honor Council members. Per Honor Council policies, if a member is determined to have a conflict of interest for a particular case, they would be relieved from participating in the case.
Responsibility and Sanctions
What are the possible outcomes of an Honor Council case?
The Honor Council adopts a tiered model for determining responsibility in Honor Council cases: Not Responsible, Test Etiquette Violation, Honor Code Infraction and Honor Code Violation.
What is the level of proof required to find an implicated student for an Honor System violation?
In determining responsibility for an Honor System violation, a preponderance of the evidence shall be required, interpreted as the implicated student being “more likely than not” responsible for any alleged wrongdoing.
What is a Code of Test Etiquette Violation?
A Code of Test Etiquette Violation is assessed when the Council determines that a student behaved suspiciously or in a distracting manner in such a way that the testing environment was disrupted. This outcome is often associated with a general warning and reminder of the policies pertaining to academic integrity here at St. Olaf.
What is the difference between an Honor Code Infraction and an Honor Code Violation?
An Honor Code Infraction occurs when the Council determines the student more likely than not violated the Honor Code but deems that mitigating circumstances negate the efficacy of the addition of this violation to the student’s disciplinary record. However, in the case of an Honor Code Violation, the Council will be required to establish a formal indication of the violation in the student’s disciplinary record.
What are the possible sanctions of an Honor Council case?
Sanctions will reflect a variety of mitigating and aggravating circumstances and may change on a case-by-case basis for similar situations of academic dishonesty as a result. Potential sanctions range from providing the implicated student a formal warning to recommending them for expulsion from the College. However, sanctions are most commonly a grade penalty.
If I am found responsible for an Honor Code Violation, will it be reported to graduate school?
In the case of an Honor Code Violation, the Council will be required to establish a formal indication of the violation in the student’s disciplinary record. If you apply to graduate schools, it is possible that they will request these files. It is the College’s policy not to release this information without the written consent of the student. Generally, graduate schools offer a space to explain or reflect on such issues. This can be an excellent opportunity to share what you have learned from this experience.
If I am found responsible for an Honor Code Violation, will an indication appear on my transcript?
No indication of any Honor System violation will appear on your transcript.
Can I appeal the decision?
You may appeal the Honor Council’s decision to the Dean of Students within the stated deadline. The appeal must be based solely upon a procedural violation that led to an illegitimate case outcome during the investigation or adjudication process or if new information pertinent to the case outcome is presented, not on the responsibility or sanction determination itself.
Still looking for an answer to your question? Email us at honorcouncil@stolaf.edu or use the feedback form on our website.