The Honor Code: Know what you are signing

This column is designed to help the Oberlin College community better understand the Honor Code. Due to recent changes in the code, some people are confused about what the Honor Code is. What’s the difference between the old “I have neither given nor received information on this examination” and the new “I affirm that I have adhered to the Honor Code in this assignment?” Please ask your questions by writing to ohonor@oberlin.edu and The Honor Committee will answer them for you, or consult the code online at http://www.oberlin.edu/students/student_pages/honor_code.html. We encourage both faculty and students to write in. All answers are written by different members of the Honor Code process.
Q: Do people really cheat at Oberlin?
A: Unfortunately, yes. Last semester a total of 11 cases were brought to the Student Honor Committee, involving 16 students. While the majority of the students were first years, students from all classes came before the committee. Six students were found responsible of violating the Honor Code, Four students were found not responsible of violating the honor code, and six students’ cases are pending.
Also, the Honor Code does not just cover “cheating” on an exam. In order to maintain full academic integrity, the honor code covers a broad range of academic acts, such as cheating, plagiarism (both intentional and unintentional), fabrication and multiple submissions, as well as other acts. Further description can be found in the code at: http://www.oberlin.edu/students/student_pages/honor_code.html. Also, you can e-mail ohonor@oberlin.edu if you are not sure about a particular situation.
Q: What does the Student Honor Committee do when someone violates the Honor Code?
A: When an Honor Code violation is reported to the SHC, the first part of the process is an investigation of the alleged incident by Student Honor Committee members. Case managers are assigned to interview, question, and gather evidence from all those involved. Usually, this entails meeting with the professor and student(s) involved and reviewing tests, papers or other evidence. The case managers are also careful to fully explain the charges and process to those involved. The next step is the hearing. A hearing panel of five committee members is assembled. Those members who have conflicts of interest or do not feel comfortable with the case will not be included in the hearing panel. The complainant and respondent are then asked to come and testify before the hearing panel and are also asked questions by the members of the panel. After the hearing, the five members then deliberate on a decision of responsible or not responsible of having violated the honor code. If the respondent is found responsible, then a sanction is decided upon. The hearing panel has 24 hours to come to a decision. The decision is then reviewed by the Faculty Honor Committee (FHC) and then, if approved by the FHC, the decision is reviewed by the appropriate Dean (College or Conservatory). The respondent and complainant are then notified through campus mail of the outcome within two weeks, after approval of the decision from all three bodies, the SHC, the FHC and the Dean.
Q: What should you do if you see someone cheating or hear about someone violating the Honor Code?
A: Well, there are several options that you may chose from. One, you can inform your professor of the situation. He/she is then required by the code to contact the Student Honor Committee about the alleged violation. From there the Honor Committee will go through the necessary process. Another option is that you can e-mail ohonor@oberlin.edu and explain the incident you witnessed or heard about. Or you can personally contact a member of the Student Honor Committee and tell them that you suspect that someone has violated the honor code. Realize as soon as you report a specific case, there will be an investigation. No matter how you go about reporting someone for violating the Honor Code, it can be possible to remain anonymous and that all information is confidential.
Q: Is Honor Committee the same as J-Board or Senate?
A: Kind-of, but not really. J-Board deals with students who are accused of violating the rules of the college, like setting their dorm on fire or threatening someone, whereas Honor Committee deals with academic dishonesty, plagiarism or cheating. The other big difference is that where as J-Board is run by the administration, we are entirely student based. If someone is accused of an honor violation they come before a group of students who decide responsibility and a call sanction (which will be upheld by the Faculty Honor Committee and the Dean of the College/Conservatory). No one except the dean of the college or conservatory knows your name even if you are found responsible for a violation.
As for Senate, they are a part of the process in appointing members of the Student Honor Committee, but after that they pretty much leave us alone to do whatever it is that they do.

Please ask your questions by writing to ohonor@oberlin.edu and we will answer them for you, or consult the code online at http://www.oberlin.edu/students/student_pages/honor_code.html. We encourage both faculty and students to write in. All answers are written by different members of the Honor Code process.

—Sarah Colvario
College seniorr